Folk ensemble "Arinushka"

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

For many years, the first half of November has transformed Vilnius into a hub for specialists and
enthusiasts from different countries, dedicated to preserving traditional folk music. This is when
the International Festival “Pokrov Bells” takes place, an event well-known beyond Lithuania’s
borders. In 2024, it will celebrate its nineteenth edition!

For the 19th time, the international folklore festival "Pokrovo Bells" will delight its loyal audience with exclusive concerts, programs, and performances. The events will take place from November 6 to 10 in such prestigious venues in Vilnius as St. Catherine’s Church, Vilnius University and Vilnius Town Hall. The festival will serve as a platform for cultural exchange, bringing together representatives of different countries and national minorities living in Lithuania. "Pokrovo Bells" is not only an outstanding cultural event but also an important source of cultural heritage for Lithuania and other countries. From November 6 to 10, the city of Vilnius will become an international center of traditional music, bringing together music lovers, folklore enthusiasts, and those, interested in the cultures of other nations. Having earned a strong reputation over the years, this festival is sure to offer many unforgettable moments and inspire further appreciation and development of traditional music.
The festival is named in honor of the Orthodox feast – Protection of the Holy Virgin. As you know, in old times, people completed all the farm work by the autumnal period and began celebrating village festivals, weddings; fairs were held, accompanied by singing, dancing and festivities. It is exactly on 14th October, 2004 the first festival was organized.

Wednesday November 8th
19:00
Lithuanian National Philharmonic (Aušros vartų str. 5)
FOLKLORE AND THE PRESENT. Festival Opening Concert
Part 1
International premiere of Mindaugas STUMBRAS World Music project "SPELL"
Based on Ukrainian traditional music
Artists:
Ukrainian folklore ensemble "SVIATO" (artistic director Arina Zakharova):
Tetiana SOPILKA (ethnic vocals, Ukraine)
Sergey OHRIMCHUK (violin, ethnic vocals, Ukraine)
Arina ZACHAROVA (ethnic vocals)
Nikolaj ZACHAROV (ethnic vocals)
Viktor ŽABROV (ethnic vocals)
Luka MEBONIA (ethnic vocals, Sakartvel)
Giorgi SHANAVA (ethnic vocals, Sakartvel)
Irena ROKICKA (ethnic vocals, Norway)
K.VARDELI STRING QUARTET (Sakartvelo):
Konstantine EROYAN (1st violin)
David AKOPIAN (2nd violin)
Ekaterine GARDAVADZE (viola)
Giorgi NADAREISHVILI (cello)
Julija LANKĖ (piano)
Jievaras JASINSKIS (trombone)
Gediminas STEPONAVIČIUS (double bass)
Laurynas LAPĖ (trumpet)
Karolis ŠARKUS (saxophone)
Domantas RAZMUS (percussion)
Andrius REKAŠIUS (percussion)
Mindaugas STUMBRAS (classical guitar, Arabic udas)
Conductor Levan JAGAEV (Sakartvelas)
Part 2
A LIVING TRADITION:
Performances by Lithuanian and foreign folklore groups
Tickets distributed by KAKAVA.LT

Thursday November 9th
10.00
Vilnius University, Room 238 (Universiteto str. 3)
SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE
Personality in folklore: collector, performer, master and researcher.
Traditional culture of ethnic communities - the living heritage of Vilnius
18.00
Vilnius University Theatre Hall (Universiteto str. 3)
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: the KARTVELIAN POLYPHONIC SINGING
MASTERPIECES
19.00
Vilnius University Theatre Hall (Universiteto str. 3)
UNIQUE TRADITIONS. Concert of Lithuanian and foreign folklore ensembles
Beer House (Goštauto str. 8)
21.30
Folk Dance Evening: traditional dances, singing and meetings

Friday November 10th
10.00-15.00
Lithuanian Folklore and Ethnography Centre of National Minorities (Stiklių str. 6)
TRADITIONAL SINGING LABORATORY
18.00
St Catherine's Church (Vilniaus str. 30)
Concert of Ukrainian folklore ensemble "DREVO" (Kiev, Ukraine)
MUSIC FOR GOURMETS. Concert of Lithuanian and foreign folklore ensembles
Tickets distributed by KAKAVA.LT

Saturday November 11th
Vilnius Town Hall (Didžioji str. 31)
11.00-19.00
Fair of folk art and culinary heritage.
Creative workshops in traditional crafts for children and adults
14.00-18.00
ARTISTIC PORTRAITS OF THE FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS. Concert - marathon
18.00
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: the UKRAINIAN Cossack Songs. LITHUANIAN
SUTARTINĖS

November 12th, Sunday
Vilnius historical sites, churches, museums, galleries
10.00
VILNIUS turns 700: tours of Vilnius for festival participants from abroad