We are delighted to announce that the 5th edition of the CellEAST Festival will be held in Bucharest, Suceava and Botoșani, May 27 – June 8, 2026.

In 2026, the CellEAST Festival celebrates five years of cultural activity in Romania — five years of artistic dialogue, innovation, and passion for the cello. Marking this anniversary edition, the festival presents a series of unique concerts featuring original concepts and repertoire heard in Romania for the very first time.

From Baroque masterpieces to contemporary creations, from solo recitals to chamber, choir and ensemble projects, the 5th edition of CellEAST offers a diverse and inspiring program designed to engage audiences of all ages.

Bringing together internationally acclaimed artists and outstanding Romanian musicians, the festival invites listeners to experience the cello in all its expressive dimensions, within a vibrant celebration of creativity and musical excellence, while also offering masterclasses and educational activities dedicated to the young generation of musicians.

Internationally renowned cellists and various artists will perform in Bucharest, enriching Romania’s cultural landscape: Bruno Cocset (France), Manuel Fischer-Dieskau (Germany), Marin Cazacu (Romania), Sevak Avanesyan (Armenia), Mindaugas Bačkus (Lithuania), Răzvan Suma (Romania), Attila Pasztor (Austria), Ella Bokor (Romania), Dragan Djordjevic (Serbia), Ștefan Cazacu (Romania), Krzysztof Karpeta (Poland), Mircea Marian (Romania), Atanas Krastev (Bulgaria), Octavian Lup (Romania), Julia Karpeta (Poland), Ciprian Cîmpean (Romania), Bertrand Cuiller (France), and Richard Myron (USA/France).

Our story

began in 2020, when a very good friend asked: “Why don’t you organize a cello festival in Romania?” For us, this question became a great challenge.

The camaraderie and collaboration among cellists really stand out in the classical music world because they support each other, whether it’s sharing knowledge, creating opportunities, or organizing large-scale projects.

The CellEAST Festival has evolved into a national cultural brand and became part of the Eastern European cello festival network.

During the 2022-2025 editions, we had the pleasure of inviting renowned soloists and professors, including: Wen-Sinn Yang (Switzerland/Germany), Bruno Cocset (France), Marin Cazacu (Romania), Răzvan Suma (Romania), Andrei Ioniță (Romania/Germany), Denis Severin (Ukraine/Switzerland), Mihai Marica (Romania/America), László Fenyo (Hungary), Valentin Răduțiu (Romania/Germany), Alexandra Guțu (Romania), Attila Pasztor (Austria), Dragan Djordjevich (Serbia), Atanas Krastev (Bulgaria), Mihail Jojatu (Romania/America), Marius Urba (Lithuania/Germany), Ștefan Cazacu (Romania), Krzysztof Karpeta (Poland), Yoko Hasegawa (Japan), Adrian Mantu (Romania/Ireland), Ella Bokor (Romania), Julia Karpeta (Poland), Mircea Marian (Romania), Nick Photino (America), Octavian Lup (Romania), Teodora Atanasova (Bulgaria), Sevak Avanesyan (Armenia), Ani Marie Paladi (Romania) and Filip Papa (Romania).

The young generation of musicians is essential to our cultural future; therefore, each year we organize masterclasses and group lessons that play a vital role in the artistic development of all participants.

Another major project in Romania was the CellEAST International Competition, the first edition which took place in 2024. This is the only international competition in Romania dedicated exclusively to cellists, and it attracted 70 participants from 18 countries.

The CellEAST Festival thrives thanks to the dedication of a great team and the generous backing of sponsors and partners. This support is crucial for making projects like the masterclasses, competition and amazing concerts.