Macedonian Folk Fest Valandovo 2026 draws crowds and hands out top song awards

The 39th edition of Folk Fest Valandovo took place on 27 May 2026 in Valandovo, Macedonia, with a packed main square and a concert at the Domot na kultura (Jan Ko Uzunov hall). Prominent folk artists such as Blaga Petreska, Elena Veleska, Kate from the group “Sonata”, Christian Božinov‑Kiko, Miško Krstevski and Marjan Kotev performed classic hits and new compositions, while the audience sang along to timeless Balkan melodies.

The festival awarded several prizes. The song “Gratče moje ubavo” by Christian Božinov‑Kiko won Best Song and Best Music. Additional honors went to “Solzi nemam” (Best Interpretation), “Posle se’” (Best Arrangement), and “Ženo Neverna” (Best Lyrics). Blaga Petreska received a lifetime‑achievement award for her contribution to Macedonian folk music.