Pleven Guitar Festival

🎸 Pleven Guitar Festival – 11th Edition
25–30 November 2026 | Pleven, Bulgaria
Pleven Guitar Festival celebrates its 11th edition as one of the leading international guitar events in Eastern Europe – a dynamic platform uniting art, education, and cultural exchange.
The 2026 edition will once again transform Pleven into a vibrant meeting point for world-class guitarists, young talents, educators, and music lovers from across the globe.
🌍 Overview
Held annually since 2015, the Pleven Guitar Festival has established itself as one of Europe’s most distinctive and inspiring guitar events.
The festival is organized by the “Art Close to Me” Association, Community Center “LIC-1959” – Pleven, and the National School of Arts “Panayot Pipkov”.
The founder and artistic director is Nikolay Mihaylov.
Over its nine-year history, the festival has achieved:
80+ concerts featuring artists from around the world
14,000+ visitors
1,500+ participants from 42 countries
The event combines artistic excellence with a strong educational mission, an innovative competition system, and a diverse social and cultural program.
The festival also features:
A music industry exhibition
Master luthier presentations
A national concert tour featuring competition winners
An online learning and development platform
Masterclasses, creative workshops, teacher seminars, and the annual Summer Guitar Academy
🎶 FESTIVAL PROGRAM 2026
1. CONCERT PROGRAM
The festival presents a diverse and rich concert program, showcasing the full spectrum of guitar music — from classical and contemporary works to jazz, rock, and world-fusion styles.
The schedule traditionally includes:
A symphonic opening concert
Special thematic productions exploring regional and international musical traditions
Chamber music evenings featuring collaborative projects
A World Guitar Night highlighting prominent global artists
A Jazz & Rock Night as part of the accompanying program
A Winners’ Concert presenting the laureates of the international competition
The 2026 edition will continue to highlight innovative artistic projects, cross-genre collaborations, and performances by distinguished soloists and ensembles.
2. INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL GUITAR COMPETITION
Expected participants: 150 performers from 15+ countries
Audience reach: 1,500 live spectators, 10,000+ online viewers
Categories spanning classical, chamber, and contemporary guitar performance
Highly qualified international jury of artists and educators
The competition emphasizes transparency, professionalism, and an innovative rating system designed to support emerging artists.
3. MASTERCLASSES
Renowned professors and performers from across Europe and beyond will lead intensive masterclasses, offering students direct mentorship, practical guidance, and artistic development opportunities.
4. LUTHIER EXHIBITION
An exclusive showcase of handcrafted guitars by leading luthiers, presenting exceptional craftsmanship, technological innovation, and instrument artistry.
5. MUSIC INDUSTRY EXPO
Leading music companies will introduce new products, accessories, and technologies, reinforcing the connection between education, performance, and professional equipment.
6. “YOUNG MASTERS” EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
A cornerstone of the festival’s mission, this program gathers outstanding young musicians from Bulgarian music schools for specialized training, workshops, ensemble rehearsals, and performance opportunities.
It develops artistic identity, stage presence, and collaboration skills, strengthening PGF’s role as a key educational center in Southeastern Europe.
7. SUMMER GUITAR ACADEMY – July 2026
The Summer Guitar Academy offers an inspiring environment for learning and creativity through intensive training sessions, chamber projects, and open-air concerts.
✨ Mission
Education lies at the core of the Pleven Guitar Festival.
Through concerts, competitions, and collaborative learning, the festival builds bridges between tradition and innovation, between local talent and global artistry, shaping a vibrant platform for creativity, artistic growth, and cultural exchange.