Between 2 and 4 October 2026, Plovdiv will welcome the sixth edition of the Cultural Seminar ‘THE UNKNOWN’ 2026. Organized biennially, the event is dedicated to showcasing Bulgaria’s rich cultural diversity, fostering academic research in this field, and supporting efforts toward its safeguarding. At the same time, it serves as a platform for intercultural dialogue and scholarly exchange among researchers studying communities from the Balkans as well as from other parts of the world.
The seminar is organized by the Association ‘THE UNKNOWN–PLOVDIV’, which has an established tradition of cooperation with a wide range of national and regional institutions, one of which is also the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Structurally, the forum is divided into two core components: a scientific module and an artistic-creative program. The current edition is centered around the thematic focus ‘HERITAGE, COMMUNITIES, TERRITORIES’, aiming to gather scholars from the humanities and social sciences who explore the dynamic relationships between these concepts in both historical and contemporary contexts. Members of the “Balkan Ethnology” Department are part of the Organizing Committee of the Scientific Conference.
Since its inception in 2016, the seminar has developed into a recognized platform for intercultural exchange, distinguished by its innovative integration of academic research and artistic expression, as well as its ability to connect scholars, practitioners, and wider audiences with living cultural traditions.
For contacts and inquiries related to the event: nepoznatite@artacademyplovdiv.com, nepoznatite.plovdiv@gmail.com