Varchafest 2026 to Take Place on the Shores of Lake Sevan with a Prize Fund of 10 Million Drams

The government meeting on July 30 was attended by Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, who announced that the "Varchafest 2026" contest-festival will be held on the shores of Lake Sevan on August 21-22 this year, with plans to make it an annual event.

The event is expected to take place in the area used for the "Sevan Startup Summit," which has been adapted for large-scale events. The preparatory process has already begun, and nearly 100 bands have submitted applications. The geographical scope of participants includes Yerevan, all regions of Armenia, as well as applications from Austria and Canada.

About 20 bands will participate in the competition selected by a professional jury. According to the minister, the area will be open to the public and 30 pavilions are planned to showcase the products of regional producers. This will contribute to a significant economic impact of the festival on regional development.

From a tourism perspective, more than 3,000 visitors are expected, which will be a new event on the shores of Sevan and will serve as a good platform for regional development. The prize fund amounts to 10 million drams, which will be distributed among the participants who take first, second, and third places. The bands must consist of a minimum of three members.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that it is necessary to promote the creativity of young people, adding, "Political freedoms and democracy generally have significant effects, one of which is the development of creativity, including among the youth."