Balgarianovinite.com The National Gallery was chosen for the Golden Age awards ceremony as a sign of respect for the honoured artists, Minister of Culture Evtim Miloshev said on Wednesday. The Ministry of Culture presented the awards to prominent artists and cultural figures.
The ceremony opened with young pianist Mikaela Kozhuharova of the Lyubomir Pipkov National School of Music performing Chopin’s Polonaise. Host Dia Mantova, chief expert at the Ministry of Culture’s Performing Arts and Art Education Directorate, highlighted the role of the 23 arts and culture schools under the Ministry and the ties between generations of artists. She also noted the success of Darina Yotova-Dara, known as Dara, a graduate of the Dobri Hristov National School of Arts in Varna, who won Eurovision a few days earlier.
The highest distinction, the Golden Age necklace and certificate, was awarded to leading figures with outstanding contributions to Bulgarian culture and spirituality. The recipients were Vassil Gyuzelev, one of Bulgaria’s foremost medievalists, composer and conductor Lyubomir Denev, actor Valentin Ganev, writer and screenwriter Rada Moskova, whose award was accepted by her son Tedi Moskov, pianist and teacher Borislava Taneva, and, posthumously, Mihail Belchev. Belchev’s award was accepted by his wife, Kristina Belcheva.
The Golden Age star and certificate went to architects Belin Mollov and Ivan Genov, composer Milko Kolarov, actress Mara Chapanova, theatre scholars Bogdana Kosturkova and Borislav Petranov, and director Kostadin Bonev.
The Golden Age honorary badge, the gold seal of Tsar Simeon the Great, was presented to cultural and museum figures including Plamen Mademov, Atanas Kapralov, architects Slavi Slavov and Vladimir Rachev, director Ilian Djevelekov, Alexander Donev, Ivo Draganov, historian and archaeologist Plamen Ivanov, and composer Georgi Petkov.
The silver seal of Tsar Simeon the Great went to restorer Ilinka Chergarova, curator Ivo Milev, composer Dora Draganova, and choreographers Vasil Radev and Olesya Pantikina.
Contribution to the Development of Culture plaques were presented to diplomats and cultural figures including Iskra Angelova and Desislava Chakarova for their work in international cultural cooperation and cultural heritage protection, as well as Stoyanka Tenova-Ilchevska, director of the National School of Folk Arts in the village of Shiroka Laka, Martin Ivanov Mladenov, known as DJ Marti G, singer Roumyana Kotseva, and composer Stefan Slavov. The National Literary Museum was also honoured on its 50th anniversary.
Certificates for contribution to Bulgarian culture were awarded to Tihomir Trifonov and writer Ivanka Topolova-Topareva.
Young talent once again closed the ceremony. Harpist Eksena Kostova performed works by Marcel Grandjany and Alphonse Hasselmans, and the audience applauded her, Yana Krasteva, and Mikaela Kozhuharova, the three students of the Lyubomir Pipkov National School of Music who served as a symbol of continuity between generations in Bulgarian culture. Culture Ministry Honours Artists with Golden Age Awards 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-05-20 17:50:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law