Organized by Asociația Culturală Metropolis (Metropolis Cultural Association), Balkanik Festival is a meeting place for music, art and the cultural traditions of Romania and the Balkans. Concerts, exhibitions and workshops bring together artists and audiences of all ages, in a dialogue between heritage and contemporary expression.
The 2026 edition, "Ecouri din mahalale" (Echoes from the Old Quarters), brought to the fore the artistic legacy of Romica Puceanu and her influence on lăutărești (traditional fiddler) music. The festival drew 15,000 participants, confirming the public's strong interest in cultural diversity and for the stories that connect communities.
The 13th edition, held between August 28 and 30, 2026 in Parcul Tei, carried the theme "The Sounds of Heritage. The Rhythm of Now" — an invitation to see heritage as something alive, passed between people, generations and geographies precisely because it never stops moving.
The stage brought together artists from more than 20 countries: Ladaniva, Zdob și Zdub, Taraf de Caliu, Baba Zula, Shiran & Bakal, Bubliczki, Cümbüş Cemaat, Kristijan Azirović Orkestar and Txana Ībã Huni Kuin, alongside the special project "Romica Puceanu Reimagined" — an electro-traditional tribute to the great voice of urban lăutărești music.
Beyond the concerts, audiences could discover the installation "Pasărea (care nu atinge pământul)" (The Bird that does not touch the ground) by Raluca Pavel, brought to life at night through video mapping by Adistu, the performative intervention "Masa Tăcerii" (The Table of Silence), and the "Poienița" video mapping, alongside a market with more than 45 makers of jewelry, ceramics, illustration and textiles, workshops in linocut printing, painting and modeling, and, for the first time, activities on Lake Tei together with SUP Academy România.
Founded in 2011 by Asociația Culturală Metropolis, Balkanik is Romania's first sustainable stage for world music and living heritage, bringing together artists and audiences from more than 20 countries every year. The 2026 edition was supported by the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN), Sector 2 City Hall, Provident, the Union of Armenians of Romania, the French Embassy and French Institute in Romania, the Polish Institute and EPSON Romania.
Balkanik Festival #13 was organized by Asociația Culturală Metropolis, fueled by OSCAR Downstream, a project co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration, in partnership with Sector 2 City Hall. The event was organized with the support of Provident, the Union of Armenians of Romania, the Armenian Cultural Center in Bucharest, Pop Cola, Vitamin Aqua, co-financing from the French Embassy in Romania and the French Institute in Romania, along with the involvement of the Polish Institute. The video mapping component was supported by EPSON Romania.
Media partners: PRO TV, VOYO, Radio Guerrilla, Aici a stat, AGERPRES, Bookhub, Cărturești, CVLTARTES, CriticEyez, GenȘtiri, Happ.ro, Iconcert, InfoMusic, Observator Cultural, Revista BIZ, Romania Journal, 9AM, Kudika, Garbo, Spotmedia, Subversiv, Sunete, Trăiește Muzica, Utopia Balcanică and Zile și Nopți.
A cultural association since 2011 — festivals, screenings and workshops for the general public and for professionals in the cultural sector.
