Bitola's Ilinenski Denovi Folk Festival Showcases International Performers

The 56th edition of the Ilinenski Denovi folk festival concluded in Bitola, North Macedonia, featuring more than 1,300 participants from the country and abroad. International ensembles from the United States, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, China, Georgia, the Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Sweden and other nations performed alongside Macedonian groups.

Awards were presented by a professional jury: the female group Teuta from Tetovo won best traditional music, the Vanya Lazarova ensemble from Skopje won best old‑city music, the Orce Nikolov ensemble from Skopje won best new folk content, Maria Dobrinovska won best vocal performance, and the Cvetovi ensemble from Dedino received the prize for best traditional costume. Mayor Tonі Konjanovski thanked organizers, participants and guests, while the director of the Bitola Cultural Center highlighted the festival’s role in promoting cultural exchange and positioning Bitola as a world stage for folklore.