With music, youth energy and a message for stronger and more active communities, the Festival of Youth Brass Bands “SOFIA BRASS FEST 2026” was held, which on June 13 in Zaimov Park brought together dozens of young musicians from different parts of Bulgaria.
The event is organized with the support of WCIF on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the foundation and is under the motto “25 years of voices for change”. Partners of the initiative are the Oborishte District at Sofia Municipality and the Vasil Levski 1928 Community Center – Sofia. The festival has become not only a celebration of brass music, but also a symbolic beginning of the anniversary year for WCIF 2026.
This year the foundation celebrates 25 years since its establishment – a quarter of a century in support of active citizens, local communities, volunteer causes and young people in Bulgaria.
During the opening, WCIF Executive Director Iliana Nikolova emphasized that the choice of a youth music festival as the beginning of the anniversary initiatives is not accidental.
“Over the past 25 years, WCIF has supported people and communities that create opportunities for development, learning and participation. Today we see the results of such efforts – young people who develop their talent, work together and create something beautiful for everyone around them,” she said to the participants and guests of the festival.
The Youth Brass Band “Nadezhda” – Sofia, the Brass Band “Poduene Brass Band”, the Representative Youth Brass Band at Secondary School “Ivan Vazov” – Pleven, the Youth Brass Band at the First English Language High School and the Youth Brass Band of the town of Berkovitsa performed on stage. Young performers from the Vocal School of Chitalishte “Vasil Levski 1928” also took part in the program.
The festival showed that music is much more than art – it creates communities, builds confidence, teaches teamwork and empowers young people to discover and develop their potential. It is this message that has been at the heart of WCIF since its inception.
SOFIA BRASS FEST 2026 is the first of a series of initiatives with which the foundation will celebrate its anniversary throughout the year. Among them is the national competition “Be the best version of yourself“, which encourages young people to make bold choices and contribute to a better life in their communities through civic engagement, culture and volunteering.
The WCIF Jubilee Year will continue with more events and initiatives that focus on people and communities creating positive change in Bulgaria.
Because 25 years later, the mission remains unchanged – to support people who, with ideas, talent and activity, create positive change and make the places where they live better.
