23rd International Children’s Ethno Festival
„Children on the Balkans – with their
Spiritual Wealth in Europe”

Chamber vocal groups

• The number of participants in the groups is up to 9 persons (duet, trio, quartet, etc.).
• Participants perform 2 songs with a total duration of up to 5 min.
• Accompaniment is at the choice of the participants (singback or orchestra up to 5 persons).

Large vocal groups and choirs performing folk songs

• The minimum number of participants is 10.
• The vocal groups perform 2 songs with a total duration of up to 5 min. or a folklore custom of up to 6 min.
• Accompaniment is at the choice of the participants – singback or orchestra up to 5 persons.

Large vocal groups and choirs performing pop, jazz or rock songs

• The minimum number of participants is 10.
• The vocal groups perform 2 songs with a total duration of up to 5 min.
• Accompaniment is at the choice of the participants – singback or orchestra up to 5 persons.

Large vocal groups performing original (author’s) songs

• The minimum number of participants is 10.
• Participants perform 2 songs with a total duration of up to 5 min.
• The accompaniment is singback or orchestra of up to 5 persons.

Chamber Dance Groups

• The number of participants in the chamber dance groups is up to 9 persons.
• Chamber dances should be up to 5 minutes in total.

Dance collectives

• The number of participants is up to 35 persons.
• The dance collectives present a program of up to 6 min.

Ensembles (dance ensemble, choir and orchestra)

• The number of participants is up to 35 persons.
• Ensembles present a program of up to 7 min.

DANCE

CONTEMPORARY DANCE (MODERN BALLET, STREET DANCE, HIP-HOP), CHARACTER DANCE, SPORTS DANCE AND CLASSICAL BALLET

Individual performers – dancers

• Participants from all age groups perform a program of up to 5 min.

Chamber dance groups up to 9 people

• Performers in the category Chamber Dance Groups from all age groups perform a program for up to 5 min.

Dance collectives up to 35 people

• Performers in the category Dance collectives from all age groups perform a program of up to 6 minutes.

The specific requirements for each category can be found in the relevant section.
The competition programme will run from 30 May to 1 June according to the following schedule:

• 30 May 2026
  ✅ 10.00 – Opening of the ethno festival;< ✅ 10.30 – Start of the competition programme; ✅ Category „Folklore - dance"; ✅ 18.00 - Awarding of the winners in the "Folklore - dance" category;
• 31 May 2026
  10.00 – Start of the competition programme – categories:
  ✅ “Folklore” – vocal;
  ✅ “Pop, Jazz and Rock” – vocal;
  ✅ “Instrumentalists – folk instruments”;
  ✅ “Instrumentalists – classical and contemporary instruments”;
  ✅ 18.00 – Awarding ceremony for the winners in the categories “Folklore – vocal”, “Pop, Jazz and Rock – vocal”, “Instrumentalists – folk instruments”, “Instrumentalists – classical and contemporary instruments”;
• 1 June 2026
  10.00 – Start of the competition programme – categories:
  ✅ “Modern Ballet”;
  ✅ “Classical Ballet”;
  ✅ “Character dances”;
  ✅ “Sport dances”;
  ✅ “Hip Hop”;
  ✅ 18.00 – Awarding ceremony for the winners in the categories “Modern Ballet”, “Classical Ballet”, “Character Dance”, “Sport Dance”, “Hip Hop”.

Registration for participation should be made in electronic form by 10.04.2026.

The registration of the participants shall be guaranteed by a participation fee paid to the following bank account:

Charity Fund “Prof. Dr. Zhelyazko Hristov”
IBAN: BG34UNCR76301010291100; BIC code UNCRBGSF;
UniCredit Bulbank
Reason – participation fee for ………………………………………………… (performer, dance group, collective)

You need to submit the following materials and documents:

• Fill in the electronic application form by 10.04.2026;
• Send 2 photos of the performer by e-mail (individual, chamber or large formation) and a video clip of the performance, which can be on a file or a link to a video;
• Sign a Declaration under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and a Declaration on Copyright Protection. You can send them either by email – scanned with a signature, or you can fill in and sign them on paper at the registration point in the village of Mineralni bani.

Contact persons

For participants from Bulgaria:

• Reni Dzhagalova –
  02/4010423;
  0884458554;
  e-mail:
  rpsaltova@citub.net;
  rdzhagalova@gmail.com

For participants from abroad:

• Gergana Doynova –
  +359 2 40 10 439;
  +359899331966;
  e-mail:
  gdoynova@citub.net;
  rpsaltova@citub.net

Schedule

The schedule (scenario) for the order of appearance of the participants shall be determined by the Organizing Committee. Participants will be informed of their order of performance by 20.05.2026.

Participation fee

In support of the organization and holding of the 23RD International Children’s Ethno Festival, a participation fee has been set as follows:

• For participants from Bulgaria who travel from a distance of less than 100 km to Mineralni bani, Haskovo region and are not allowed to use accommodation at the expense of the organizers, the participation fee is 12 EUR per participant. If desired and requested in advance, accommodation can be booked at the participants’ expense;
• For participants from Bulgaria who travel from a distance of more than 100 km to Mineralni bani, Haskovo region and who are entitled to 1 (one) overnight stay at the expense of the organizers, the participation fee is 20,00 EUR per participant, including the musicians performing accompaniment. If a second night at the expense of the participants is desired and requested in advance, it will be taken into account when booking the hotel (guest house);
• For participants from abroad, the participation fees are determined according to the number of nights they have requested to use at the expense of the organizers:
  • ✔ Foreign participants who have requested 3 nights on 29, 30 and 31 May or on 30, 31 May and 1 June, depending on the period of stay, respectively the category in which they will participate, the participation fee is 60,00 EUR per participant, including the musicians performing accompaniment;
  • ✔ Foreign participants who have requested 4 nights on 29, 30, 31 May and 1 June, the participation fee is 80,00 EUR per participant, including musicians performing accompaniment.

Bank account:

Charity Fund “Prof. Dr. Zhelyazko Hristov”
IBAN: BG34UNCR76301010291100; BIC code UNCRBGSF;
UniCredit Bulbank
Reason – participation fee for …………………………………………………
(performer, dance group, collective)

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Participants in the Ethno Festival who register by March 10, 2026 will enjoy a discount of 10% per participant as follows: – EUR 10.80 for participants from Bulgaria who do not use overnight accommodation at the expense of the organizers; – EUR 18 for participants from Bulgaria who use 1 overnight accommodation at the expense of the organizers; – EUR 54 for participants from abroad who use 3 overnight accommodation at the expense of the organizers and EUR 72 for participants from abroad who use 4 overnight accommodation at the expense of the organizers.
• The deadline for submission of applications is 10 April 2026. Those who submit an application between 11 March and 10 April will pay the regular fee of EUR 12 for participants from Bulgaria who do not use accommodation at the expense of the organisers; EUR 25 for participants from Bulgaria who use 1 night accommodation at the expense of the organisers; EUR 75 for participants from abroad who use 3 nights at the expense of the organizers and EUR 100 for participants from abroad who use 4 nights at the expense of the organizers.
• Those wishing to receive an invoice must pay the participation fee by bank transfer and provide details on the online application form of the legal entity (organization, community centre, cultural centre, etc.) or individual who made the payment.

Financial information

• The organizers cover the accommodation costs of the participants in the Children’s Ethno Festival under the following conditions:
  • ✔ Participants from Bulgaria who travel from a distance of more than 100 km from the festival venue – Mineralni bani, Haskovo region, are entitled to 1 (one) night’s accommodation per participant, accompanying persons, driver and medical person. If desired, a second night can be booked at the expense of the participants;
  • ✔ Participants from abroad who have paid a participation fee of EUR 60 per participant are entitled to 3 nights at the expense of the organizers on 29, 30 and 31 May or on 30, 31 May and 1 June – depending on the period of stay and respectively the category in which they will perform;
  • ✔ Participants from abroad who have paid a participation fee of EUR 80 per participant are entitled to 4 nights at the expense of the organizers on 29, 30, 31 May and 1 June;
  • ✔ As a souvenir of the Children’s Ethno Festival, participants will receive a T-shirt, a brochure, invitations to participate in competitions and shows, priceless acquaintances and friendships, emotional and inspiring experiences.

The requirements for accompanying persons to children participants at the Festival are as follows:

• For a group of up to 12 children – 1 leader, 1 accompanying person, 1 driver and 1 medical person;
• For a group of more than 12 children, the number of accompanying persons increases proportionally to the number of children;

The organizers shall not cover accommodation costs of accompanying persons not included in the previously sent list with the names of participants and accompanying persons.

In the event of material damage caused by the participants in the accommodation facilities, as well as poor discipline, responsibility will be sought from the leader of the group.