Romanian National Blues Contest 2026
Before the international stars take the stage at Open Air Blues Festival Brezoi 2026, the festival opens with one of the most important events dedicated to Romania's blues scene.
On Monday, July 20, Summer Camp Brezoi will host the Romanian National Blues Contest 2026, the official competition organized by the RO BLUES Federation, where one artist or band will earn the honor of representing Romania at the European Blues Challenge 2027.
Admission is free, and the gates open at 5:00 PM.
One Night. Ten Bands. One Winner.
Following the official draw, the performance order is:
5:30 PM – Straight from the Bottle
6:00 PM – Midnight Bloom
6:30 PM – Rares Totu's Midnight Sun
7:00 PM – Give'n'Take
7:30 PM – Andrei Cerbu Band
8:00 PM – MARCIAN PETRESCU & The Night Train Blues Band
8:30 PM – Cri Gri
9:00 PM – Jacqueline & The Initiative
9:30 PM – Alex Tomaselli Blues Band
10:00 PM – STEEL BLUES
Each act will have 20 minutes to convince an international jury that they deserve to represent Romania on Europe's most prestigious blues stage.
An International Jury
The competing artists will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of internationally respected blues professionals:
- Marc Loison (France)
- Denise Lester (United Kingdom)
- Tommy McEwan (Australia)
- Ena Georgieva (Bulgaria)
- Peter Podlovics (Hungary)
The competition will be officially supervised by Attorney Cezar Tita, representing the RO BLUES Federation.
The evening will be hosted by acclaimed blues artist Kaz Hawkins, one of Europe's most celebrated blues voices.
Bluemans - Special Guest Performance
Once the competition concludes and the jury begins its deliberation, the audience is invited to stay for a special performance by Bluemans, beginning at 10:30 PM.
The Moment of Truth
Starting at 11:40 PM, the Official Awards Ceremony will reveal the band that will represent Romania at the European Blues Challenge 2027.
For the participating artists, this is far more than a competition. It is an opportunity to perform on Europe's premier blues platform and represent Romania before an international audience of blues professionals and fans.
An Invitation to Every Blues Fan
Whether you're a lifelong blues enthusiast, eager to discover Romania's most exciting emerging blues artists, or simply want to witness the selection of Romania's next European representative, July 20 is a date you won't want to miss.
The event is open to the public with free admission.
See you at the Romanian National Blues Contest 2026 - where Romania's journey to the European Blues Challenge 2027 begins. 🎸🏆