Varchafest 2026 final stage kicks off on shores of Lake Sevan

The final stage of Varchafest 2026 has kicked off on the shores of Lake Sevan, with young music groups selected from different regions of Armenia showcasing their creative potential.

Sevan Festival City is hosting young musicians for two days. The festival features two stages, with around two dozen groups performing, while creative and entertainment events are also being held alongside the music program.

The name “Varchafest” combines the Armenian word “varchapet,” meaning “prime minister,” with “fest.” The name is also a nod to Varchaband, the prime minister’s music band, in which PM Nikol Pashinyan plays the drums.

Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Tigran Virabyan said the festival’s preparatory stage included auditions held in different regions of Armenia.

“I think this was a very good opportunity to conduct a number of analyses, understand the baseline data and take all this into account in our future work. Today, more than 200 musicians are at Sevan Festival City, eagerly awaiting their performances. I am very happy to see the venue so crowded. The fan clubs of our bands are also here, and this is a very good opportunity for them to see their favorite group in a professional environment. The winner among these 20 groups will have the opportunity to be included in the program of the September 21 [Independence Day] events. The other groups will be included in the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport’s roster of performers for events throughout the year,” Virabyan said.

Varchafest’s total prize fund is AMD 10 million. The grand prize is AMD 4 million, while first place will receive AMD 3 million, second place AMD 2 million, and third place AMD 1 million.

Varchaband artistic director and Varchafest program co-founder Karl Manukyan, a vocalist, composer and pianist, said the idea for the project emerged during the creation of Varchaband.

“When Varchaband was formed in 2025, there was already a decision to invite amateur groups operating in the regions to the prime minister’s concert. On the day of the concert, the idea emerged that we should have a platform where amateur groups could express their talent. That is how the program was born. This year, we had a time constraint: together with the ministry, we had to carry out the work in a month and a half. Despite the short timeframe, the result exceeded expectations. We had 100 registered groups. The overall winner will be determined 50% by the jury’s professional assessment and 50% by the audience. The audience can vote for the group of their choice using a QR code,” he said.

According to pianist, composer, musician, Varchafest jury member and creative team leader Vahagn Hayrapetyan, the participants were selected through several stages.

“Initially, more than 100 applications were submitted. The jury members separately listened to all the applications and selected 50, after which we began live auditions in the regions. The final 20 have now been selected, and the winners will be chosen today. But I think there are no winners or losers in a competition; there is no such thing in this music. There were many very interesting groups, very interesting music and new interpretations. There were also good groups that, unfortunately, did not advance for various reasons, including age requirements. All this was done to promote young musicians, young performers and groups. There is a group that was formed specifically for this Varchafest, but I hope it will continue its activities,” Hayrapetyan said.

Participants also note that Varchafest is an opportunity not only to compete but also to present themselves to a wider audience, establish new connections and receive professional feedback.

According to Mary Mkrtchyan, a representative of Sevan’s Gamma band, the group decided to participate after seeing the announcement.

“We saw the announcement and did not think for long: all the members of the group agreed to participate, we filled out the application and waited for a response. The band consists of five people, and its main style is rock. We mainly perform songs gathered from Gegharkunik Province that almost no one has heard. We collected these songs, and Gamma band is now arranging them and presenting them to the audience with a new approach. Of course, when participating in a competition, the first thought is to win. But even if we do not win, the atmosphere here, new acquaintances, and the opinions and advice of the professional jury are a great achievement for the band,” the participant said, adding that the group currently has two professionally recorded tracks available on Gamma band’s YouTube channel.