27th Edition of the International Masquerade Festival “Kukerlandia”
February 25 - March 1
The Municipality of Yambol announces the opening of the application process for participation in the 27th edition of the International Masquerade Festival “Kukerlandia”, which will take place from February 25 to March 1, 2026, in the town of Yambol.
The competitive parades of youth, men’s, and mixed kukeri groups, as well as masked and carnival ensembles from across Bulgaria and abroad, will be held on February 28 and March 1, 2026, in the city center of Yambol.
This year, the festival regulations have been updated to encourage broader participation and ensure fair public recognition of groups that preserve and pass on living traditions. Each approved group will receive financial support for participation, and the total prize fund of the festival has been increased to 10,000 EUR.
The deadline for submitting applications is February 6, 2026. Applications must be submitted electronically to [email protected] or by post to:
8600 Yambol, “Osvobozhdenie” Square No. 1, Bezisten.
Candidate groups must submit an application form, a competitive program, and a short description of the custom and the group (up to 500 words). All application forms and required declarations are published on the official website of the Municipality of Yambol:
https://yambol.bg/kukerlandia-2026
“Kukerlandia – Yambol 2026” is part of the cultural events through which the municipality marks 15 years of Bulgaria’s membership in UNESCO, in line with the goals of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The festival is held in the context of the Day of Amateur Artistic Creativity and on the eve of Bulgaria’s National Holiday – March 3.
The festival is implemented with the financial support of the European Union – NextGenerationEU, under the project “Cultural Diversity and Innovation in Yambol: Development of Urban Cultural Life through Cooperation and New Formats.”
The organizers are the Municipalities of Yambol and Tundzha.
