Kotel ethnic festival welcomes Croatian community as special international guest

The tenth anniversary edition of the Festival of Ethnicities, Dyes and the Pottery Carpet will take place from 31 July to 2 August 2026 in the Bulgarian town of Kotel. For the first time, the Croatian community from Slovenia and Bulgaria will act as the festival’s special international guests. The guests are represented by the Croatian Cultural Society “Pomurje” from Lendava, Slovenia, and the Croatian‑Bulgarian cultural association “Stepan Yurinich” based in Sofia. Their programme includes traditional Croatian dishes such as borčag (a thick goulash soup) and lángos (fried dough), folk dances, songs and customs, presented to visitors in the improvised ethnic village.

The festival already features established ethnic villages of Bulgarian, Turkish, Karakachan and Romani groups, and the addition of the Croatian community expands the cultural dialogue. Organisers emphasize the event’s role in preserving heritage, fostering intercultural exchange and passing traditions to future generations.