The International Folk Contest-Festival “The Flower of the Sun” has received the prestigious FIDAF Best Festival Award for the second time.
The latest recognition was awarded to the 10th International Folk Contest-Festival “The Flower of the Sun”, held in Šiauliai in 2025. The official award certificate was presented to the festival organisers on 3 October 2026 in South Korea, during the FIDAF events.
FIDAF – the Federation of International Dance Festivals – recognises outstanding festivals within its international network each year. The Best Festival Award recipients are selected by the FIDAF Executive Committee, acknowledging the quality of festival organisation and their contribution to international cultural exchange.
This is already the second FIDAF Best Festival Award received by “The Flower of the Sun”. The festival had previously been recognised for an earlier edition, while the new award confirms that its high standards continue to be maintained and developed.
The repeated recognition is also important within the wider FIDAF award system, which includes higher-level distinctions such as the Star of Excellence. Therefore, every new Best Festival Award marks not only recognition of what has already been achieved, but also another step forward within the international FIDAF community.
For more than two decades, “The Flower of the Sun” has brought folk groups, performers and cultural representatives from Lithuania and countries around the world to Šiauliai. FIDAF also lists the festival in its official international festival directory.
This award belongs to the whole “Flower of the Sun” community – our participants, volunteers, partners, sponsors, audiences and everyone who has contributed to the festival throughout the years.
And we are already looking ahead: the 11th International Folk Contest-Festival “The Flower of the Sun” will take place in Šiauliai on 2–6 July 2027.
