In brief
In a Saturday night celebration, the Association of Bulgarian Folk Groups Abroad (ABFGA) marked its decade-long presence with a concert at Sofia's Joy Station. The event, patronized by President Iliana Iotova, brought together international folk ensembles, including Mladost na Megdana, Gurbetchii, and the Pastra Kitka Folk Choir, to perform Bulgarian songs and dances. The evening culminated in a communal dance floor, underscoring the unity of Bulgarians worldwide.
A concert in celebration of the Association of Bulgarian Folk Groups Abroad’s (ABFGA) 10th anniversary took place at Sofia’s Joy Station on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The event, held under the patronage of President Iliana Iotova, assembled folk ensembles from across Europe and the United States to perform traditional Bulgarian songs, dances, and choral pieces, celebrating Bulgaria’s cultural heritage with its diaspora.
The ABFGA announced that the night’s highlight would be a gathering of performers from different corners of the world, united by their love for Bulgarian folklore. The organizers emphasized that the concert would showcase a blend of contemporary interpretations and traditional practices, aiming to both preserve and evolve the folk art.
One featured group was Mladost na Megdana, a youth ensemble of dancers aged 15 to 25 drawn from 19 Bulgarian folk groups located in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. These young dancers, many of whom were born and raised outside Bulgaria, found common ground through Bulgarian folk dances and their shared connection to their roots.
The ABFGA noted,
Created through volunteer work, personal funds, sleepless nights, and immense dedication, Gurbetchii is more than just a dance ensemble. It is a symbol of the unity of Bulgarians around the world and proof that when different destinies come together around a shared heritage and dream, they can create something meaningful for Bulgarian folk art.
Prior to this statement, the ABFGA described the group as a coalition of 55 dancers from more than 25 Bulgarian folk ensembles across Europe and the United States.
Another ensemble performing that night was the Pastra Kitka Folk Choir, which united seven choral groups. The ABFGA said,
Pastra Kitka symbolizes what has been uniting us for 10 years now – our love for Bulgarian songs, folklore, and Bulgaria, no matter how far away we live from it.
After the concert, the organizers announced that they would host an after‑party featuring a folk dance floor. They described how the stage would give way to a communal dance floor where dancers and audience would join hands for a large Bulgarian horo, highlighting the communal and inclusive spirit of the event.
Through a night of music, dance, and shared heritage, the ABFGA’s 10th‑anniversary concert at Sofia’s Joy Station reinforced the organization’s mission to preserve, promote, and develop Bulgarian folklore worldwide, while celebrating the enduring connections among Bulgarian communities abroad.
