At an official ceremony in the Hristo G. Danov House Museum in the Old Town of Plovdiv, the National Awards for Contribution to Bulgarian Literary Culture “Hristo G. Danov” were presented this evening. The Minister of Culture Evtim Miloshev announced the laureate of the Grand Prize for Overall Contribution to National Literary Culture – Mihail Belchev. Minister Miloshev awarded the award posthumously to his wife Kristina Belcheva.
“When the Ministry told me that I had to determine the winner of the Grand Prize, I was a little surprised, because this seemed to me to be a very subjective act. I was in a situation where I felt the responsibility of this act more than the vanity or the opportunity,” Minister Miloshev shared in his speech during the ceremony. He pointed out that he had asked to review all those who had been nominated so far - outstanding names of Bulgarian authors. "This further strengthened my sense of responsibility. I thought of so many names of people who are extremely worthy of being laureates of the Hristo G. Danov Grand Prize. I chose to award the prize posthumously this year," said Minister Miloshev. He introduced Mihail Belchev as "a man who is a legend for Bulgaria," sharing his immense emotion and excitement, caused by the fact that just a few weeks ago he awarded the grand prize "Golden Age" - a necklace (posthumously) for Mihail Belchev again to his wife Kristina Belcheva. "Mihail Belchev is the poet who poetically made us believe that we are not alone, that there is light and, of course, that love never dies," said Minister Miloshev to the thunderous applause of the audience.
He announced that he would take all necessary institutional actions to have Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture bear the name of Mihail Belchev: "We announce it here, in Plovdiv, let you also join with your emotion in this good deed in memory of Mihail Belchev".
According to the regulations, the jury, chaired by Boryana Lozanova - Head of the Regional Activities Department, Directorate for International Cooperation, European Programs and Regional Activities at the Ministry of Culture, and composed of: Desislava Dimova - Chief Expert in the Regional Activities Department, Directorate for International Cooperation, European Programs and Regional Activities at the Ministry of Culture, Plamen Panov, Deputy Mayor for Culture, Archaeology and Tourism at the Municipality of Plovdiv; Yordan Velchev - poet, writer and historian; Prof. Dr. Plamen Petkov - representative of the Institute of Literature at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Dr. Vanya Avramova - Deputy Director of the National Library "St. St. Cyril and Methodius"; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vera Kirkova-Zhekova - representative of the Union of Translators in Bulgaria; Anzhela Dimcheva - representative of the Union of Bulgarian Writers and Tsvyatko Ostoich - representative of the Union of Bulgarian Artists, met earlier today, immediately before the awards ceremony.
Among the official guests of the ceremony were the mayor and deputy mayor of Plovdiv - Kostadin Dimitrov and Plamen Panov.
Here are the winners in the various categories:
Category "Bulgarian Publishing House" - Publishing House "Bulgarian Writer";
Category "Author of Bulgarian Fiction" - Anton Baev, for the book "As Much as God Can Enter" (Publishing House "Koala Press");
Category "Translator of Fiction" - Zhanina Dragostinova, for the translation of "Confessions of the Adventurer Felix Krull" by Thomas Mann (Publishing House "Kolibri");
Category "Author in the field of humanities" - Yavor Gardev, for the book "Power, sovereignty and direction" (Publishing House "Jeanette 45");
Category "Author of a children's publication" - Maria Doneva, for the book "My dolls" (Publishing House "Jeanette 45");
Category "Book artist" - Milena Valnarova, for the book "Henderson - the rain king", author Saul Bellow (Publishing House "List");
Category "Presentation of the Bulgarian book" - Literary magazine "Page" - Editorial board: Boris Minkov, Galina Lardeva, Gergina Krasteva, Dimitar Kelbechev, Cleo Protohristova, Lyudmil Stanev, Mladen Vlashki, publisher Association "Literary House" - Plovdiv;
Category "Library work" - Library and information center of the Medical University-Plovdiv.
The winners of the award were awarded a diploma, a small sculpture and a cash prize, and the nominees were awarded a diploma. The author of the small sculpture - "Owl" is Diana-Maria Raynova.
The event, part of the "Plovdiv Reads - 2026" festival, is organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Plovdiv, which are co-founders of the award for contribution to Bulgarian literary culture. The competition has been held annually since 1999. The nominated participants traditionally receive their awards on the occasion of May 24 - the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture and of Slavic Literature. The awards are determined on a competitive basis in two rounds.
Source: Ministry of Culture
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