The Sighisoara Interethnic Educational Centre for Youth (ibz) on Monday published an indicative schedule of the 22nd edition of the ProEtnica Intercultural Festival, an event that will take place in the Medieval Fortress of Sighisoara between August 26 and 30, where over 880 participants are expected.

'ProEtnica 2026 publishes the indicative schedule of the jubilee edition comprising 883 participants and approximately 1,440 overnight stays for the 25th anniversary of the festival. The Interethnic Educational Centre for Youth Sighisoara publishes the indicative schedule for the 22nd edition of the ProEtnica Intercultural Festival, which will take place in the Medieval Fortress of Sighisoara between August 26 and 30, 2026. This year's edition has a special significance: it marks 25 years since the first ProEtnica edition, organised in 2001, and brings back to Sighisoara the organisations and representatives of the 20 national minorities recognised in Romania (...). The size of the jubilee edition is also reflected by the organisational data: for ProEtnica 2026, 883 participants are registered, and the accommodation needs amount to approximately 1,440 overnight stays,' Chairman of the Sighisoara Interethnic Educational Centre for Youth (ibz) Volker Reiter said on Monday in a press release.

This year, the event takes place under the High Patronage of the President of Romania and under the patronage of the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Romania, Angela Ganninger.

For the five days of the festival, the stage in the Citadel Square will host a vast artistic array of shows by dance ensembles, musical bands, soloists and traditional groups from all over the country.

In addition to the artistic section, the schedule includes modules dedicated to debates and written culture, such as the Agora of Intercultural Dialogue, the Literary Salon, film screenings, exhibitions and craft stands, and book presentations.

A film section will be organised in the Festive Hall (Baroca Hall) of the Sighisoara City Hall, on which occasion the Union of Armenians in Romania, the Union of Armenians in Bucharest and Armine Vosganian will present the documentary film 'Memory of the community - Gheorgheni and Frumoasa'. Also, the National Centre for Romany Culture, Romany Minority, through Corina Paun, will present the film 'Sastresqo - Of Iron.'

Among the ProEtnica exhibitions and stands there are those of the National Centre for Romany Culture, the Romany Personalities exhibition, the Association of the League of Albanians in Romania and the National Centre for Roma Culture, Romano Kher, where demonstrations of work by Roma craftsmen will take place.

'One of the central moments of the jubilee edition will take place on Wednesday, August 26, at 17:00hrs, in the Festive Hall (Baroque Hall) of the Sighisoara City Hall, where a roundtable conference will be organised themed '25 years ProEtnica - ethnic diversity as a factor of peace, stability and social and economic development',' Reiter said.

The organisers emphasise that the fundamental purpose of the ProEtnica Festival remains the contribution to the consolidation of interethnic peace, promoting the idea that the protection of national minorities is an essential factor of stability, and mutual knowledge is a mandatory premise for a democratic and pluralistic society.

The event is organised by the Sighisoara Interethnic Educational Centre for Youth , having as main partner the Department for Interethnic Relations (DRI) with the Romanian Government. This year, the partnership also includes the Mures County Council, through the Mures County Centre for Traditional Culture and Artistic Education, along with the partner national minority organisations.

The AGERPRES National News Agency is a media partner of the festival. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dorina Matis; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)