Bulgaria's Varna to host 2026 European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics

A total of 372 gymnasts from 43 countries will compete at the 2026 European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics, which will take place in Varna, Bulgaria, from May 27-31.

Some 260 of these are women’s competitors, including 26 ensembles, and 112 are juniors, which promises fierce competition across all age groups and disciplines.

Among the top contenders are Bulgarians Stiliana Nikolova and Eva Brezalieva, who will compete with their sights set on gold. The reigning European all-around champion Taisiia Onofriichuk (Ukraine), world and Olympic champion Darja Varfolomeev (Germany), and the bronze medalist from the 2024 Paris Games, Sofia Raffaeli (Italy) will also be among the top competitors, CE Report quotes BTA.

Competing for the podium will be gymnasts Tara Dragas (Italy), Romanians Amalia Lica and Andreea Verdes, Fanni Pigniczki (Hungary), Meital Sumkin (Israel), Liliana Lewinska (Poland), Hatice Gokce Emir (Türkiye), as well as a number of new names who further raise the level of competition.

A highly anticipated team performance will be that of Sofia Ivanova, Raya Bozilova, Magdalina Minevska, Margarita Vasileva, Magdalena Valkova, and Emilia Obretenova. The girls coached by Vesela Dimitrova and Yasena Stoyneva are entering the competition with ambitions to place in the top ranks and compete for medals.

The competition will be at an exceptionally high level. Teams from Italy, Israel, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, and others will perform at the Palace of Culture and Sports.

In the junior category, Bulgaria will rely on Siyana Alekova, Dea Emilova, and Alexandra Petrova, who will represent the new generation of Bulgarian rhythmic gymnastics.

The Bulgarian delegation will also include judges Filipa Filipova and Rada Vrazheva.