The 10th edition of the national festival Theatre in Motion has opened in Razgrad, with organisers saying the three-day event brings together more than 260 professionals, amateurs and young creators from across Bulgaria.

According to BTA, the festival is organised by the Theatre and Dance Formation Pulse, part of the Vega non-profit association supporting talented children, in partnership with Razgrad Municipality.

What has opened in Razgrad

The festival began with an official ceremony at Razvitie – 1869 Community Centre on 17 April 2026.

Before the opening, participants and organisers paraded along the central boulevard to the Municipal Cultural Centre and back again. Which is a far better start to a festival than everyone quietly hunting for their seats and pretending they know where row F is.

BTA reported that this year’s edition includes 18 ensembles from Razgrad, Gabrovo, Vratsa, Svishtov, Kubrat, Isperih and Shumen.

What is in the programme

The programme is divided into three strands:

  • dance
  • movement theatre, including pantomime, musical and dance theatre
  • drama theatre

According to BTA, the schedule includes:

  • stage performances
  • dance blocks
  • two masterclasses

One class focuses on classical ballet using the Vaganova method, led by ballerina and choreographer Nina Gachevska. A separate meeting is also planned with actor and content creator Borislav Valov.

The opening included a dance work by choreographer Elif Reyhan, who presented an excerpt from “South of Home” for Association Novem. Dance formation Reyliz from Isperih, winner of the grand prize at the previous edition, also performed an excerpt from “The Child in Me”.

Who is behind it

BTA says the organisers are the Theatre and Dance Formation Pulse under the Vega association, with support from Razgrad Municipality.

A greeting from Razgrad mayor Dobrin Dobrev was read out by Katerina Ganeva, head of the municipal department for culture, tourism and international relations. In that message, the festival was described as an established part of the city’s cultural calendar.

The festival jury is chaired by Iva Hristova, with members Nikola Kostadinov and Nina Gachevska, according to BTA.

Why it matters beyond the festival itself

This is the sort of story that explains Bulgarian cultural life rather well. If you only look at Sofia, you miss a fair bit.

Regional festivals like this one are often built around the chitalishte system — Bulgaria’s community cultural centres — which remain central to local theatre, music, dance and public events. In this case, Razvitie – 1869 Community Centre is at the heart of the programme.

For foreigners living in Bulgaria, including British residents, that matters because the country’s cultural life is often most visible in regional cities, community venues and local festivals, not only in the capital. If you want a more grounded picture of where you live, this is generally where to look.

Practical points before you go

If you are thinking of attending, the verified basics from BTA are:

  • the festival is taking place in Razgrad
  • it runs over three days from 17 April 2026
  • main venues are Razvitie – 1869 Community Centre and the Municipal Cultural Centre
  • the programme covers dance, movement theatre and drama

The original BTA report did not provide verified details on:

  • ticket prices
  • exact performance times
  • venue accessibility
  • transport arrangements
  • accommodation options

So if you are planning a visit, the sensible move is to check directly with organisers, Razgrad Municipality or the local venues before travelling.

Health and safety

The source report did not include verified information on health and safety measures, entry rules or audience guidance.

That means anyone planning to attend should confirm current local guidance with organisers or the venues before going, particularly for indoor performances and larger gatherings.

A note on sourcing

The supplied source scrape included unrelated material from elsewhere on the site. This rewrite uses only the festival details that match the BTA report and excludes the off-topic content.

Published: 18 April 2026

Article rewritten by Adrian Dane. Original available at: https://www.bta.bg/bg/news/lik/1108446-natsionalniyat-festival-teatarat-v-dvizhenie-v-razgrad-vdigna-zavesa-za-deseto