French-Israeli vocalist Ishtar performed a "30 Years on Stage" concert in Kazanlak on June 6, 2026, as part of the Rose Festival. According to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), the singer appeared at "Sevtopolis" square with the group The Gypsies, concluding the event’s peak days with a series of global hits.
Ishtar’s "30 Years on Stage" Performance in Kazanlak
Ishtar’s appearance at the "Sevtopolis" central square served as a highlight of the Rose Festival. Performing alongside the group The Gypsies, the vocalist delivered a program featuring global hits including La Vida es un Carnaval, Comme Toi, and Salma Ya Salama (Ole Y Ola), according to BTA.
The concert included a specific connection to the Bulgarian audience regarding the song Last kiss. Ishtar told the crowd that she rediscovered the track because of the people of Bulgaria, noting that more than 20 years ago, the audience in Sofia sang the song with her, which made her realize it was a hit in the country.
- A performance of Облаче ле бяло, which Ishtar sang with children from the local vocal group "Iskritsa."
- The song Horchat Hai Caliptus, which prompted the audience to stand.
- The tracks Ragga Boom and Habibi (Sawah), performed with singer and rapper Jimmy Sissoko.
Despite heavy rain during the final minutes of the show, BTA reported that spectators continued to dance until the end of the concert.
Rose Festival 2026 Cultural Scale
The 2026 Rose Festival in Kazanlak featured an extensive musical program with more than 30 concerts, according to Fakti.bg. The local administration identified the culmination days of the festival as June 5, 6, and 7.
Ishtar’s Kazanlak show was the final stop in a four-city Bulgarian tour. According to Fakti.bg, she performed in Plovdiv on June 3, Burgas on June 4, and Sofia on June 5 before arriving in Kazanlak on June 6.
Other artists featured in the festival’s broader program included Pambos Agapiou and Irina Florin, who performed on May 24. The municipal press center described the festival as one of the most significant cultural events in Bulgaria due to its scale and the inclusion of world-class artists.
Official Presence and Local Recognition
The event was attended by several high-ranking officials and representatives.
- Mayor Galina Stoyanova, who presented Ishtar with flowers at the end of the concert.
- Nikolay Zlatanov, chairman of the Municipal Council.
- Kiril Valchev, the Director General of BTA.
- Delegations from Kazanlak’s twin cities and representatives from state and local institutions.
During the event, Ishtar addressed the crowd regarding the cultural importance of the festival.
wp:quote The whole world should know about the Rose Festival. Your flowers are wonderful, but the flower does not exist only in a vase. I know the Bulgarians and I know that it exists in your hearts. You are the real roses.
The Career of Esther "Eti" Zach
Born Esther "Eti" Zach on November 10, 1968, in Kiryat Ata, Israel, the artist adopted the stage name "Ishtar" after the Mesopotamian goddess, according to Wikipedia. Her background is diverse, born to a Moroccan-Jewish father and an Egyptian-Jewish mother.
Ishtar’s professional trajectory is marked by a high degree of multilingualism. She speaks Hebrew, Arabic, English, and French, and she sings in Arabic, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Russian, Bulgarian, and English.
- Alabina: As the front vocalist of the French-based band Alabina, she blended Pop, Dance, Arabic, and Flamenco sounds. The group achieved worldwide success, including multiple top 10 and top 40 chart positions in the United States.
- Regional Milestones: She was the first Israeli singer to appear on music charts in Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, and Egypt.
- International Collaborations: In 1998, Ishtar and her band served as the opening act for Carlos Santana during his tour in France.
Wikipedia notes that Ishtar began her career performing in clubs at age 14 and continued while serving in the IDF before moving to France at age 23. There, she led her own group, Alef, and worked as a backup vocalist for artists such as Julien Clerc before joining Los Niños de Sara to form Alabina.
