Annual Awards for 2026
With deep emotion and heartfelt pride, we present the honorees of the 2026 annual “Awards, Scholarships and Distinctions” programme. They are children and young people whose talent, dedication and perseverance show that dreams do come true, and that one young person’s dream can inspire a whole community. They are gifted students, artists, musicians and mathematicians, but they are more than that: they are the awakeners of our time, who carry the light forward and give meaning to everything we do. Each of them shows that when young talent is supported, it can grow beyond every limit. Our warmest thanks go to every child and young person who applied, because you are what inspires us. We are equally grateful to the parents and mentors who stand behind these young stars with love and care. Let us keep going together, with talent, spirit and heart.
Laureates for 2026
Grand Prize of the Foundation “Chance for Talent 2026”
Sofia Ivanova, Varna
Flute and Classical singing
Sofia is a 12th-grade student at the Dobri Hristov National School of Arts in Varna and also a junior student of flute at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz in Austria, under Prof. Matthew Gauci-Ancelin. Alongside the flute, she also studies classical singing. She has competed in 85 competitions in 12 countries and won 116 awards, including 5 Grand Prix. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as the Varna Philharmonic and has given solo recitals in Bulgaria and Italy. She also played alongside Sir James Galway at the concert for his 85th birthday in Lucerne.
Monetary award for talented children/youth with limited financial resources who have achieved significant success in science and/or arts
Ventsislav Yosifov, Burgas
Theatre and Literature
Ventsislav studies acting at the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National School of Music and Performing Arts in Burgas and is a member of the “Flying People” creative writing club at the Center for Young Talents. In poetry, he won second place in the national poetry competition “Unknown Streets” and a special debut award at the “Holy Word” festival. On stage, he won first place in the recitation contest at “Yavorov Days” and a special jury award from the film master class at Burgas International Film Fest. As a member of the Burgas Municipality Student Committee, he created and organized the national poetry competition “Burgas Inspires” to support the city’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2032. He wants to grow in the performing arts, film and poetry.
Monetary award for talented children/youth with limited financial resources who have achieved success in science and/or arts
Denitsa Bankova, Tsarevets
Folk Singing
Denitsa has sung Bulgarian folk songs since childhood and now studies Music Education with a focus on folk singing under Anna Borisova. She performs songs from different folklore regions of Bulgaria and also plays the piano. She has dozens of awards from folk festivals and competitions, including first places and gold medals at “Folklore Spring” and “From Lazarus Day to St. George’s Day”. She has sung at the National Folklore Festival in Koprivshtitsa and in Desi Dobreva’s show “Gizdava”, and she has already given a solo concert. Her dream is to preserve Bulgarian folk song and pass it on to the next generation.
Individual monetary award for excellence
Ivelin Valkanov, Sofia
Mathematics and Computer Science
Ivelin is among the best young competitors in mathematics and computer science in Bulgaria for his age group. In the 2025/2026 school year he won first place in the national round of the Mathematics Olympiad and first place at the Ivan Salabashev tournament, and he placed sixth in the national round of the Informatics Olympiad. He has also won medals at “Mathematics Without Borders” and the “European Kangaroo”. He is a member of Mensa Youth Bulgaria, having scored in the 99th percentile on the admission test. He aims to win medals at the international olympiads and to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Individual monetary award for excellence
Yulia Vukova, Dupnitsa
Visual Arts and Folk Dance
Yulia is a 6th-grade student at Evlogi Georgiev School in Dupnitsa and has been painting at the Don Kezi art studio under Elena Marulevska since the age of six. She has taken part in many national and international art exhibitions, competitions, plein-air events and forums. She also dances with the Dupnitsa ensemble of the Dani Children’s and Youth Folklore Ensemble and performs with it at national and international festivals. She has won first prizes at international competitions in Spain and Italy.
Individual “Mirela Buyuklieva” award for outstanding performance in music.
Presiyana Nanevska, Plovdiv
Folklore
Presiyana has been singing since the age of four and is a soloist with the authentic folklore group “Kuklitsi” at the Regional Children’s Complex in Plovdiv, taught by Violeta Shtereva and composer Rumen Monev. In 2025 she won a gold medal at the Balkan Folklore Championship “Euro Folk Living Water” and first prizes at the international festivals “Slav Boykin” and “Crossroads of the Muses”. In 2026 she added two more first places, in Sofia and in Plovdiv. Desi Dobreva personally chose her to sing with her at a “Gizdava” tour concert at the Ancient Theatre of Plovdiv.
