Denis de Rougemont Forum in Varna
Varna Summer International Music Festival hosts the Denis de Rougemont Forum Live from 4-6 September 2026 at the occasion of the festival’s 100th anniversary. Music festivals will come together on the Bulgarian coast to network, collaborate, and co-produce.
The European Festivals Association (EFA) and Varna Summer International Music Festival invite EFA Members and EFA's close communities of festivals to attend the Denis de Rougemont Forum taking place in Varna, Bulgaria from 4 to 6 September 2026, at the occasion of the festival’s 100th anniversary.
Participants will come together to connect, collaborate, and spark new co-productions in the field of music with festivals across Europe and more specifically from the Balkans. The Denis de Rougemont Forum aims to increase collaboration between the arts scene from the East and the West. It is in these encounters that new proposals, needs, and opportunities naturally emerge.
During the Forum, we will reflect on identity and national heritage, while exploring regional and European perspectives. We will also open discussions on the importance of programming emerging artists, addressing both the risks and the opportunities of presenting lesser-known names. The open round tables will provide a platform for exchanging ideas and identifying concrete next steps, fostering cross-border cooperation and networking.
FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
Arrival day
The Denis de Rougemont Forum is preceded by the annual national conference of the Bulgarian Festival Association, offering a valuable opportunity to meet and exchange with representatives of Bulgarian international and regional festivals.
The Denis de Rougemont Forum will kick off in the evening with a concert with Maestro Vladimir Jurowski, as well as one-on-one encounters with artists.
18.00 Musical greeting
Dvořák: Piano Quintet with Jurowski, Hossen, Libeck, Zemtsov, and Harriet Krijgh
The concert will be followed by a welcome reception with the members of the Bulgarian Festivals Association.
SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER
Location: City Art Gallery
10.00 Welcome words by Jan Briers, EFA President and Mario Hossen, Artistic Director of Varna Summer International Music Festival
10.10-11.10 Artist in Conversation: Mario Hossen, Artistic Director of Varna Summer International Music Festival
11.10-12.00 Meet & Greet: Networking Session - Speed Dating Regional & European Festivals
This networking session will allow festivals to present themselves, exchange contacts, discuss common challenges, and explore potential collaborations between festivals.
12.30-13.30 Roundtable 1: Identity / Roots, National heritage and Festivals: Regional and European Perspectives
How do festivals and musicians engage with historical roots, national heritage and cultural identity through their programming. It explores the role festivals play in highlighting composers connected to traditions and national heritage and reflects on the importance and relevance of preserving these cultural influences both in the Balkans and within the broader European festival context.
Guiding Questions (examples)
- How do musicians and festivals engage with their historical roots, national heritage and cultural identities. Are these aspects reflected in festival programming?
- Do festivals in the Balkans and Europe highlight (and take care) composers and works from their national heritage - especially those closely connected to folk or traditional influences (such as Stravinsky, Bartok, Enescu, etc)? Why is this important? And how relevant is this focus within the broader European festival context?
15.00-16.00 Roundtable 2: Festivals and Emerging Artists: Innovative Programming
Showcasing emerging artists x unknown names - The Risks and Benefits
The role of festivals in supporting emerging artists, including programming practices, funding opportunities with guest speakers.
Guiding Questions (examples)
- How much space do festivals in the Balkans and Europe give to emerging artists. How important is that?
- Do festivals provide support, mentoring and long-term care for young artists?
- Are emerging artists integrated alongside established names, or treated separately in festival programmes?
- What strategies do festivals use to attract new visitors/ audience while retaining regular ones (especially when highlighting emerging artists?)
During this session, Donika Rudi Berishaj, Project Director of EFFEA, will introduce the European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists - EFFEA and its fifth Call.
16.00-17.00 Pitching Session: Take the stage and share your project!
- Pitch project ideas, artistic concepts, or collaboration proposals
- Explore concrete next steps, ideas for cross-border cooperation
16.00-18.00 EFA Board meeting (By invitation only)
SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
Location: Museum
10.00-12.00 EFA Space: Meet & Greet
(for those who are present and who wish to be informed about EFA - or get in touch with each other)
10.00-12.00 EFA Board meeting (By invitation only)
Evening programme
Location: Congress Hall, Palace of Culture and Sports
19.00 Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra / Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin
Conductor Vladimir Jurowski
Soloist Julia Fischer violin
Ludwig van Beethoven – Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Johannes Brahms – Symphony No.2
Conference hotel
Hotel Cherno
All participants will be accommodated at the Cherno More Hotel, located in the heart of Varna, at a preferential rate of €112 for a single deluxe room and €132 for a double deluxe room per night.
www.chernomorebg.com/en
Conference locations
City Art Gallery
Address: Varna CenterOdesos, ul. "Lyuben Karavelov" 1, 9002 Varna, Bulgaria
varnacityartgallery.com
Congress Hall, Palace of Culture and Sports
Address: Varna CenterPrimorski, bul. "Knyaz Boris I" 115, 9002 Varna, Bulgaria
visit.varna.bg/en/cultural_sport_palace.html
Credits
EFA's Denis de Rougemont Forum is hosted by Varna Summer International Music Festival and co-funded by the European Union.