Bulgarian music with large-scale participation at Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS)
09 January 2026
News

A Bulgarian music delegation and four Bulgarian bands will took part in Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS), the most important showcase festival for European music, which will take place from January 14 to 17 in Groningen, the Netherlands. The participation is part of the project “Export and sustainable positioning of the Bulgarian music scene on the international market”, implemented by the Bulgarian Music Association.

Within the framework of the official showcase program of ESNS, four Bulgarian projects will be presented, which will meet their music with an international audience of festival selectors, booking agents, managers and media:

PISTAMASHINA – thursday, 15 January, Simplon Upstairs, 21:30–22:10

LUNIKK – thursday, 15 January, Forum Rabo Studio, 23:30–00:10

IZABEL – friday, 16 January, Forum Expo, 19:50–20:30

Me And My Devil – friday, 16 January, Huize Maas Front, 20:50–21:30

In parallel with the concert program, the Bulgarian Music Association will host the special networking event Bulgaria Spiced UP! Reception & Spicy Hot Challenge, which will take place on Thursday, January 15, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Oosterpoort – House of Europe. The event is dedicated to the meeting between Bulgarian music professionals and the international industry and will bring together artists, managers, festivals and representatives of the sector in an informal and open environment for the exchange of ideas and future partnerships.

After the networking part, guests will be invited to join the Spicy Hot Challenge, an unconventional experience that presents a lesser-known, but extremely characteristic part of contemporary Bulgarian culture – the cult of hot. From home recipes and pickled peppers to modern boutique farms and gourmet sauces, hot is not just food, but tradition, identity and passion. The challenge, implemented with the support of Chilli Hills, will test the courage of the participants on the Scoville scale, and the most resilient will walk away with prizes.

By participating in ESNS, the Bulgarian Music Association continues its consistent work to increase the international visibility of Bulgarian music and to create real opportunities for export and long-term partnerships at the European level.

The project is funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU instrument, Export and sustainable positioning of the Bulgarian music scene on the international market.

This publication has been created with the financial support of the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The sole responsibility for the content of the document lies with the “BULGARIAN MUSIC ASSOCIATION Association” and under no circumstances can it be assumed that this document reflects the official position of the European Union.

You can meet the Bulgarian delegation at ESNS 2026 HERE.

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