THE YEAR WE DANCED THE WORLD TOGETHER
Dear friends, dancers, musicians, and members of our folklore family,
As we close another unforgettable festival season, we look back on 2026 with a very special feeling — this was not just another year of festivals. It was a milestone year for all of us, as we celebrated 20 years of Folklore Festival Association.
Two decades filled with music, dance, traditions, journeys, friendships, and thousands of people who have become part of our story.
Throughout these 20 years, we have had the privilege of bringing together people from different countries, backgrounds, and cultures, creating spaces where traditions can be shared, friendships can begin, and every group can proudly tell its story through dance and music.
And 2026 was a beautiful reflection of everything we have built together.
More than 15,000 participants and over 250 folklore ensembles from more than 15 countries joined us throughout the year. From the Mediterranean shores of Greece and Spain to the stages of Italy, Hungary, Austria, Turkey, and beyond, our festivals once again transformed destinations into meeting points of cultures from around the world.
But after 20 years, we know that the true value of a festival cannot be measured only in numbers.
It lives in the excitement before stepping onto the stage. In the applause after the final dance. In the friendships created between groups from different countries. In the late-night conversations and shared celebrations. In the children discovering a new culture for the first time. And in the groups who return year after year because they know they are coming back to their folklore family.
These are the moments that have shaped FFA for the past 20 years.
For us, organizing a festival has never been simply about putting a group on a stage. It is about taking care of every part of the journey — from the first message and application, through travel and arrival, accommodation and festival activities, all the way to the final goodbye.
Over the years, countless groups have trusted us with their journeys, and many of those first encounters have grown into friendships that continue today. That trust is one of the greatest parts of our 20-year story.
As we celebrate everything we have achieved together, we are also looking forward.
The new festival season is open for applications, with new destinations, familiar favorites, new encounters, and many more opportunities to share your culture with the world. Discover the 2027 festivals and apply as soon as possible.
Thank you for dancing with us, traveling with us, trusting us, and being part of the FFA family.
Wherever the next stage takes us, we look forward to seeing you there. Let’s meet again, share our traditions, and create new memories together.
With warmest regards,
Dejan Brzanov – Director of FFA & Dragan Pantelić – Art Director of FFA
