Makfest 41st edition on 30 and 31 October brings new songs and familiar names
The two-night festival in Shtip will pair established songwriters with new performers, aiming for memorable, singable songs.
Makfest returns for its 41st edition on 30 and 31 October in Shtip, bringing a mix of established names and fresh voices to the festival of popular melodies.
More than four decades after its debut, Makfest remains a landmark for Macedonian light music. This year’s programme promises a festival atmosphere with varied musical styles, upbeat refrains and new compositions that aim to connect with audiences both during and after the event.
Authors and performers
The roster of songwriters this year includes familiar figures from the Macedonian scene: Risto Samardziev, Hari Kotlarovski, Ognen Nedelkovski, Lazar Cvetkovski, Rade Vrcakovski – Vrcak, Aleksandar Masevski, Kristijan Gabroski, Ivan Jovanov, Robert Bilbilov, Andrijana Janevska, Davor Jordanovski, Elvir Mekic, Dimitar Andonovski, Jovan Jovanov and others. Organizers say the selection blends proven authors with performers who have a distinct style.
Robert Sazdov, the festival’s artistic director, said the line-up should yield “catchy, singable songs” across different characters and styles and that some entries are likely to remain in listeners’ rotation long after the festival nights.
Makfest 2026 aims to enrich its long festival story by introducing new compositions and artists while keeping the positive energy and communal spirit the event is known for.
Photo: press material from the event
