European Music Festival, 26th edition

Founded in 2001 and organised annually by the Cantus Firmus music agency, the European Music Festival has firmly established its prestigious place in Bulgaria’s cultural life. For 25 years, the festival has developed a multifaceted programme and presented dozens of concerts on leading stages in Sofia, becoming an important hub for outstanding artists, diverse musical styles, and new artistic ideas. Thanks to its high artistic standards and strong international presence, the EMF holds a well-deserved position among Europe’s notable festivals.The 26th edition in 2026 offers a powerful programme featuring leading Bulgarian and international classical musicians: the Sofia Philharmonic with pianist Mikhail Pletnev, the Wiener KammerOrchester, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra with soloist Atanas Krastev, Sirba Octet, as well as violinists Albena Danailova, Lia Petrova, Vesko Eschkenazy and Mila Georgieva, who will take part in the second season of the successful “Stradivarius Collection” series. The festival will also host the 5th edition of the National Competition for Young Instrumentalists “Cantus Firmus”, and on 20 November a piano recital by the distinguished Bulgarian pianist Lyudmil Angelov will be presented.The European Music Festival 2026 remains true to its mission to enrich Sofia’s musical landscape and to promote Bulgarian culture within a European context.