https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/rss Sat, 12 Sep 2026 19:55:57 +0300 en hourly 1 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1203038-dragon-boat-festival-held-in-yambol https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1203038-dragon-boat-festival-held-in-yambol Sat, 12 Sep 2026 17:57:40 +0300 Bulgarian and Chinese traditions are showcased at a two-day Dragon Boat Festival in Yambol this weekend. The event was officially opened Saturday by Yambol Mayor Valentin Revanski, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Bulgaria Dai Qingli, and Deputy Tourism Minister Mariela Modeva. The festival programme includes dragon boat races on the Tundzha River, martial arts demonstrations and other sporting events, a Chinese car show, a farmers’ and crafts fair, and a musical programme featuring song and dance ensembles and solo performers. Among them are the Chinari folk dance ensemble, Stefan Valdobrev, the Yambol Brass Band of the Soglasie – 1862 Community Centrе, as well as other local and visiting groups. The festival is organized by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bulgaria and Yambol Municipality. It is held in cooperation with the Dragon Boat Festival Association, the Chinese Cultural Centre in Sofia, and the Confucius Institute, with China Motor Bulgaria serving as the main sponsor and partner. At the opening, Mayor Revalski said that Yambol's central park is becoming a place where two exceptionally rich and ancient cultures meet. He drew a parallel between the need for coordination in steering a traditional 20-person Chinese boat and the need for perseverance and team spirit to achieve a goal. “This can be a lesson for any society - if we work together and move in the same direction, we can achieve a great deal,” said Revanski. Deputy Tourism Minister Modeva said that the dragon boats represent the opportunity to move forward as a team, to build bridges, to get to know one another better, and to understand one another. “This remarkable Chinese tradition is also inscribed on the UNESCO list; it is part of the world’s cultural heritage and carries universal messages of unity, cooperation, and solidarity,” Modeva added. Ambassador Dai Qingli thanked Yambol Municipality for hosting the event and noted that in recent years, Dragon Boat Festivals have also been organized in other cities across the country. “These events have become a vivid symbol of the closeness and friendship between our peoples. It is essential for countries to join hands and move forward together,” the diplomat said. In addition to representatives of the organizers and partners, guests at the opening ceremony included Members of Parliament from Yambol Region Stoyan Petkov and Ivan Dimitrov, Tundzha Municipality Mayor Stancho Stavrev, Yambol Municipal Council Chair Anton Shikov, and Yambol Deputy Regional Governor Slavomir Ivanov. Before the festival programme began, the hosts and official guests took a stroll through Yambol’s central park, and Mayor Revanski and Ambassador Dai Qingli faced off in an impromptu table tennis match. Culture Dimitrina Solakova BTA Correspondent Sevdalina Krasteva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202937-iveya-mireva-and-boyan-tasev-win-hedgehogs-spines-writing-competition https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202937-iveya-mireva-and-boyan-tasev-win-hedgehogs-spines-writing-competition Sat, 12 Sep 2026 13:19:00 +0300 Nine-year-old Iveya Mireva and 14-year-old Boyan Tasev were honoured on Saturday as the winners of this year's Hedgehogs' Spines children's creative writing competition. President Iliana Iotova and Deputy Minister of Education and Science Senya Terzieva presented the awards at Sts Cyril and Methodius National Library on Saturday. The competition, organized by the Mormarevi Brothers Foundation, is in its 20th edition. The competition has two age groups - 7 to 10 and 11 to 14 - and two categories: essays and short stories on a topic of the entrant's choice. In the 7 to 10 age category, Mireva received an award for her short story The Lying Dragon. In the 11 to 14 age category, Tasev received the prize for his story The Parrots Flew Away. Second-place awards went to Alexa Dimova (age 7) for Curly Thoughts and Dayana Florova (age 11) for My Blue-Eyed Hero. Another 18 children were nominated by a jury consisting of Zdravka Evtimova, Boyko Vassilev, Ivo Siromahov, Petar Chukov, and Boyko Lambovski. In her speech, President Iotova said all the stories showed that literature would never die and that it lived on in children. She strongly opposed pointing the finger at children and telling them they knew nothing beyond their phone screens. The entrants showed what children were capable of, she said, noting that one had described reading as fashionable. None of this would be possible without families and parents who taught their children and introduced them to books from a very early age, or without excellent teachers and educators, she added. She told the children that entering the competition and daring to express their thoughts and feelings in writing were a major achievement and a great victory in the book of life. The competition gave children the opportunity to express all their talent in words, Iotova said. She described it as an exceptional opportunity for all children, particularly at a time when they faced dangers on all sides linked to advanced technology and artificial intelligence. Terzieva congratulated the children, their families and teachers. She wished them a successful school year and many future successes. Last year's winners were seven-year-old Aleksa Dimova for her story Arrogant Streets and 13-year-old Leon Petrov for Finn's Heart. The Mormarevi Brothers, Marko Stoychev (1931-2006) and Moritz Yomtov (1921-1992), wrote the books Feed a Dog to Make It Bark (1967); A Problem with Many Unknowns (1976); The Hedgehogs' War (1979, 1993); Vasko da Gama from the Village of Rupcha (1982); Men Without Moustaches (1987); Bobi the Head (1988); Lili (1998, 2006); Father Christmas and the Seven Robbers (2001, 2014); Before 1969: Diagnoses of Those Times (2003); Raponcho (2004); and The Diary of Asen Gazurkov (2006). Their screenwriting credits include The Ancient Coin (1965); Hedgehogs Are Born Without Spines (1971); With Children at the Seaside (1972); A Poor Man's Summer (1973); Nako, Dako, Tsako (1973); Exams at Odd Hours (1974); Two Dioptres of Long-sightedness (1977); A Problem with Many Unknowns (1977); The Hedgehogs' War (1979); The Double (1980); Vasko da Gama from the Village of Rupcha (1986); The Prince's Third Fiancee (1987); Men Without Moustaches (1989); Goodbye, Rio (1989); Come On, Grandpas (1991); Bai Ganyo Goes to Europe (1991); and Lili (2007, a Bulgarian National Television series), the foundation noted. Culture Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/sport/1202946-hut-hop-race-to-return-to-mount-vitosha-on-november-7 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/sport/1202946-hut-hop-race-to-return-to-mount-vitosha-on-november-7 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 13:31:00 +0300 Hut Hop Race will return to Mount Vitosha on November 7 with a six-hour challenge for teams of two in its biggest edition yet, organizers said on Saturday. Event creators Kiril Nikolov, known as the Diesel, and Dimitar Zhelyazkov are inviting runners, hikers, families and adventure enthusiasts to explore the mountain in a different way, using a single map. "On November 7, Vitosha will once again become a vast adventure playground. Hut Hop Race 2026 returns with its biggest edition yet: six hours, one map, a team of two and a mountain of possibilities. "Created by Nikolov, Zhelyazkov and Septemvri Hut, the event challenges runners, hikers, families and anyone who wants to experience Vitosha in a different way. There is no set route: participants choose their own path, strategy and challenge. "This year, Hut Hop Race expects up to 300 participants and 100 children, and registration is already open. Which route will you choose, and how far will you get in six hours?" the organizers said. Sport Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202877-green-rock-fest-to-open-with-bulgarian-and-italian-acts https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202877-green-rock-fest-to-open-with-bulgarian-and-italian-acts Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:16:00 +0300 Rock and metal acts from Bulgaria and Italy will open the 18th Green Rock Fest in Ruse on Saturday, festival organizer Maria Atanasova said. Atanasova also manages the Green Rock Fest association, which organizes the international festival. The opening programme will feature rock performed by children, experimental metal and alternative music. Children's rock band Kvak Kvinta from Tutrakan is expected to open proceedings on the stage outside Ruse's regional and municipal administration building. Experimental metal band Scent Of Angels from Pleven and alternative rock band Greesh will follow. Italian rock band WakeUpCall will headline and close the opening night of the long-running festival in the centre of the Danube city. On Sunday, September 13, young Ruse band Carving Sacrifice will open the programme, followed by 17's Connection from Targovishte and Tornado from Sofia. Thirteen-year-old Ruse vocalist Kristiyan Ilkov will make a guest appearance with Tornado. A few days ago, he shared a stage with veteran singer Joe Lynn Turner in Stara Zagora. The second evening will culminate in a concert by Tsena Koev, featuring Swedish vocalist Mats Leven as a special guest. The Ruse act will be returning to the stage in its home city. The line-up will also include another Ruse musician, drummer Nikolay Nikolaev (Nick), who recently joined Croatian rock band Jelusick. The Alexander Rusev Foundation will have a charity stand at the festival on Saturday and Sunday, Atanasova said. The organization has helped children and adults with special needs through hydrotherapy for years. Its main goal is to establish a hydrotherapy centre in Ruse, where construction began in June 2025. Visitors will be able to meet the people behind the initiative, learn more about it and offer support if they wish, Atanasova added. The festival aims to give young rock bands the opportunity to share a stage with established Bulgarian and international performers while supporting environmental causes. Past guests have included Turner, John Lawton, Nazareth, Tim Ripper Owens, Ronnie Romero, Johnny Gioeli, Miljenko Matijevic, Bonfire, Tangra, B.T.R., Fondatsiyata, Vasko Krupkata, Milena Slavova, Kikimora, Faktor, Obraten Efekt, Valdi Totev, Serbian band Alogia and Italian singer Fabio Lione, among others. Culture Kaloyan Kirilov BTA correspondent Andrey Kyuchukov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202873-bulgaria-s-learning-gaps-put-early-support-and-school-funding-in-focus https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202873-bulgaria-s-learning-gaps-put-early-support-and-school-funding-in-focus Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:07:22 +0300 More than half of Bulgaria’s 15-year-old pupils fall below minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics, according to the National Network for Children. Proposals to tackle learning difficulties range from language checks at kindergarten entry to changes in school funding. In its assessment of PISA results on September 9, the Network said 58% of Bulgarian pupils were below minimum proficiency in reading, 57% in mathematics and 47% in science. Over the preceding decade, those shares had increased by 17, 15 and 10 percentage points respectively. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 covered 6,830 Bulgarian pupils in 211 schools, representing nearly 58,000 fifteen-year-olds, according to the results presented by the Education Ministry on September 8. Education and Science Minister Georgi Valchev said educational inequality was deepening, with basic-literacy difficulties particularly evident in schools enrolling large numbers of socially vulnerable pupils. He said measures concerning financing and discipline would be put forward for discussion. Earlier national examinations had also prompted debate over assessment. In a July interview on education, Valchev said the average tenth-grade mathematics result was slightly above 3 on Bulgaria’s six-point grading scale. He attributed pupils’ demotivation and growing difficulties in later grades to the pace at which they were expected to cover the material. Valchev said he was considering ongoing assessments throughout each school year, contributing to an overall subject grade, in place of a single tenth-grade examination. He also identified the recruitment of young, qualified teachers in the natural sciences as part of the response. A legislative proposal focuses on identifying language difficulties at preschool age. Amendments proposed by Progressive Bulgaria on July 24 envisage standardized language assessment tools for children entering kindergarten and completing preschool education. Children who had not attended kindergarten would be assessed on entering first grade. The proposal also covers children returning from abroad and those granted international or temporary protection. Schools would use the assessments to determine the support required for each child’s individual needs. Pupils whose results in Bulgarian language and literature were unsatisfactory would undergo a further assessment at the end of first grade. At a September 3 meeting with regional education officials, Deputy Education Minister Tanya Pancheva discussed the introduction of a school-readiness monitoring toolkit. She said a common approach to monitoring children’s development would give a clearer picture of their strengths and difficulties when they start school and help support them. A separate initiative concerns the information available to school leaders. An addendum signed by the Education Ministry and the World Bank on August 4 provides for dashboards and staff training in approximately 200 schools. The dashboards would bring together education indicators at school, regional and national level. Principals would use the information to identify strengths and weaknesses and guide school development, while the ministry would be able to draw on it for longer-term policy decisions. Valchev said he expected the project to improve management and linked better management to improved educational outcomes. The addendum extended the existing project from 22 to 28 months without additional funding. Funding for the agreed activities has been secured through the Digital Transformation of School Education project under the 2021–2027 Education Programme, the ministry said. School financing is another part of the proposed response. At the September 3 meeting, Valchev said delegated budgets would remain, but the weight of pupil numbers in subsidy calculations should be reduced. He argued that the existing emphasis on enrolment encouraged the concealment of absences and results. He said reducing that weight should protect small schools and curb what he described as unhealthy competition for pupils. Valchev also called for closer communication between school management and parents about children’s difficulties and strengths. The National Network for Children called for early, systematic support in language, reading and mathematics from kindergarten and primary school. It urged additional resources and specialists for schools with concentrations of vulnerable pupils, stronger support teams and more time for teachers to work with children individually. It also urged better access to quality education in smaller settlements and stronger professional development for teachers. The Network also called for measurable targets and deadlines, clearly identified responsible institutions and annual public reporting on progress. Culture Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202852-goncourt-winner-jean-baptiste-andrea-to-meet-readers-in-sofia https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202852-goncourt-winner-jean-baptiste-andrea-to-meet-readers-in-sofia Sat, 12 Sep 2026 10:30:51 +0300 French writer and 2023 Prix Goncourt winner Jean-Baptiste Andrea will meet readers in Sofia on September 28, the organizers said on Saturday. Publisher Orange Books and the French Institute in Bulgaria provided details of the event, which the institute will host. Andrea won France's most prestigious literary prize for his novel Watching Over Her. French language and literature lecturer Magdalena Bozhkova will moderate the discussion, with simultaneous interpreting between French and Bulgarian. Bozhkova teaches at New Bulgarian University (NBU) and the French Institute in Bulgaria. She heads NBU's team in the annual Choix Goncourt de la Bulgarie project run by the Goncourt Academy and the institute. Andrea won the Bulgarian award in 2024, the organizers noted. Andrea is also a screenwriter and film director and initially worked exclusively in cinema. His films include Dead End. His debut novel My Queen was published in 2017 and won two awards. He went on to write three more novels: A Hundred Million Years and a Day (2019), Devils and Saints (2021) and Watching Over Her (2023), Orange Books said. His novels have been translated into more than 30 languages and explore childhood, friendship, art, love and loss, the publisher added. Culture Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202823-book-alley-to-host-author-events-and-art-awards https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202823-book-alley-to-host-author-events-and-art-awards Sat, 12 Sep 2026 09:01:17 +0300 Author events and the second day of the Democratic Mosaic festival are on Saturday's programme at Sofia's Book Alley, which runs until September 13. The fair takes place along Vitosha Boulevard and in the park outside the National Palace of Culture. Dilyana Atanasova, Hayri Hamdan and Manol Peykov are among the participating authors. The festival is organized by the Civic Participation Forum. Atanasova will present her children's book Tupti at the Literary Corner. Hamdan will sign copies of his new books, the poetry collection Draw the Pain and the novel The Call of the Abyss, at the Znatsi publishing house's tent. At the same time, Peykov will meet readers and sign copies of his book Notes on a World Cup at the Janet 45 publishing house's tent. Later, Mitko Novkov will meet readers and sign copies of To Barziya and Beyond at the same tent. At the same time, Kalin Vasilev will meet readers and sign copies of his new short-story collection Married, with One Mother-in-Law at the Biblioteka Bulgaria publishing house's tent. The Democratic Mosaic festival's cultural stage will also host an awards ceremony on Saturday for the winners of the eighth Civic Alarm Clock competition for socially engaged art. Other authors scheduled to meet readers on Saturday include Nikolay Peev, Georgi Todorov, Stefka Stancheva, Vladislav Hristov, Emil Andreev, Olya Stoyanova, Lachezar Angelov, Dimana Yordanova, Gergana Atanasova, Alexander Stoyanov, Rusi Rusev, Elia Boyadzhieva, Kristiana Boyadzhieva, Boyan Boev, Maya Bocheva (Wiki), Dimitar Angelov, Elena Aleksieva, Tsvetelina Manova, Elena Zhablyanova and Lyubov Mironova. For the third consecutive year, BTA has a National Book Press Club at Sofia's Book Alley. It is one of the agency's 43 national press clubs in Bulgaria and abroad. Two are temporary: one aboard the Bulgarian research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), the country's first naval research vessel, and the other at book fairs. BTA is a media partner of the Bulgarian Book Association. Culture Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1202817-young-writers-to-receive-awards-at-national-library https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/1202817-young-writers-to-receive-awards-at-national-library Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:39:00 +0300 President Iliana Iotova will take part in Saturday's awards ceremony for the Hedgehogs' Spines children's creative writing competition at Sts Cyril and Methodius National Library, the President's press secretariat said. The competition is now in its 20th edition, organizer the Mormarevi Brothers Foundation said. There are two age groups, seven to 10 and 11 to 14, and two categories: essays and short stories on a topic of the entrant's choice. Last year's winners were seven-year-old Aleksa Dimova for her story Arrogant Streets and 13-year-old Leon Petrov for Finn's Heart. The Mormarevi Brothers, Marko Stoychev (1931-2006) and Moritz Yomtov (1921-1992), wrote the books Feed a Dog to Make It Bark (1967); A Problem with Many Unknowns (1976); The Hedgehogs' War (1979, 1993); Vasko da Gama from the Village of Rupcha (1982); Men Without Moustaches (1987); Bobi the Head (1988); Lili (1998, 2006); Father Christmas and the Seven Robbers (2001, 2014); Before 1969: Diagnoses of Those Times (2003); Raponcho (2004); and The Diary of Asen Gazurkov (2006). Their screenwriting credits include The Ancient Coin (1965); Hedgehogs Are Born Without Spines (1971); With Children at the Seaside (1972); A Poor Man's Summer (1973); Nako, Dako, Tsako (1973); Exams at Odd Hours (1974); Two Dioptres of Long-sightedness (1977); A Problem with Many Unknowns (1977); The Hedgehogs' War (1979); The Double (1980); Vasko da Gama from the Village of Rupcha (1986); The Prince's Third Fiancee (1987); Men Without Moustaches (1989); Goodbye, Rio (1989); Come On, Grandpas (1991); Bai Ganyo Goes to Europe (1991); and Lili (2007, a Bulgarian National Television series), the foundation noted. Bulgaria Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202693-german-band-h-blockx-to-return-to-bulgaria-following-new-album-release https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202693-german-band-h-blockx-to-return-to-bulgaria-following-new-album-release Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:23:56 +0300 Following their appearance at Hills of Rock in 2025, German band H-Blockx will return to Bulgaria to present their latest album, Fillin_The_Blank. The concert will take place at Pirotska 5 Event Center on March 2, 2027, Fest Team said. The band will also perform tracks from the 1990s, including Risin' High, Move, The Power and Ring Of Fire. Fillin_The_Blank came out on March 6, 2026, 14 years after the band’s previous studio album. The first single from the new album, Straight_Outta_Nowhere, was released last summer. The album was released in collaboration with Solitary Man Records, a label run by the band’s longtime friends, German rock group Donots. Formed in Munster in 1990, H-Blockx have released seven studio albums over the course of their career. Their sound blends rock, alternative rock, nu metal and rap metal.  Culture Yoana Vodenicharova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202610-national-gallery-to-host-exhibition-of-japanese-prints-spanning-18th-to-20th-cen https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202610-national-gallery-to-host-exhibition-of-japanese-prints-spanning-18th-to-20th-cen Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:04:20 +0300 An exhibition titled "Japanese Prints, 18th–20th Centuries” will open at The Palace branch of the National Gallery in Sofia on September 17 at 6 p.m. The exhibition is organized by the gallery and the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria and will run through November 8, the hosts said. The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is the exhibition’s media partner. The exhibition traces the development of major trends and printmaking techniques in Japanese art over the past two centuries, featuring works from the National Gallery’s collection. It is part of the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest works are associated with ukiyo-e, a traditional Japanese woodblock printing style that played a central role in the development of graphic art during the Edo period (1603–1868). The exhibition also presents the two movements that emerged in the early 20th century: shin-hanga (“new prints”) and sosaku-hanga (“creative prints”). Shin-hanga retained the traditional production process, in which a publisher, artist, carver and printer each played a role in creating a print. In sosaku-hanga, the artist personally carried out the various stages of producing the artwork. After World War II, Japanese printmaking developed amid expanding international contacts. From the late 1950s onward, artists increasingly used a variety of techniques, including lithography, etching, drypoint, mezzotint and mixed media, the National Gallery noted. The National Gallery’s collection was built through acquisitions, exhibitions, donations from artists and works received from the International Print Biennial in Varna. Among the earliest additions to the collection were works acquired in 1957 from an exhibition of Japanese art held in Sofia. Cultural exchange between Bulgaria and Japan expanded following the signing of a cooperation agreement in 1975. An important milestone in this exchange was an exhibition organized jointly with the Japan Foundation in Sofia 50 years ago. Culture Yoana Vodenicharova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202427-haskovo-jazz-festival-marks-30th-anniversary-from-september-21-to-26 https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202427-haskovo-jazz-festival-marks-30th-anniversary-from-september-21-to-26 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:16:55 +0300 The 30th Haskovo Jazz Festival will take place from September 21 to 26, the Haskovo Municipality said on Friday. Over six evenings and across three venues, musicians from Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Turkiye and other countries will present contemporary jazz and improvisations on classical pieces. The festival will open with Turkish musician Melih Guzel and his concert “Sounds of Istanbul.” Concerts will be held at the courtyard of the Kirkovo School Museum, the Youth Centre and Ralitsa Club. A poster exhibition featuring the festival’s history from 1997 to 2026 will also be displayed at the Youth Center. The event is organized by Haskovo Municipality and Haskovo Jazz Club. Culture Filip Pavlov BTA correspondent Nikolay Grudev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202027-choirs-from-hong-kong-philippines-romania-bulgaria-compete-in-varna https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1202027-choirs-from-hong-kong-philippines-romania-bulgaria-compete-in-varna Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:53:30 +0300 Choirs from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Romania and Bulgaria are competing on Friday in the 44th Prof. Georgi Dimitrov International Choir Competition in Varna. The event opened at the Festival and Congress Centre. The competition is held in four categories: mixed, equal-voice, chamber and children’s choirs. This year’s participants are Good Hope School Choir from Kowloon, Hong Kong; Kammerchor Manila from Manila, the Philippines; Angeli Choir and Euterpe from Romania; and Bulgaria’s Ohana Youth Chamber Choir from Sofia, conducted by Dimitar Kostantsaliev. Over the three-day competition programme, the choirs will give a series of performances assessed by an international jury comprising Slavil Dimitrov and Milena Dobreva of Bulgaria, Leon Tong of China, Naomi Faran of Israel and Bernie Sherlock of Ireland. The International Choir Competition in Varna was established in 1967. Since 1982, it has borne the name of Bulgarian composer Georgi Dimitrov, regarded as the founder of the modern Bulgarian choral school. The Varna competition is part of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing circuit. The competition is organized by Varna Municipality with the assistance of the Culture Ministry, the Bulgarian Choral Union, the Union of Music and Dance Artists and the Union of Bulgarian Composers. The final round and awards ceremony are scheduled for September 12 at 7 p.m. at Yunashki Salon. The laureates will give a closing concert at Independence Square after the ceremony. Culture Tatiana Marinova BTA Correspondent Esra Alieva BTA correspondent Valentina Dobrincheva https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201957-book-alley-to-host-author-events-and-democratic-mosaic-festival https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201957-book-alley-to-host-author-events-and-democratic-mosaic-festival Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:27:56 +0300 Author events and the opening of the Democratic Mosaic festival are on Friday’s programme at Sofia’s Book Alley fair, which runs until September 13. The fair takes place on Vitosha Boulevard and in the park outside the National Palace of Culture. The programme includes meetings with Katya Antonova, Zachary Karabashliev and Alexander Varhoshkov. The festival is organized by the Citizen Participation Forum. Antonova, a children’s author, will sign books at publisher Ribka’s tent. Varhoshkov will present his debut fantasy novel The Unravelling of the Universe at publisher Biblioteka Bulgaria’s tent. At the same time, the Literary Corner will host a discussion of Heart Time, a collection of correspondence between Ingeborg Bachmann and Paul Celan, with the book’s translator Ana Dimova. The venue will later host a presentation of Poems from the Firing Slit, a poetry collection by young Ukrainian poet, journalist and photographer Maksym Kryvtsov-Dali, who was killed in combat on January 7, 2024, aged 33. Meanwhile, Karabashliev will meet readers at publisher Ciela’s tent, and Simeon Asparuhov will present his new book 33 Days and Nights at Biblioteka Bulgaria’s tent. Stoyan Kanchev will present his debut novel Asphalt at Biblioteka Bulgaria’s tent. Other literary events on September 11 include meetings with writer and artist Satanasov, Maria Doneva, Demetra Duleva, Vesela Genova and Dragostina Krumova. The Democratic Mosaic festival’s cultural stage programme on Friday will feature Kukeri Surprise, performed by a troupe from Pernik. This will be followed by a presentation of the city’s bid to become European Youth Capital in 2029 and then a fire show by the La Flame troupe. For the third year in a row, BTA is operating its National Book Press Club at Sofia’s Book Alley. It is one of the agency’s 43 national press clubs in Bulgaria and abroad. Two are temporary: one aboard Bulgaria’s first naval research vessel, Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), and one at book fairs. BTA is a media partner of the Bulgarian Book Association. Culture Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201939-young-greek-artists-to-exhibit-at-two-sofia-galleries https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/1201939-young-greek-artists-to-exhibit-at-two-sofia-galleries Fri, 11 Sep 2026 07:36:00 +0300 The Borders / Synora exhibition of work by young Greek artists opens at Sofia’s Goethe-Institut and Doza galleries on Friday evening, the organizers said. A month later, on October 12, Bulgarian artists will exhibit at two galleries in Thessaloniki, the Goethe-Institut and To Pickap. The Sofia exhibition will feature Daphne Vlasidou, Kostas Xanthis, Konstantina Fakou, Alexandra Papavasiliou, Georgia Sozou, Maria Anna Sauridou, Efstathia Savvidou, Kalliopi Fesara, Aneta Timotheou and Sofia Kiousi. Works by Bilyana Tokmakchieva, Hana Mishel Ivanov, Kiril Buhovski, Kalin Mihov, Lyuba Maznova, Ina Dobreva, Filip Boyadzhiev, Sveta Atanasova, Georgi Pavlov and Samuil Velev will be shown in Thessaloniki. The curatorial team comprises Savvidou (Greece) and Gergana Minkova (Bulgaria). The project is organized by The Artist at Play (TAAP), a community of young and emerging artists based in Sofia that promotes collaboration, creativity and mutual support. It aims to encourage artistic exchange through a series of group exhibitions featuring young artists from both countries, bringing the two art scenes closer together and overcoming barriers to their interaction. Despite their geographical proximity, free movement within the Schengen area and traditionally high numbers of Bulgarian tourists visiting Greece, the visual arts communities in Sofia and Thessaloniki remain relatively unfamiliar with each other, the organizers said. One reason, they said, is that many arts professionals have traditionally looked "to the West", towards prestigious galleries, institutions and major international events. This focus has also contributed to a shortage of lasting regional partnerships and exchange initiatives in the Balkans. Curator and cultural researcher Melanie Roumiguiere (Germany/Argentina) will be a special guest of the project in Sofia and Thessaloniki. She will lead a workshop in Sofia on September 12 and meet project participants and members of the local art scene. Roumiguiere headed the visual arts department of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Artists-in-Berlin programme, an international residency programme, for many years. Her work focuses on the relationship between local and global artistic contexts, with a particular interest in curatorial practices that broaden and rethink the traditional boundaries of art institutions. The accompanying programme in Sofia includes a discussion with Savvidou, Xanthis and Vlasidou on September 14. An interactive children’s game, Discover Contemporary Art: A Treasure Hunt, is scheduled for September 19, with advance registration required. A curator-led tour of Doza Gallery and the Goethe-Institut follows on September 25. Balkans Kaloyan Kirilov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201869-photography-exhibition-in-varna-marks-70-years-of-bulgaria-indonesia-diplomatic- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201869-photography-exhibition-in-varna-marks-70-years-of-bulgaria-indonesia-diplomatic- Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:02:00 +0300 A photography exhibition at the City Art Gallery in Varna marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Indonesia. Titled “Indonesia: Between Roots and Becoming,” the exhibition features 75 photographs by 14 photographers. Indonesia’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Listiana Operananta opened the exhibition, noting that it consists of five interconnected thematic sections. The first section explores traditions, rituals and culture, showing how everyday life remains deeply connected to heritage and collective memory. This is followed by landscapes highlighting the connection between people and the natural world. The third section captures the rhythm of local markets, colorful stalls and neighborhood corners. The fourth section delves into the dynamic pulse of modern Indonesian cities, illustrating how infrastructure connects millions of lives across the country. The exhibition concludes with a section offering a look at young people shaping the future through education and digital innovation. Operananta said that over the decades, ties between Bulgaria and Indonesia have steadily developed in many areas, but people-to-people contacts need to become even more active in order to lay the foundations for their shared future development. She also thanked Indonesia’s Honorary Consul in Varna Krasimir Simov, who made the event possible. Doroteya Pavlova, director of the gallery, noted that the exhibition was curated by Indonesian photographer, lecturer and researcher Andang Iskandar. The project was initially conceived as a solo exhibition showcasing his journey through the archipelago. During the process, however, he realized that a single visual narrative would not be enough to portray a country comprising hundreds of islands and diverse ethnic, cultural and religious communities. He therefore expanded the project to include fellow photographers, selecting the works from some 400 images. Iskandar stressed that the selection process was not about seeking individual masterpieces but about discovering how the images complement one another, creating a narrative that no single photographer could achieve alone, Pavlova added. The photographers featured in the exhibition are Amalia Nurbayti, Andang Iskandar, Arbain Rambey, Eureka R’Bee, Erly Bahsan, Fauzan Kesuma, Flora Rikin, Fredy Cendika, Irfan Kamil, R.Y. Adam Panji, Shauma Silmi Faza, Rully Suryono, Sjuaibun Iljas and Utami Dewi Godjali. The event also featured a traditional dance from East Java depicting the dancer’s journey toward maturity and initiation, performed by The Enchanting Roses of the Archipelago, the Indonesian Embassy in Sofia’s dance group.  The exhibition will remain open to visitors at the gallery until September 20. Culture Yoana Vodenicharova BTA correspondent Valentina Dobrincheva https://www.bta.bg/en/bg-world/1201794-cultural-alternative-tsaribrod-association-opens-office-in-serbian-border-town https://www.bta.bg/en/bg-world/1201794-cultural-alternative-tsaribrod-association-opens-office-in-serbian-border-town Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:07:00 +0300 An office of the Cultural Alternative Tsaribrod Association was officially opened on Thursday in the Serbian border town of Tsaribrod, providing a space for book publishing, cultural meetings and initiatives supporting the Bulgarian language, culture and identity. The ceremony was attended by Bulgarian Ambassador to Serbia Angel Angelov, Bulgarian Consul General in Nis Dimitar Ivanov, representatives of the presidential institution, local and municipal authorities, members and associates of the association, guests and journalists. Messages of greetings were read out on behalf of President Iliana Iotova, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova, the Bulgarian National Assembly and the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad. The association's Chair, Iva Simeonov, said that their common mission was to keep the identity, language and spirit of Bulgarians in Serbia alive. She said the new office was intended to serve as a venue for meetings with writers and artists, exchanges of ideas, exhibitions and literary evenings, as well as a place where young people could receive information and support when applying to study in Bulgaria and during their education there. Bulgarian Ambassador to Serbia Angel Angelov highlighted the role of books in the digital age. Bulgarian Consul General in Nis Dimitar Ivanov said that the organization was entrusted with preserving Bulgarian identity in Serbia. The opening ceremony concluded with a short artistic programme, during which several local girls performed popular Bulgarian folk songs, while students from Tsaribrod staged a scene depicting a meeting between Bulgarians living on the two sides of the border. Book publishing is the main activity of the Cultural Alternative Tsaribrod Association, which has so far published five issues of the Cultural Alternative magazine, Simeonov told BTA. The Association is also working on the “Word and Light under the Lens” project, which includes new books, collections of students' works and initiatives aimed at familiarizing the public with Bulgarian and Serbian literature. Among its upcoming tasks is the publication of two Bulgarian- and European-literature study guides in Bulgarian for prospective university students from Serbia preparing to study in Bulgaria. The association works with Bulgarians from different parts of Serbia and provides its publications to schools, libraries and Bulgarian associations, Simeonov explained. The Cultural Alternative Tsaribrod Association was founded in 2024 and works to preserve and develop Bulgarian national identity, language and culture in Serbia, with a particular focus on book publishing and fostering ties between Bulgarian and Serbian writers and artists. BG World Konstantin Karagyozov BTA special correspondent Tsvetozar Tsakov https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201783-national-television-host-georgi-angelov-s-removal-discussed-by-regulator-and-pol https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201783-national-television-host-georgi-angelov-s-removal-discussed-by-regulator-and-pol Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:06:00 +0300 The removal of long-serving journalist Georgi Angelov as host of History.BG, a Monday evening show of Bulgarian National Television (BNT), was discussed by the electronic media regulator on Thursday and elicited further political statements. Angelov announced his removal in a Facebook post on Wednesday. BNT said in a statement that the move was part of a broader change to its programming strategy. The public-service broadcaster noted that it is not parting with any of its presenters or long-serving journalists. Opposition politicians suspect pressure from the government. It transpired that Angelov's other programme, To Europe and Forward, was also removed from the airwaves of BNT2. On Thursday, the issue was discussed by the Council for Electronic Media (CEM). The regulator decided to hold a hearing of the BNT management regarding its plans for programming changes which the broadcaster said have led to Angelov's removal. The hearing will take place as the BNT management reports its half-year performance. Meanwhile, the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party said it has notified the European Commission and the European Board for Media Services about the case and is awaiting an explanation from BNT. The DSB's national leadership will file a report with CEM asking it to determine whether the decision concerning Angelov was based on editorial criteria or resulted from political pressure, including pressure from Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov. "For DSB, this is a signal with a clear political meaning that fits into a broader trend in recent months. This is yet another blow to BNT's independence,” the party's press office said. DSB accused Hristov of seeking to establish control over the narrative of Bulgaria's past. The Continue the Change parliamentary group submitted a request for a parliamentary hearing of BNT Director General Milena Milotinova and CEM Chair Gabriela Naplatanova. The coalition's leader, Asen Vasilev, said History.BG is a long-running programme that has continued under different administrations without interference in its editorial policy. He said it is important to establish why Angelov was removed and whether the decision was related in any way to the programme's editorial policy or to episodes that have been planned. During a meeting of the National Assembly Committee on Culture and the Media on Thursday, Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev declined to comment on Angelov's removal, invoking media independence. The issue was raised by MP Ivo Mihaylov of the Continue the Change parliamentary group. Miloshev described the question as a serious one and said that the media must be independent, while every journalist has the right to hold and express their own opinion. "Political rhetoric often does not solve problems but creates them or makes them worse," the Culture Minister said. Culture BTA team https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201758-30-graffiti-artists-to-give-ivan-vazov-market-underpass-makeover-at-sofia-urban- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201758-30-graffiti-artists-to-give-ivan-vazov-market-underpass-makeover-at-sofia-urban- Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:00:34 +0300 Thirty graffiti artists from Bulgaria and other countries will work on 1,000 square metres of walls in an underpass near Ivan Vazov Market in Sofia on September 26 and 27 during the 7th Sofia Urban Art Festival, the event's organizers said. The festival is organized by Sofia Graffiti Tour under the motto “United in Colors” and will bring together artists from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Denmark, Indonesia, the Republic of North Macedonia, Greece and Germany. Participants include WD (Wild Drawing) from Indonesia, Mr Cenz from the UK, Bates from Denmark, Ceser’87 and Saker from Spain, Collin van der Sluijs from the Netherlands, Pedro Podre from Portugal, and Roza from Poland. WD (Wild Drawing) works with 3D graffiti and anamorphic images. Mr Cenz combines photorealism and abstraction. Bates draws on elements of the New York graffiti tradition and abstract art. Ceser’87 and Saker work with 3D forms and realism, while Collin van der Sluijs creates murals inspired by nature. Pedro Podre is known for an illustrative style, while Roza combines graffiti and tattoo art. Bulgarian participants include Djo Venci, Yeto (Ivo Iliev), the RAGS duo — Yordan Kostov and Pavel Tsarov — and Maque. Djo Venci will create the background of the walls using calligraphic and typographic elements. Yeto works in mural art and painting, while RAGS works in graffiti and street art. Maque words across fine art, comics, tattooing, street art and graffiti. The programme includes art workshops, music, dance demonstrations, interactive games and activities for children. Visitors will be able to take part in creating graffiti and searching for hidden objects in the urban environment. A zone featuring artists’ prints will also be available. Admission to the festival is free, the organizers said. Sofia Urban Art is part of the Sofia Municipality’s cultural events calendar and is co-financed by the Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation. The event is held with the support of Triaditsa District of Sofia Municipality, the embassies of the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, the UK and Indonesia, the Camoes Portuguese Cultural Centre in Sofia, and the Polish Institute in Sofia. Culture Yoana Vodenicharova https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201663-culture-minister-declines-to-comment-on-national-television-presenter-s-removal- https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201663-culture-minister-declines-to-comment-on-national-television-presenter-s-removal- Thu, 10 Sep 2026 17:51:00 +0300 During a meeting of the National Assembly Committee on Culture and the Media on Thursday, Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev declined to comment on the removal of presenter Georgi Angelov from the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) airwaves. The issue was raised by MP Ivo Mihaylov of the Continue the Change parliamentary group. Mihaylov said the matter has attracted public attention for a second consecutive day, and BNT presenter Georgi Angelov has been removed without clear criteria being presented to him or made public. The MP noted that Angelov has been part of the programme for years. He asked Minister Miloshev for his personal view on the removal of hosts from popular programmes that attract significant public interest. In his response, Miloshev described the question as a serious one and said that the media must be independent, while every journalist has the right to hold and express their own opinion. "I would not in any way allow myself, from the institutional position I hold, to make a comment or set a direction. Because, as I have said on another issue, political rhetoric often does not solve problems but creates them or makes them worse," the Culture Minister said. On Wednesday, BNT said its programming is currently being updated and the public broadcaster is not parting with any of its long-serving journalists. The issue was also discussed at Thursday's meeting of the Council for Electronic Media (CEM). The regulator decided to hear from BNT Director General Milena Milotinova and the public broadcaster's Management Board about the planned programming changes, including the removal of journalist Georgi Angelov as host of History.BG and the taking of his other programme, To Europe and Forward, from the airwaves of BNT2. Culture Valentin Evstatiev Ivan Dolev https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201424-electronic-media-regulator-discusses-removal-of-tv-anchor-by-boadcaster https://www.bta.bg/en/news/culture/1201424-electronic-media-regulator-discusses-removal-of-tv-anchor-by-boadcaster Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:15:00 +0300 The Council for Electronic Media (CEM) decided Thursday to hold a hearing of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) management regarding planned programming changes which the broadcaster said have led to the removal of long-term anchor Georgi Angelov from the History.BG programme. The proposal for a hearing topped the agenda of the regulator. The hearing will take place as the BNT management reports its half-year performance. Georgi Angelov announced on Facebook Thursday that BNT's programme director had informed him that he would no longer host or edit History.BG, adding that it had also been officially confirmed that his other programme, To Europe and Forward, had been taken off air. BNT said in a statement that it was not parting with any of its presenters or long-serving journalists, explaining that, following an analysis of audience perceptions, its overall programming and future plans, it had decided that programmes should have permanent rather than rotating presenters. The explanation was criticised by Yes, Bulgaria, which said it was obscured by “verbal fog” and failed to answer the key question of why Angelov had been removed, questioning whether there was a professional reason or whether his openly critical stance towards the authorities had become unacceptable. The party said such administrative euphemisms only strengthened suspicions of political retaliation and could encourage self-censorship among journalists, while accusing Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov of contributing to pressure on journalists and calling on the government to account for the gap between its stated commitment to media freedom and its conduct. Continue the Change leader Assen Vassilev said Angelov's removal had “crossed the line”, adding that his party had requested documents on the matter and would seek hearings of the BNT Director General and the Chair of the Council for Electronic Media to establish the written motives for the decision, the criteria for the programming change and whether it was related to editorial content. As she reasoned her proposal for a hearing on Angelov's removal, CEM member Prolet Velkova said he is a renowned journalist with decades of professional experience, and his programmes have high educational value and solid audience. "His programmes, I believe, are unique in having a very high educational effect on the audience and it is beyond doubt that among the key missions of the public broadcaster is to educate its audience and society," Velkova commented. The CEM members took diverging positions on the case. CEM member Prolet Velkova proposed that the regulator write to BNT Director General Milena Milotinova requesting a written explanation of the grounds for the personnel decision, noting that a petition signed by prominent figures in support of Georgi Angelov had also been submitted; her proposal was backed only by herself, with three members abstaining. CEM member Kadrinka Kadrinova expressed concern that the case had prompted a predominantly political rather than public reaction and said CEM should not become an “echo” of political statements or act as a media judge, arguing that BNT's new management should be given an opportunity to implement and explain its new programming schedule. She also said politicians had the right to express their views but should not influence the regulator's work, and warned that portraying Angelov as the target of political pressure could undermine his journalistic authority by suggesting he was seen as a political representative within BNT. CEM member Simona Veleva said she supported BNT's management and the CEM chair, arguing that attempts to summon them to Parliament over the case for political purposes and portray the decision as censorship amounted to undue political interference in the autonomy of both BNT and the regulator. While acknowledging Angelov's grounds for suspecting political motives, she said the available information showed no evidence that particular views or content had been restricted, noting that BNT intended to move towards a more uniform programming approach with recognizable permanent presenters. CEM Chair Gabriela Naplatanova stressed that protecting media freedom and editorial independence was central to the regulator's role, but said BNT should explain its planned programming changes more broadly, including as part of the management's six-month report. She emphasized that the BNT director general had the right to choose the broadcaster's team, while public-service media were required by law to operate transparently, with pluralism, impartiality and neutrality, and without external interference in editorial decisions. Culture Vanya Suharova