From August 26 to 30, 2026, the Bulgarian Black Sea coast will host the XVI World Championship of Folklore “World Folk 2026” – a large-scale international competitive event of the highest rank within the World Folklore Championship System. The championship brings together traditions, cultures, and folk art from all over the world on one stage.

The championship gives participants the opportunity to qualify for the World Folklore Ranking List and to present their cultural heritage to an international audience. The concert and competition programs will be broadcast live via EurofolkTV channels, ensuring global visibility for the performers.

The festival will be hosted by Nessebar, Sunny Beach, and Sveti Vlas – destinations where millennia-old history, seaside atmosphere, and modern cultural life come together. The “World Folk 2026” program includes competitive performances, official opening and closing ceremonies, concert evenings, parades, sightseeing tours, leisure activities, and opportunities for informal cultural exchange among participants.

The championship stages will feature vocal and dance groups, folklore ensembles, orchestras, and individual performers, presenting both authentic and contemporary interpretations of folk art.

The organizers invite folklore groups and performers from Bulgaria and abroad to apply for participation and become part of “World Folk 2026” – a stage where tradition comes to life and cultures meet.