The Festival of the Hearts () is an international folklore event held annually in Timișoara, Romania. Established in 1990, the festival unites folklore ensembles from around the world to celebrate and promote intangible cultural heritage. Featuring dance, music, and parade performances, the event serves as a vibrant platform for cultural exchange and the showcasing of folk traditions. With a focus on international participation and cultural diversity, the festival plays a key role in fostering intercultural connections and preserving folk customs.
It is organized by the city culture house and was inaugurated to commemorate the heroes of the 1989 Romanian revolution. The festival program features participation from at least 12 countries across five days in Timișoara. The Festival of the Hearts is the first Romanian event to be included in the CIOFF calendar, operating under the patronage of UNESCO.
Editions
Edition Date Countries represented 20 1–5 July 2009 21 7–11 July 2010 22 6–10 July 2011 23 4–8 July 2012 24 10–14 July 2013 25 9–13 July 2014 26 8–12 July 2015 27 6–10 July 2016 28 5–9 July 2017 29 4–8 July 2018 30 3–7 July 2019 31 6–10 July 2022 32 5–9 July 2023 33 3–7 July 2024 34 2–6 July 2025 35 1–5 July 2026
Nominations and awards Year Awards Category Result 2024 European Festival Awards Best Small Festival
References