Balgarianovinite.com The fifth anniversary edition of the Dr Emil Iliev International Jazz Festival opened on Friday evening in the mountain resort of Borovets. The festival will run through August 4, featuring a rich programme of jazz performances. It is held under the patronage of Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova and opened with the festival anthem, performed by the Blagoevgrad Big Band.
Festival Director Tatyana Ilieva presented honorary Dr Emil Iliev plaques to a number of sponsors, supporters, and colleagues in recognition of their contribution to the festival. Among the recipients were Samokov Mayor Angel Dzhorgov, Veska Todorova, the municipality’s chief public relations expert, as well as the event’s hosts Boris Pankin, Nikolay Zahariev, and Eliana Zaharieva, who is also a member of the organizing team.
Ilieva noted that this year’s edition marks a small milestone for the festival in its current home of Borovets. She said the organizers’ ambition is to make jazz a major attraction for both the resort and its visitors.
“The smiles on your faces give us every reason to believe that what we have set out to do is the right thing,” Ilieva said, thanking the leadership of Samokov Municipality for its continued support.
“We are not simply opening another music festival, we are continuing a tradition established nearly 30 years ago by Dr Emil Iliev,” she added.
Deputy Tourism Minister Georgi Todorov said he was delighted to be in Borovets and congratulated both the municipality and the organizers. He noted that art knows no boundaries and resonates across mountains such as the nearby Rila range, expressing hope that the festival would attract even more visitors in the years ahead.
During the ceremony, Todorov presented the festival’s honorary award to Vasil Hristov, a 12-year-old athlete who has won numerous national and international awards in swimming, cycling, and running (triathlon).
Mayor Angel Dzhorgov said Samokov Municipality is proud to have included the festival in its cultural calendar for the past five years, describing it as the municipality’s most significant cultural event. He added that the festival creates added value for the region by attracting visitors and culture enthusiasts, and expressed confidence that this year’s edition would maintain its high standards.
Bulgarian National Television journalist Angel Bonchev read congratulatory messages from President Iliana Iotova, Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev and Sports Minister Encho Keryazov. Keryazov’s message also included congratulations to the young athlete Vasil Hristov.
In her message, President Iotova said that over the years the festival has firmly established itself as one of Bulgaria’s most prestigious music events, bringing together leading Bulgarian and international jazz artists, emerging young talent, and audiences united by their love of music.
The evening continued with a performance by the Blagoevgrad Big Band, whose programme featured not only jazz but also swing, Latin, and funk music.
The festival resumes on Saturday evening, but earlier in the day, readers will have the opportunity to meet acclaimed Bulgarian author Zdravka Evtimova at the Prof. Vasil Zahariev Art Gallery in Samokov. The accompanying programme also includes jazz-themed afternoon film screenings.
The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), which announced the establishment of a National Jazz Press Club in late April, is the festival’s media partner. Fifth Anniversary Edition of Dr Emil Iliev International Jazz Festival Opens in Borovets 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-31 20:31:00 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