Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) won the Svetozar Stracina Grand Prix of the International Folk Music Festival with the song “Naduri,” performed by Akhali Bana Ensemble in GPB First Channel’s “Khalkhuri” (Folk) Project.

The festival organized by Slovak Television and Radio (STVR) in cooperation with the European Broadcasting Union, was held on April 14-16.

This year, 31 recordings from 14 countries were presented at the festival. The international jury revealed winners in different nominations.

For the first time in the history of the festival, the winner of the Audience Choice nomination was determined by voting. The prize for the Georgian folk song was handed over to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Slovak Republic, Konstantine Kvachakidze.

The Georgian Public Broadcaster in the 2026 Svetozar Stracina Grand Prix of the International Folk Music Festival presented Georgian folk songs performed in the GPB’s projects: “Chakrulo,” performed by Gabriel Bodaveli, Sandro Gurgenidze and Shavnabada Ensemble in “Ranina” Children’s Musical Project, “Naduri” performed by “Akhali Bana” Ensemble in Khalkhuri Project and “Chemo Vardo” (My Rose) performed by Vaso Kornienko in Accoustics Project.

“Folk music is of special value for the Georgian Public Broadcaster, and our archive preserves the oldest and most unique recordings of folk songs. Currently, a number of projects are dedicated to folk songs’ pupularization on our platforms. At the International Folk Music Festival, in which public broadcasters from various countries participate, the GPB constantly presents Georgian folk songs, which have won many times,” said Tinatin Berdzenishvili, Director General of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB).

In 2023, Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) won the Svetozar Stracina Grand Prix of the International Folk Music Festival Svetozar, organized by the Slovak Public Broadcaster, with the best recording of song Khasanbegura.