Katerina Mavrodieva, a seventh-grader at Lyuben Karavelov Primary School in Burgas, won first place in the grades 7–9 category of the 10th National Poetry Competition "Unknown Streets". Students in grades 7 to 12 could send in poems until 31 October 2026.
Ventsislav Yosifov, a 12th-grader at the Prof. P. Vladigerov National School of Music and Performing Arts, also from Burgas, received an award for overall participation.
Earlier on this story: "Unknown Streets" poetry contest seeks young poets for 10th year
Hundreds of students from across Bulgaria took part, either alone or in creative groups with teachers. The jury of Maria Mutafchieva-Meri, Milena Andonova and Rumyana Emanuilidu honoured 8 entrants in two categories: "Grades 7 to 9" and "Grades 10 to 12".
No second or third prizes went to the younger group. Nia Germanova, a 9th-grader at Maxim Gorky High School in Stara Zagora, and Radostina Radoslavova, a 9th-grader at Prof. Dr Georgi Pavlov Vocational School of Veterinary Medicine in Dobrich, got commendations.
The older group had three first-place winners: Berkay Halid, a 10th-grader at Vasil Levski High School in Dulovo, Borislava Popova, a 12th-grader at Vladislav Gramatik High School No. 73 in Sofia, and Desislava Kraycheva, an 11th-grader at the Frédéric Joliot-Curie IV Language High School in Varna. Berk Sopen, an 11th-grader at the same school in Dulovo, also got a commendation.
Competition founder Maria Mutafchieva says this year's edition drew the most interest so far. She wants to believe that something has woken up and that more young people in Bulgaria are writing. She says the poems show progress and polish, and that the students write about human relationships in a different, original way.
Mutafchieva told Bulgarian National Radio: "What impressed me most, and Rumyana Emanuilidu and Milena Andonova too, is that they have brilliant ideas, that they are innovators!" She added: "That is why we as a jury decided, however revolutionary it may be, to award four first places and several commendations!"
The competition takes its name from the song "Unknown Streets" and from the first album of Mary Boys Band, which has the same title. Both turn 25 in 2026. To mark the anniversary, the winners and their families will be special guests at the band's concert in Sofia on 21 November.