“POKROVO VARPAI” – WHEN TRADITION SOUNDS ALIVE
For more than two decades, the international folklore festival “Pokrovo Varpai” has been an integral part of Vilnius’ cultural life – one of the most prominent ethnic culture events in Lithuania, bringing together a strong community connected by traditions and mutual bonds, and promoting Lithuania and Vilnius around the world. The festival’s name is associated with the Orthodox Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, symbolising spiritual protection, the continuity of traditions and community.
Over more than two decades, the festival has become an important cultural platform where not only the folklore of Lithuania’s ethnic communities can be heard, but also music from guests representing more than 30 countries around the world – from Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine to India, Mexico and Japan. Here, tradition is not a museum exhibit – it is alive, evolving, passed down from generation to generation and meeting the modern world.
The festival programme includes concerts in Vilnius’ finest venues, folk dance and sing-along evenings, a scientific conference, round-table discussions, exhibitions, masterclasses, traditional singing and young artisans’ laboratories. The festival brings together researchers of ethnic culture, historians, performers, educators and tradition bearers, as well as the younger generation from Lithuania and other countries, giving participants a unique opportunity not only to discover the cultures of different nations but also to develop their skills and competences.
We invite you to follow the updated festival information on the website www.ltmfc.lt.
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
2026 11 04
Lithuanian National Philharmonic (Aušros Vartų St. 5)
19:00 OPENING CONCERT “FOLKLORE AND THE PRESENT”
Part 1
LEON SOMOV – WORLD MUSIC project “ECHO OF THE PAST”
(World Premiere)
Performers:
Leon SOMOV (electronics)
STRING QUARTET:
David AKOPIAN (1st violin, Georgia)
Nika BARATELI (2nd violin, Georgia)
Mintautas KRIŠČIŪNAS (viola)
Gleb PYŠNIAK (cello)
Serhii OKHRIMCHUK (folk violin, Ukraine)
Julija LANKĖ (piano, hurdy-gurdy, ethnic vocals)
Džiugas DAUGIRDA (percussion)
Andrius ŽIBIKAS (percussion)
Folklore ensembles ARINUŠKA, RERO
Arina AKOPIAN (ethnic vocals)
Nikolaj ZACHAROV (ethnic vocals)
Luka MEBONIA (percussion, ethnic vocals, Georgia)
Giorgi SHANAVA (panduri, ethnic vocals, Georgia)
ZACZYKIEWICZ Family Ensemble (ethnic vocals, Ukraine–Poland)
Kotryna JUŠKAITĖ (ethnic vocals)
Part 2
LIVING TRADITION
Featuring ensembles from Lithuania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Spain, Latvia, Poland, Norway, Georgia and Ukraine.
Tickets available from KAKAVA.LT.
2026 11 05
Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency (Stiklių St. 4)
10:00 CONFERENCE
“Living Tradition: The Culture of Nations Between Archives and the Stage”
Vilnius University Theatre Hall (Universiteto St. 3)
18:00 UNIQUE TRADITIONS
Concert by Lithuanian and international folklore ensembles
Alaus Namai (Goštauto St. 8)
21:00 FOLK DANCE AND SING-ALONG EVENING
2026 11 06
Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency (Stiklių St. 4)
10:00–15:00 TRADITIONAL SINGING LABORATORY and
ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION
“Methods and Practices for Working with Young Folk Performers”
St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St. 30)
18:00 MUSIC FOR GOURMETS
Part 1. Performances by Lithuanian and international folklore ensembles
Part 2. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Masterpieces of Georgian Polyphonic Singing
Ozurgeti Cultural Centre ensemble GURULEBI (Georgia)
Tickets available from KAKAVA.LT.
2026 11 07
Vilnius Town Hall (Didžioji St. 31)
11:00–17:00 FOLK ART AND CULINARY HERITAGE FAIR,
YOUNG ARTISANS’ LABORATORY
13:30–17:00 ARTISTIC PORTRAITS OF FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS.
Concert–Marathon
2026 11 09
St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St. 30)
19:00 GUESTS FROM GEORGIA
TBILISI GIYA KANCHELI STRING QUARTET:
David Akopian, Nika Barateli, Mamuka Babuadze, Aleksej Solonovič-Gvamičava
RERO FOLK TRIO:
Luka Mebonia, Arina Akopian, Giorgi Shanava
Programme – works by Giya Kancheli and Sulkhan Tsintsadze, and traditional Georgian songs.
Tickets available from KAKAVA.LT.
