THE FIRST EDITION OF FOLK FUSION ROCKED KYUSTENDIL – HUNDREDS DANCED UNDER THE STARS AT HISARLAKA
Written by Team Balkanika on 21.07.2026
THE FIRST EDITION OF FOLK FUSION ROCKED KYUSTENDIL – HUNDREDS DANCED UNDER THE STARS AT HISARLAKA
An extraordinary blend of Bulgarian tradition and contemporary sound took over the Hisarlaka area on Saturday evening. The first-ever Folk Fusion pop-ethno festival brought together hundreds of residents and visitors of Kyustendil under the open sky, proving that traditional Bulgarian music has the power to unite generations when presented with modern energy. The choice of venue was no coincidence—the ancient walls of the Hisarlaka Fortress became a natural stage, giving the event a unique authenticity that is difficult to recreate elsewhere.
The evening opened with inspiring and heartfelt welcoming remarks. The organizers, Mr. Nencho Kasamov and Denis Kasamov, greeted the audience and officially launched the festival. The Mayor of Kyustendil Municipality, Eng. Ognyan Atanasov, also addressed the crowd, expressing his support for innovative cultural initiatives in the city. They were joined by renowned folklorists Prof. Dr. Ventsislav Dimov and Prof. Dr. Lozanka Peycheva, who highlighted the importance of this innovative format for preserving and developing Bulgaria’s rich musical heritage.
The stage welcomed Trio Bulgarina, Bisera & Lidiya, Radostina Nikolova, Ivan Palanov, Teodora, Iva & Velislava Kostadinovi. The audience enjoyed unique performances where authentic Bulgarian folklore intertwined with contemporary arrangements and electronic beats. An exclusive DJ set by DJ Teddy Georgo infused the space beneath the fortress with an unforgettable club atmosphere.
Everyone present experienced the true vibe and magic of the festival. The spectacular stage design and impressive light show, set against the centuries-old natural surroundings of the Medieval and Ancient Hisarlaka Fortress, created an atmosphere unlike anything the venue had ever witnessed before. Before and throughout the concert, dozens of visitors expressed their admiration for the production and congratulated the organizers on their inspiring initiative.
“Folk Fusion is a one-of-a-kind project in Bulgaria. Our goal was to create a platform where young people could reconnect with their traditions by experiencing them through a contemporary lens. The incredible response from the audience in Kyustendil confirmed that we are on the right path. Our team’s ambition is to turn the festival into a major annual event—and, why not, an international festival in the years to come,” the organizers shared.
The enthusiastic reactions of the audience and the packed meadow at the Medieval and Ancient Hisarlaka Fortress confirmed that Folk Fusion has all the potential to become one of the most memorable and valuable events on Bulgaria’s festival calendar.
Organizers: BG Music Channel, Kyustendil Municipality, BG Music, Music Media Cluster, and the For a Better Life Foundation
Media Partners: Fen TV, Balkanika Music Television, and Fen Folk TV
Photos: Folk Fusion, Svetoslav Hristov
