News - Belgium, Brussels, Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria

On 22 February 2026, the fourth edition of the Martenitsa Festival was held in Brussels at the Marble Hall of the Université libre de Bruxelles. The festival is an international cultural project celebrating the traditions associated with 1 March as a symbol of spring, renewal, and the shared intangible cultural heritage of South-Eastern Europe.

Organised on a rotational basis, this year’s edition was hosted by Romania, with the participation of Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova, and the Republic of North Macedonia. The event brought together members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of cultural institutions, artists, artisans, and national communities.

Bulgaria was represented by Ms Veneta Zayakova, Consul, and Ms Veselina Zhelyazkova, Political Affairs Attaché at the Embassy. Speaking on behalf of H.E. Ms Nataliya Uzunova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ms Zhelyazkova expressed appreciation to the organisers and partner institutions for their continued commitment and emphasised the importance of the Martenitsa Festival as a well-established platform for cultural dialogue, friendship, and cooperation, as well as for the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO.

The programme included an exhibition dedicated to the symbolism of the Martenitsa, a handicrafts market, creative workshops for children, and a diverse cultural programme featuring artists and folklore groups from the participating countries.

The Bulgarian participation is supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, with the Bulgarian Cultural Association in Belgium acting as a partner for the fourth consecutive year.