Folk ensemble "Arinushka"

The 4th of November, 2026
Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society (Aušros Vartų Str. 5)
19:00 – FESTIVAL OPENING CONCERT “FOLKLORE AND THE PRESENT”
Part I – LEON SOMOV WORLD MUSIC PROJECT “ECHO OF THE PAST”
(World Premiere)
Performers:
Leon SOMOV (electronics)
STRING QUARTET:
David AKOPIAN (I violin, Georgia)
Nika BARATELI (II 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)
Nikolay ZAKHAROV (ethnic vocals)
Luka MEBONIA (percussion, ethnic vocals)
Giorgi SHANAVA (panduri, ethnic vocals)
ZACZYKIEWICZ Family Ensemble (ethnic vocals, Ukraine–Poland)
Kotryna JUŠKAITĖ (ethnic vocals)

Part II – LIVING TRADITION. Concert of Lithuanian and international folklore ensembles
Ticket distributor KAKAVA.LT

The 5 th of November, 2026
Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency (Stiklių Str. 4)
10:00 – SCHOLARLY CONFERENCE
“Living Tradition: Culture of Nations Between Archives and Stage”
Vilnius University Theatre Hall (Universiteto Str. 3)
18:00 – UNIQUE TRADITIONS. Concert of Lithuanian and international folklore ensembles
Alaus Namai (Goštauto Str. 8)
21:00 – EVENING OF FOLK DANCES AND SINGING

The 6 th of November, 2026
Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency (Stiklių Str. 4)
10:00-15:00 – TRADITIONAL SINGING LABORATORY and ROUND TABLE
DISCUSSION “Methods and Practices in Working with Young Folklore Performers”
Str. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus Str. 30)
18:00 – MUSIC FOR CONNOISSEURS Performances by Lithuanian and international groups

The 7 th of November, 2026
Vilnius Town Hall (Didžioji Str. 31)
11:00-17:00 – Folk art and culinary heritage fair, young craftsmen’s laboratory
12:00-17:00 – ARTISTIC PORTRAITS OF FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS. Concert-marathon

The 9 th of November, 2026
Str. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus Str. 30)
19:00 GUESTS FROM SAKARTVELO
TBILISI GIA KANCHELI STRING QUARTET
FOLKLORE TRIO “RERO”
Programme Works by Giya Kancheli and Sulkhan Tsintsadze.
Ticket distributor KAKAVA.LT

From November 5 to 9, 2025, Vilnius will host the International Folklore Festival “Pokrov
Bells”, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. Over two decades, the festival has
become an integral part of the cultural life of Lithuania’s capital — an event that unites music,
education, scholarship, and living tradition.
This anniversary festival is especially meaningful as it is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of
the birth of M. K. Čiurlionis, the great Lithuanian composer and artist.
On November 6 at 6:00 p.m., the traditional and long-awaited concert “Unique Traditions”
will take place at the Vilnius University Theatre Hall. It will be an evening filled with warmth,
music, and the living spirit of folk art — when the stage comes alive with the sounds of folk
songs, dances, and the bright colors of national costumes.
For twenty years, the festival has delighted its devoted audiences with unforgettable programs,
where the traditions of Lithuania and other countries intertwine in harmony.
This year, audiences will enjoy performances by folklore ensembles from Lithuania,
Australia, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Norway, Georgia, Ukraine, and Germany.
Each performance will open a window into the soul of a nation — through its songs, rhythms,
stories, and emotions.
This concert is a celebration for the heart, a reminder that tradition lives on as long as we
share it.


Follow updates on the Pokrov Bells Festival via the festival's Facebook and Instagram accounts,
as well as on the official website: ltmfc.lt

XX INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL "POKROV BELLS"

PROGRAMME

The 5th of November, 2025:
Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society (Aušros Vartų Str. 5)
19:00 WORLD MUSIC PROJECTS OF THE FESTIVAL
Jievaras JASINSKIS
“ORERO” Based on Georgian folklore
A symphonic poem “DEDICATION TO ČIURLIONIS” (World Premiere)
Performers:
St. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
(Artistic Director and Conductor: Modestas BARKAUSKAS)
Vilnius JJAZZ Ensemble
(Artistic Director: Jievaras JASINSKIS)
Soloists:
SHARA (Georgia)
Luka MEBONIA (ethnic vocals, percussion, Georgia)
Arina ZACHAROVA (ethnic vocals, Lithuania)
David AKOPIAN (violin, Georgia)
Milena JALALBEKOVA (violin, Georgia)
Gediminas STRUPINSKAS (piano, Lithuania)
Enrikas SLAVINSKIS (acoustic guitar, bouzouki, Lithuania)
Tomas BIELIAUSKAS (oboe, Lithuania)
Giedrius GELGOTAS (flute, Lithuania)
HAND VOICES (percussion, Lithuania)
Ticket distributor KAKAVA.LT

The 6th of November, 2025:
Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency (Stiklių Str. 4)
10:00 CONFERENCE
Traditional culture of ethnic communities – experience of preservation and promotion in
various countries

Vilnius University Theater Hall (Universiteto Str. 3)
18:00 UNIQUE TRADITIONS. Performances of Lithuanian and foreign folklore groups

Beer House (Goštauto Str. 8)
21:00 FOLK DANCE EVENING: traditional dances, singing and meetings

The 7th of November, 2025:
Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency (Stiklių Str. 4)
10:00-15:00 TRADITIONAL SINGING LABORATORY

St. Catherine's Church (Vilniaus Str. 30)
18:00 MUSIC FOR CONNOISSEURS
Day 1: Performances of Lithuanian and foreign folklore groups
Day 2: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Masterpieces of Georgian polyphonic
singing.
Ticket distributor KAKAVA.LT

The 8th of November, 2025:
Vilnius County Adomas‘ Mickevičius‘ Public Library (Trakų Str. 10)
12:00-16:00 ARTISTIC PORTRAITS OF THE FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS
Concert-marathon of Lithuanian and foreign folklore groups

The 5th of November, 2025:
Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society (Aušros Vartų Str. 5)
19:00 WORLD MUSIC PROJECTS OF THE FESTIVAL
Jievaras JASINSKIS
“ORERO” Based on Georgian folklore
A symphonic poem “DEDICATION TO ČIURLIONIS” (World Premiere)
Performers:
St. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
(Artistic Director and Conductor: Modestas BARKAUSKAS)
Vilnius JJAZZ Ensemble
(Artistic Director: Jievaras JASINSKIS)
Soloists:
SHARA (Georgia)
Luka MEBONIA (ethnic vocals, percussion, Georgia)
Arina ZACHAROVA (ethnic vocals, Lithuania)
David AKOPIAN (violin, Georgia)
Milena JALALBEKOVA (violin, Georgia)
Gediminas STRUPINSKAS (piano, Lithuania)
Enrikas SLAVINSKIS (acoustic guitar, bouzouki, Lithuania)
Tomas BIELIAUSKAS (oboe, Lithuania)
Giedrius GELGOTAS (flute, Lithuania)
HAND VOICES (percussion, Lithuania)
Ticket distributor KAKAVA.LT

The 6th of November, 2025:
Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency (Stiklių Str. 4)
10:00 CONFERENCE
Traditional culture of ethnic communities – experience of preservation and promotion in
various countries

Vilnius University Theater Hall (Universiteto Str. 3)
18:00 UNIQUE TRADITIONS. Performances of Lithuanian and foreign folklore groups

Beer House (Goštauto Str. 8)
21:00 FOLK DANCE EVENING: traditional dances, singing and meetings

The 7th of November, 2025:
Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency (Stiklių Str. 4)
10:00-15:00 TRADITIONAL SINGING LABORATORY

St. Catherine's Church (Vilniaus Str. 30)
18:00 MUSIC FOR CONNOISSEURS
Day 1: Performances of Lithuanian and foreign folklore groups
Day 2: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Masterpieces of Georgian polyphonic
singing. Armenian cultural heritage
Ticket distributor KAKAVA.LT

The 8th of November, 2025:
Vilnius County Adomas‘ Mickevičius‘ Public Library (Trakų Str. 10)
12:00-16:00 ARTISTIC PORTRAITS OF THE FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS
Concert-marathon of Lithuanian and foreign folklore groups