Belgrade to Host “Living Heritage” Concert for European Folk Day

On Monday, 23 September 2025, Belgrade will host a remarkable event – the Living Heritage concert, marking the opening day of the annual conference of the International Association of Music Centres (IAMIC). Organised by the Music Information Centre of Serbia (MICS), this concert will also be Serbia’s official contribution to European Folk Day, an initiative that connects people across Europe in a shared celebration of traditional performing arts.

Living Heritage brings together three outstanding performers and bearers of Serbia’s intangible cultural heritage: Boško Vujačić (gusle), Svetlana Spajić (traditional singing), and Miloš Nikolić (traditional wind instruments). Their unique programme takes the audience on a musical journey through various regions of Serbia, including epic poetry performed with gusle, traditional songs “na glas” and “na bas”, ojkača, call-and-response melodies, and tunes for folk dances played on bagpipes, duduk, kaval, ocarina, and trumpet.

The concert features several elements of intangible cultural heritage inscribed on the National ICH List of Serbia, while epic singing with the gusle is also part of UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The performers themselves are recognised as “Living Human Treasures” – a term used by UNESCO for bearers of exceptional knowledge and skills who pass them on to future generations.

European Folk Day, initiated by the European Folk Network (EFN), highlights the “critical mass” of people across the continent engaged in traditional performing arts – music, dance, storytelling – bringing them together in a moment of celebration and visibility. The Living Heritage concert in Belgrade perfectly embodies this idea, showcasing the richness and diversity of Serbian tradition to an international audience.

This year’s IAMIC conference will take place from 23 to 26 September 2025 in the new cultural and business complex “Ložionica” in Belgrade, with the support of the Serbia Creates platform. The conference gathers representatives of music centres, arts organisations, and cultural institutions from around the world to exchange experiences, foster collaboration, and discover local music scenes. Opening the conference with Living Heritage carries a special meaning – connecting a global network of music professionals with authentic local heritage.

With this event, Belgrade not only joins the European map of European Folk Day celebrations but also sends a powerful message about the importance of safeguarding and transmitting tradition, proving that living heritage can unite people across borders, generations, and languages.