The State Institute for Culture is a partner of the Cultural Routes - Bulgaria 2026 Forum in Plovdiv
On 11 and 12 June, the Boris Hristov House of Culture in Plovdiv will host a national information event titled “Cultural Routes – Bulgaria 2026.” The initiative is organized by the Center for Excellence “Heritage BG” and aims to showcase Bulgaria’s potential for full participation in the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes program.
The two-day program includes panel discussions focusing on opportunities for Bulgaria’s participation in the Council of Europe’s certified cultural routes programmes, on natural heritage and cultural memory, on the political transformations of the 20th century and on UNESCO’s role in promoting living heritage as a resource for developing cultural routes.
Speakers will include established experts in the field of cultural development, including representatives from UNESCO, the Ministry of Tourism, and Bulgarian higher education institutions and universities. The panel sessions provide an opportunity for collaboration and discussion among various sectors of the industry and will be accompanied by a cultural program for participants, including visits to cultural monuments in Plovdiv, exhibitions, and a visit to the town of Hisarya.
As an institutional partner of the event, the State Institute for Culture to the Minister of Foreign Affairs will participate in the forum’s program with a special lecture dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Jewish cultural heritage in connection with the cultural initiatives organized by the SCI in 2023 under the project “Strategic Cooperation between Bulgaria and Norway in Support of Bulgaria’s International Commitments to Combating Antisemitism and Preserving Jewish Heritage.”
The Institute will take part in an international platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices alongside representatives from a number of Bulgarian and European countries and institutions, including the Council of Europe, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Armenia, as well as representatives of Bulgarian museums, institutions, ministries, universities and municipalities.
The participation of the State Institute for Culture is in line with its mission to promote intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity, and the promotion of Bulgarian and global cultural heritage.