23 October 2026: Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle marked in Skopje
Ceremony at the Macedonian National Theatre, wreath-laying at the VMRO founders’ monument and presentation of the 2026 state prize.
North Macedonia marks 23 October — the Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle — with a programme of official commemorations in Skopje and awards recognising work in culture, science and the protection of national heritage.
The centerpiece is a ceremonial academy at the Macedonian National Theatre titled "At Home Among Our Own!", where Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski is scheduled to speak.
State prize and wreath-laying
At 11:00 in the Assembly's Crystal Hall the state prize "23 October" for 2026 will be presented. The award recognises long-term achievements in science, culture and education, efforts to protect state interests, promotion of national priorities and values, and contributions to cultural-historical heritage of public importance.
The parliamentary delegation led by Antonio Milososki — with Velika Stojkova-Serafimovska and Daniela Nikolova among its members — will lay fresh flowers at the Monument to the Founders of VMRO in Zena Borec Park in Skopje.
For contributions to arts and culture the "23 October" prize will be given to actor Gjorgji Jolevski. The prize for contributions to science will be awarded to historian Prof. Dr. Stojko Stojkov and archaeologist Prof. Dr. Viktor Lilchich Adams.
The day commemorates the founding of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization (IMARO/VMRO) in Thessaloniki in 1893 — specifically the assembly held on 5 November 1893 (23 October in the old Julian calendar) at the house of bookseller Ivan Hadzhi Nikolov. Founders at the meeting included Hristo Tatarchev, Dame Gruev, Petar Pop Arsov, Ivan Hadzhi Nikolov, Anton Dimitrov and Hristo Batandzhiev. The organisation later organised armed bands and was the driving force behind the Ilinden and Preobrazhenie uprisings of 1903.
On Wednesday evening a cultural-historical event in Sofia titled "In the Light of the Free" focused on the historical processes of the Macedonian revolutionary movement and on the life and work of Dame Gruev, one of the founders.
Photo: MIA
