Romani Gili Contest 2026 | Vote for Your Favourite Finalist
The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) is pleased to announce the 20 finalists shortlisted for the final stage of the Romani Gili Contest 2026. The public voting phase is now officially open and will remain active until 18 June at 10:00 AM CET.
This year’s final results will be determined through a balanced evaluation process, combining both expert assessment and public participation:
- 50% Jury Vote
- 50% Public Vote
Jury Panel
The 2026 Romani Gili Contest Final Jury brings together distinguished figures from the fields of music, performance, academia, and cultural leadership:
- Zejna Murkić – singer and songwriter
- Riah Knight – interdisciplinary artist working across theatre, music, writing, and dramaturgy
- Diego Amador – musician and composer
- Santino Spinelli – musician and university professor
- Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka – ERIAC Executive Director
About the Romani Gili Contest
The Romani Gili Contest is a social media-based initiative dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and promoting Roma musical heritage. In Romani, the word “gili” means song — a powerful form of expression that carries memory, emotion, and identity across generations.
Roma songs have long functioned as living archives of history, storytelling, and resilience, transmitted through oral tradition and often beyond written records. Through this contest, participants are invited to share their interpretations of Roma songs, contributing to a growing digital archive of Roma musical expression and creativity.
How to Vote
The public is invited to support their favourite finalist by reviewing all 20 submissions and casting their vote via the official voting form. Each email address is permitted one vote only, ensuring a fair and transparent selection process.
Voting Deadline: 18 June, 10:00 AM CET
Each email address is permitted one vote only.
Romani Gili Contest 2026 Finalists
Finalist 01 – Ariane Bajard Behr
Finalist 02 – Dominik Balogh
Finalist 03 – Edin Berisha & Jimmy Mustafa Band
Finalist 04 – Nina Brasseur
Finalist 05 – Marija Buhagiar
Finalist 06 – Oto Bunda & Astrid
Finalist 07 – Maya Nicole Cruceru
Finalist 08 – David Dincă
Finalist 09 – Zhuzhuna Duduchava
Finalist 10 – Natália Ferencová
Finalist 11 – Edis Galushi
Finalist 12 – Nicoleta Ghiță & Laura – Izabella Rafael
Finalist 13 – Paula Andreea Gologan
Finalist 14 – Jan Hron