Diko Iliev International Wind Orchestra Festival (Montana)Международни празници на духовите оркестри "Дико Илиев" – Монтана

A biennial international festival honoring Bulgarian composer Diko Iliev and celebrating wind orchestral music 1 2. First held in 1988 in the then-Mihaylovgrad, the festival invites brass and wind bands from Bulgaria and abroad to perform traditional marches and Diko Iliev compositions. It is non-competitive, focusing on cultural exchange and preserving the wind orchestra tradition 1.

Named after Diko Iliev (1903-1984), a prominent Bulgarian composer from Montana, the festival was declared a national event in 1994 and international in 2004. It honors Iliev’s legacy by staging concerts and processions of orchestras in Montana’s central square 1 2. It is held under the patronage of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture.