Maltese group "Big Friends Guggen Musik Malta A.D. 2008" to hold a musical procession on Vitosha Boulevard on October 4
On October 4, 2026 (Sunday), between 11:00 and 12:00, the Maltese ensemble "Big Friends Guggen Musik Malta" will present a musical procession along the pedestrian zone of Vitosha Boulevard in Sofia. The performance is open to the public and aims to celebrate the friendship between Malta and Bulgaria while fostering cultural exchange between the two nations.
The event is organized by the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs of Malta, with the support of Sofia Municipality and the State Institute for Culture to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.
About Big Friends Guggen Musik Malta
Founded in October 2008, the group serves as Malta's official national carnival band. It differs from the traditional Maltese brass band model through its highly energetic, fast-paced performances, which combine brass and percussion instruments with singing, dancing, and choreography. The ensemble consists of 28 musicians, divided primarily into two sections: brass and percussion. Its repertoire is exceptionally diverse, ranging from music of the 1940s to the latest pop hits. The group also runs its own music school.
Developing a Maltese cultural tradition
Big Friends Guggen Musik brings *Guggenmusik*—a carnival tradition of loud, rhythmic street music featuring brass and percussion instruments, originating from Swiss and Southern German carnival customs—to Malta and establishes it there. The group adapts this European model to Maltese culture, blending it with elements from Maltese village feasts (*festas*), the national carnival, and cultural events such as Notte Bianca and Casal Fornaro. This has given rise to a hybrid public performance format: a costumed marching ensemble that combines music, visual spectacle, and direct interaction with the audience.
The ensemble is renowned for its street procession style: the musicians do not perform on a stage but move through the urban landscape while playing, pausing for brief, improvised street concerts, interacting with the crowd, and complementing the music with masks, costumes, and choreography. It is precisely this model—show parades, processions, and "live" improvisations amidst the crowd—that will be presented on Vitosha Boulevard.
Since its inception, Big Friends Guggen Musik Malta has also served as a cultural ambassador for Malta abroad. The group has performed its show in Dubai, Sicily, Tunisia, and Crete, as well as on a tour of Germany (Essen, Münster, and Cologne).
Continuing established creative ties with the "Maleshevo Sings and Dances" festival
The procession in Sofia builds upon the group's established creative ties with the "Maleshevo Sings and Dances" International Folklore Festival in the village of Mikrevo, Strumyani Municipality. Every year, this event brings together Bulgarian and international performers, serving as a natural stage where the Guggen band and Bulgarian folklore meet and interact. As the festival was cancelled this year due to a disaster in Strumyani Municipality, the Sofia parade also serves as a gesture of support for the affected community.
Boosting cultural ties between the two countries
The Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs of Malta, which supported the troupe's performance in Bulgaria, aims to boost cultural ties between our two nations. According to the organizers—including Malta’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Ms. Ann Marie Muscat Fenech Adami—the musical procession along Vitosha Boulevard acts as a bridge between the two cultures; it is a lively, accessible event that transforms formal diplomacy into a shared experience for the citizens of Sofia.
Date: October 4, 2026 (Sunday)
Time: 11:00 – 12:00 (duration: one hour)
Location: Vitosha Boulevard pedestrian zone, Sofia
Route: Gathering at the start of Vitosha Boulevard; procession with performances along the pedestrian zone; finish at the far end (near the Palace of Justice)
Participants: 28 musicians
Access : Open to the public; free admission