European Music Festival in Sofia offers an exciting autumn programme

Following a successful spring season featuring performances by renowned artists such as Mikhail Pletnev and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the European Music Festival is inviting music lovers to a new series of exciting events this autumn. The 26th edition of the festival will feature established names from the Bulgarian and international music scenes, as well as talented young performers.

The programme also features the finale of the successful “Stradivarius Collection” series, giving audiences another opportunity to experience the extraordinary sound of masterfully crafted violins made more than three centuries ago. The festival programme includes seven concerts, which will take place in Sofia from October 3 to December 14, 2026.

The autumn season opens with a mini-series of two events at Bulgaria Chamber Hall. On October 3, renowned pianist Ludmil Angelov will perform with Trio Semper, an ensemble founded in Spain by established artists with international careers. The trio comprises violinist Liana Gourdjia, violist Rumen Tsvetkov and cellist Gabriel Ureña.

On October 13, a recital by two young artists will take place – Danish violinist Stefan Burkhardt, a two-time prizewinner at the Cantus Firmus International Violin Competition, and Spanish pianist Laura Mota Pello, a laureate of the prestigious Géza Anda Competition in Switzerland. Both artists have previously performed in Bulgaria as part of other projects.

On October 14, the European Music Festival will join the celebrations marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”. The gala concert will feature the Academic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Prof. Dr. Georgi Patrikov, and young soloists who are graduates of the academy. One of the festival’s most anticipated autumn events is once again the “Stradivarius Collection” series.

On October 26, the second season of the successful series will conclude with a performance by Mila Georgieva, playing the Stradivarius Montbel violin, cellist Atanas Krastev, and musicians from the Cantus Firmus Orchestra, conducted by Grigor Palikarov.

The fifth edition of the “Cantus Firmus” Music Competition for Young Instrumentalists will take place in October and November. The competition is open to young performers up to the age of 25, including pianists, string and wind instrument players, as well as chamber ensembles. The winners’ gala concert and awards ceremony will be held on November 8.

The Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra will present a major orchestral programme at the European Music Festival on November 20 at Bulgaria Hall. The concert will be conducted by the orchestra’s chief conductor, Konstantin Ilievsky, with cellist Atanas Krastev as the soloist.

The festival will conclude on December 14 at Bulgaria Hall with a piano recital by renowned pianist Ludmil Angelov, who is internationally recognised for his interpretations of Frédéric Chopin’s works.

The European Music Festival is organised by Cantus Firmus Music Agency with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture and Sofia Municipality.

Edited by Tsvetana Toncheva

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov