BALKANFILA 2026 was held in Pernik between 29 April and 2 May 2026, bringing together philatelists, collectors, researchers and guests from across the Balkans and beyond. The city’s Palace of Culture hosted the exhibition, which featured exhibits from eleven Balkan countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Türkiye, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania. They were joined by guest exhibits from China, Israel and Moldova, contributing to the international character of the event. Each country presented its own thematic and classical collections, including rare stamps, postal history studies, specialised research, historically significant material and exhibits reflecting national philatelic traditions.
The Bulgarian participants showcased a wide range of exhibits, including classic issues from the period of the Principality of Bulgaria, rare early 20th‑century postcards, thematic collections and works by established philatelists. Among the foreign exhibits, notable impressions were made by classic issues from Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, historical postal documents from Romania and North Macedonia, as well as modern thematic exhibits from Türkiye and Slovenia. The guest collections from China included material related to the early Chinese postal system and contemporary artistic issues, while Israel presented exhibits dedicated to cultural heritage and historical postal routes.
Several new philatelic issues were officially released during the exhibition. Among them was the illustrated postal card “BALKANFILA 2026 – Glory to the Miner’s Labour,” created by Associate Professor Nenko Atanasov, paying tribute to Pernik’s mining tradition. Additional new issues were presented, including thematic series, limited‑edition miniature sheets and releases prepared specifically for the event. As part of the programme, a postal card dedicated to the 100th anniversary of airmail in Bulgaria was also validated, attracting the interest of specialists and postal history enthusiasts.
The awards at BALKANFILA 2026 reflected the high quality of the exhibits and the broad international participation. Among the recipients of Large Gold medals (LG) were Albanian exhibitor Otto Graf for his study on the development of Albanian airmail; Bulgarian philatelists Guido Craveri (“The Lion Issues 1879–1881”) and Alexander Tonev (“The Ferdinand Issues 1901–1910”); as well as Greek participants T. Arvanitis, G. Mylonoyiannis and I. Refanidis for their work in postal history and postal stationery. High distinctions were also awarded to Israeli exhibitor Or Hadi for “The Eliyahu Brothers Postcards,” Serbian philatelist Zoran Stepanović for his study of the postal stationery of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Slovenian exhibitor Igor Cep for his thematic work, and several Turkish participants, including Mehmet Yamaç Erhan, Yelda Erhan, Alan Mellaart, Ali Doğan Özoğul, Erdal Refik Tanıl and Hakan Yılmaz, recognised for their research on Ottoman and early Turkish postal systems.
Among the Gold medal (G) recipients were Gelo Davorin from Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgarian exhibitors Vladimir Kurtev and Nikolay Bojadjiev; Croatian philatelists Željko Redjep and Željko Stefanović; and Greek participants F. Keramidoglou, G. Perin and A. Paschos. Gold medals were also awarded to Romanian exhibitors Rosu Silviu Dan, Mureșan Mircea and Grigore George, as well as Serbian exhibitor Svetislav Jelić, Slovenian philatelist Veselko Guštin and Turkish exhibitors Süreyya Erişkin and Güneş Ali Hiçdurmaz.
In the Large Vermeil (LV) category, Bulgarian authors Boris Kalinkov, Dimiter Radenovski and Georgi Dechev were recognised, along with Romanian researcher Grecu Dan Simion, Serbian participant Milan Radovanović, Moldovan exhibitor Igor Mihailov, and numerous Turkish exhibitors, including Albert Erikman, Yakup Tel, Ulvi Keser, Hüseyin Öntaş, Yasin Rıfat Sarp, Mavriçio Franco, Mehmet Bostanoğlu, Murat İbrahim Çelebi, Erkan Güley, Levent Aral and Cengiz Ülkerdoğan.
Vermeil (V) medals were awarded to participants from Croatia, Greece, Moldova, North Macedonia and Türkiye, including the exhibit “Anton Novak – Creator of the Green Heart of Varna,” the Philatelic Society of Lesvos, Victor Tsurea, Siniša Pavleski, the Croatian Philatelist, HFD Zadar, Željko Heimer, Matej Glavić, Petar Cicin Sain, as well as Turkish exhibitors Mehmet Bostanoğlu, Murat Çelebi, Erkan Güley, Levent Aral and others.
Special Prizes (SP) were awarded to the Bulgarian exhibits of Alexander Tonev and Yanush Donev, to Greek researcher T. Arvanitis, to Slovenian exhibitor Igor Cep, to Israeli participant Or Hadi, to Romanian author Grecu Dan Simion, and to Turkish philatelists Erdal Refik Tanıl and Neslişah Özoğul. These distinctions highlighted both the scholarly contribution and the thematic originality of the awarded exhibits.
Among the official guests at the opening ceremony were representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the management of Bulgarian Posts, local authorities from Pernik and diplomats from the participating countries. The presence of international delegations underscored the importance of the event for philatelic cooperation in the region.
The historical context of Balkanphila is rooted in the long‑standing tradition of collaboration among the philatelic federations of the Balkan countries. The first initiatives for such exhibitions date back to the mid‑20th century, and over the years the forum has evolved into a platform for the exchange of knowledge, expertise and cultural values expressed through postage stamps. Bulgaria has hosted Balkanphila several times, with each edition contributing to the promotion of national philatelic heritage and the strengthening of international ties.
Pernik’s role as host was highly appreciated by the participants. The city provided excellent conditions for the exhibition, and the local community showed interest and support for the event. The Palace of Culture offered spacious halls for the exhibits, while accompanying activities, including the children’s contest for designing a postage stamp, helped attract new audiences. Organisers emphasised that Pernik successfully met the challenge of hosting an international forum and contributed to the positive atmosphere and smooth organisation of the exhibition.
BALKANFILA 2026 left a lasting impression on participants and visitors alike. The event combined tradition, international cooperation and a commitment to the development of philately, offering opportunities for meetings, exchange of ideas and the presentation of valuable collections from different parts of the world. The exhibition in Pernik reaffirmed the importance of Balkanphila as a significant cultural and philatelic forum that continues to unite the countries of the region through their shared passion for postage stamps.
Special thanks were extended to all those who contributed to the organisation and successful execution of the exhibition. Among them were Vladimir Kurtev, Plamen Dimitrov, Dimitar Chernev, Margarita Papukchieva, Temelaki Inchev and other supporters whose dedication and professionalism were highly appreciated by participants and guests of BALKANFILA 2026. Appreciation was also expressed to the team from Sofia, led by Mr. Georgi Dechev, whose organisational and logistical support played a key role in the successful realisation of the forum.
