Akademická Nitra 2025 Announces Its Winners and Celebrates Slovak Folk Traditions
11.07.2025
The 47th edition of the Akademická Nitra International Festival of Academic Folklore Ensembles, held from July 6–9, 2025, concluded with a festive gala evening at the Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra, where the festival's winners were officially announced.
The Hornád folklore ensemble from Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice won the top award among Slovak participants, while the Sonja Marinković National Dance and Song Ensemble from Serbia was recognized as the best international ensemble by the expert jury.
Festival president and Vice-Rector of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (SUA), Pavol Findura, presented the awards. He also ceremonially handed over the symbolic festival baton to Jaroslav Šálka, Vice-Rector of the Technical University in Zvolen — as the festival alternates annually between Nitra and Zvolen. “Feedback for this year’s edition has been overwhelmingly positive. The program attracted both professionals and the general public, and the attendance at individual events was excellent. We’re proud that, for a few days, Nitra lived and breathed folklore. I sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the festival’s success,” said Findura.
Held under the patronage of the President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini, the festival was organized by SUA in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, with support from the City of Nitra, Nitra Self-Governing Region, and the Slovak Arts Council. The cultural program was led by artistic director Agáta Krausová.
This year, 11 ensembles from six countries took part in the festival, including six from Slovakia: Ekonóm, Hornád, Mladosť, Poľana, Trnafčan, and Zobor (SUA’s home ensemble). International performers came from India (Rajasthan Folk Heritage Society), Hawaii (Ahuna Family), Bulgaria (Dobri Hristov National School of Arts), Poland (Song and Dance Ensemble of Warsaw University of Technology), and Serbia (Sonja Marinković).
The festival opened with a traditional folk parade through Nitra's city center and featured a historic moment — a new Slovak record in mass singing. A total of 1,201 participants sang "Tečie voda od Zobora" together in Svätopluk Square, accompanied by lyrics projected on a large screen. The record was certified by the Slovak Records Commission and will be entered into the Slovak Book of Records. SUA and the City of Nitra received the official certificate.
SUA Rector Klaudia Halászová praised the vibrant atmosphere the festival brought to Nitra. “This is also a reflection of our university’s identity — proud of our traditions and dedicated to nurturing students’ talents. Akademická Nitra also shows our presence in the international space. We’re delighted to welcome not only Slovak ensembles but also guests from abroad. This, too, is a form of internationalization,” she emphasized.
Beyond the main events in Nitra, the festival offered performances in surrounding villages, a folk costume and horse photography exhibition at the Andrej Bagar Theatre, and a special “Dance House” evening organized by the Dragúni civic association, where professional dancers taught traditional dances like the čardáš.
The festival's success is thanks to the collaboration of numerous partners, with special thanks extended to the National CIOFF Section for its support.
