For five days in late November, Pleven Guitar Festival will combine classical guitar performance, competitions and teaching in Bulgaria. The public programme runs 25–29 November 2026, with a departure day on 30 November, and places evening concerts alongside an international competition and educational events.
Five evenings, several sides of the guitar
The main concert series takes place at Katya Popova Hall, with advertised evening starts at 7pm. The opening concert on 25 November includes Duo Petricor—Boy Bol and Alexander Muñoz Godoy—alongside Teo Nikolov, Yana Lolova and past festival laureates. On 26 November, the Pleven Philharmonic appears with international soloists Thanapot Lerttham, Andrea Curiale and Emmanouil Makridis.
Rovshan Mamedkuliev gives a solo recital on 27 November. The following evening’s Balkan Moods programme brings together musicians including Teodosii Spasov and guitarist Atanas Ourkouzounov, reflecting a festival interest in connections between classical guitar, contemporary music and Balkan traditions. A laureates’ gala concludes the concert series on 29 November.
An opportunity for developing performers
The international competition includes classical-guitar solo categories from younger age groups through to an unrestricted-age division, alongside chamber and ensemble sections. The unrestricted classical-guitar category has a 26 October application deadline; its first round is scheduled for 27 November, with the final on 29 November. Participants should read the regulations for their own category rather than assuming the same dates or conditions apply to all divisions.
Masterclasses and the National Guitar Education Forum provide further reasons for teachers and students to follow the festival. The organisers indicate that some details remain subject to final confirmation.
Festival: 25–29 November 2026, Pleven, Bulgaria
Key entry deadline: 26 October for the unrestricted classical-guitar solo category
Official festival programme and concert information · Classical-guitar competition rules
Illustrative guitar photograph: Igor Rodrigues / Unsplash; not a picture from the festival. Information checked 18 October 2026.
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