Expect the Children’s Roma Festival “Open Heart” – June 5-6, 2026

Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance “Amalipe” organizes the “Children’s Roma Festival “Open Heart” on June 5-6, 2026 in the city of Veliko Tarnovo. In addition to the stage program, in which children and students participate, a series of cultural events will be held that show, affirm and promote various aspects of Roma culture: presentation of authentic Roma folklore, an alley of Roma crafts, theater performances, a recital of Roma poetry, exhibitions, etc. The festival will also expand its geographical scope, including international participants who will enrich cultural diversity and help create new bridges between different nations and cultures.

The goal of the festival is to give children from different ethnic groups the opportunity to express themselves and to stimulate their lasting interest in the educational process as a whole. Its main idea is to show that the folklore of each ethnic group carries its own cultural wealth and is indispensable for our existence and communication as a single nation.

The festival is aimed at preserving, developing and popularizing Roma culture and folklore, as well as presenting the city of Veliko Tarnovo as a tourist destination.

We expect representatives of various institutions at the regional and national level, as well as ambassadors of embassies in Bulgaria, to join the Open Heart Festival.

The official opening of the festival will be on June 5, traditionally in the park “Marno Pole” in Veliko Tarnovo. The program includes a colorful variety of songs, dances, holiday customs, fairy tales and traditions of the Roma, Bulgarians, Turks and other ethnic groups living in Bulgaria. The audience of the festival will be fascinated by the variety and mood that the participants will bring. They will also be able to see products made by the skillful hands of children in the interest clubs. A number of accompanying events are also organized within the framework of the festival.

From 5:30 p.m., the traditional procession of all participants in the festival will take place along the central street of Veliko Tarnovo “Vasil Levski”. The procession starts from the Students’ Hall and will end with a final dance in front of the Mother Bulgaria monument.

How to apply for participation in the festival:

• dance – maximum duration of 5 min. of performance. It is mandatory to include Roma motifs, clothing, music

or

• musical performance (song) – maximum duration 5 min. Roma costume and music must be used.

The organizers do not cover travel, food and accommodation costs for participants.

For more information: tel. 062/600-224, +359 882540242