Balgarianovinite.com President Iliana Iotova described the Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance festival as an event that has long “transcended the scope of a regular cultural initiative” and established itself as “a significant international forum bringing together Bulgarian artists and folklore ensembles from around the world”.
In a congratulatory address to the Lazarka ensemble, the organizer of the 11th folklore festival, Iotova said the participation of more than 100 groups from 20 countries across three continents turns the gathering into a “true celebration of Bulgarian identity”. The address was read at the opening ceremony on May 15 by Milena Dimitrova, the President’s Secretary for Culture, Education, and Relations with Bulgarians Abroad.
Iotova also said the rich programme of song and dance performances, as well as the traditional marketplace, create a space for cultural exchange, friendship and mutual respect.
During the ceremony, Dimitrova presented several symbolic gifts from Iliana Iotova to the festival’s founder Aneta Ekenova; to the World Dance Collective, which brings together 55 dancers from more than 25 Bulgarian ensembles from Europe and the US; to Mladost na Megdana, which includes 32 young dancers from 19 ensembles across Europe; to Lazarka ensemble leader Plamen Petkov; and to Tsveti Radeva from the Bulgarian National Radio.
The official guests at the opening included Bulgaria’s Consul General in Munich Stefan Ionkov, Munich Deputy Mayor Verena Dietl, Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad Executive Director Raina Mandzhukova, Bulgarian News Agency Director General Kiril Valchev and Western and Central European Metropolitan Anthony.
The festival is themed “Libe Le, Libe Hubavo” and is hosted by the Munich-based Lazarka ensemble led by Plamen Petkov.
A record large number of participants will take the stage at the gathering, with 120 groups and individual performers included in the programme, Petkov told BTA.
Participants have arrived from 21 countries: Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, Malta, United States, South Africa, Netherlands, Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Ireland, Czechia, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is the official media partner of the event, which is taking place at BMW Park in Munich May 15-17.
Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance is an event organized by and for amateur folklore groups performing outside Bulgaria. The gathering was initiated by the Ot Izvora group in Lyon, which hosted both the inaugural edition in 2015 and the 10th edition in 2025. Over the years, the festival has been held in Montpellier (2016), Gandia (2017), Milan (2018), La Nucia (2019), Verona (2020), Copenhagen (2022), Prague (2023) and Palma de Mallorca (2024).
The travelling festival, Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance, was created as a forum for amateur Bulgarian folklore ensembles active outside Bulgaria. Since its launch in 2015, the festival has been hosted in several European cities, reflecting the growing network of Bulgarian cultural communities abroad and their efforts to preserve national traditions through music and dance.
In the lead-up to the event, BTA featured participating groups and related coverage through its BG World section, including English-language reports, and is providing on-site reporting throughout the three festival days in Munich.
Bulgarian Communities in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg maintain strong cultural presence
Bulgarian communities in the German federal states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg continue to expand their cultural, educational and religious activities, supported by a growing diaspora and an active network of organizations.
According to the Bavarian State Office for Statistics, 53,891 Bulgarian citizens were living in Bavaria as of December 31, 2024, accounting for 2.6% of all foreign nationals in the province. In Munich alone, the Bulgarian community numbers 14,561 people, according to the city’s statistical office.
The Bulgarian presence in Bavaria includes a wide network of Sunday schools, folklore ensembles, cultural associations and church communities. Bulgarian schools operate in Munich, Regensburg, Straubing, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Landshut, Schweinfurt and Neumarkt, helping preserve Bulgarian language and traditions among younger generations.
A number of Bulgarian folklore groups are also active across the province, particularly in Munich and Augsburg, contributing to the visibility of Bulgarian culture through music and dance performances. Cultural and academic organizations based in Munich further support community life and integration.
Bulgarian Orthodox church communities have also been established in Munich, Nuremberg and Regensburg. In March 2026, a Bulgarian-language Holy Liturgy was celebrated for the first time in the city of Landshut as part of a newly formed church mission.
In neighboring Baden-Wuerttemberg, official statistics show that 51,145 Bulgarian citizens were residing in the province at the end of 2024. Of them, approximately 47,000 were born outside Germany, while more than 4,000 were born in the country.
The Bulgarian community in Baden-Wuerttemberg likewise maintains an extensive network of educational and cultural institutions. Bulgarian schools operate in cities including Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Tubingen, Freiburg, Stuttgart and Konstanz.
Folklore dance groups and cultural organizations across the province organize events promoting Bulgarian traditions and community engagement, while Bulgarian student associations remain active in university centers such as Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Mannheim.
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