CIOFF International

Page d'Accueil
France
Paris
CIOFF International

CIOFF® promotes, safeguards and spreads traditional culture and folklore in more than 60 countries.

Since 1970 created in Confolens, France, CIOFF works for the safeguarding, promotion and diffusion of traditional culture. Through its activities, CIOFF aims for the following main objectives:

- Promote the intangible heritage, through forms of expression such as dance, music, games, rituals, customs and other arts.

- Serve the objectives of UNESCO

- Support the activities of its members and th

ose of non-governmental organizations working in the areas of folklore and cultural heritage

- Serve the cause of peace and non-violence through the implementation of the above objectives

At present, CIOFF worldwide membership covers 101 countries of the World, with 66 National Sections, 8 Associate Members and 27 Corresponding Members. It is estimated that over 1 million people, including over 30'000 folklore dance and music groups and folk arts organisations are associated with CIOFF through their CIOFF National Sections Worldwide.

01/06/2026

🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan hosts CIOFF® International.

From 29 May to 8 June 2026, the Kyrgyz Republic will host the VI International Children’s Folklore Festival “Nariste” and the III Bishkek Forum of Cultures, bringing together artists, cultural professionals, and representatives from around the world.

Members of the CIOFF® International leadership are honored to be invited guests at the III Bishkek Forum of Cultures, a professional platform dedicated to strengthening intercultural dialogue, advancing international cultural cooperation, and exchanging best practices in the fields of culture, arts, and festival development.

Set in Bishkek and on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, these events highlight the power of folklore and cultural heritage to foster mutual understanding, friendship, and collaboration across borders.

🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan hosts CIOFF® International.

From 29 May to 8 June 2026, the Kyrgyz Republic will host the VI International Children’s Folklore Festival “Nariste” and the III Bishkek Forum of Cultures, bringing together artists, cultural professionals, and representatives from around the world.

Members of the CIOFF® International leadership are honored to be invited guests at the III Bishkek Forum of Cultures, a professional platform dedicated to strengthening intercultural dialogue, advancing international cultural cooperation, and exchanging best practices in the fields of culture, arts, and festival development.

Set in Bishkek and on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, these events highlight the power of folklore and cultural heritage to foster mutual understanding, friendship, and collaboration across borders.

We look forward to joining our colleagues and partners in Kyrgyzstan for this important celebration of cultural diversity and living heritage.

23/05/2026

How well do you know the world’s living traditions?
Something new is coming soon to CIOFF International.
Discover the stories behind traditional dance, music, and living heritage from cultures around the world through a new interactive global challenge.
Watch closely. Test your knowledge. Celebrate the diversity of living traditions.
COMING SOON!

12/05/2026

Today, we continue our special tribute series honoring the leaders who have dedicated their lives to the CIOFF® mission. We are proud to celebrate a person whose journey with CIOFF® spans nearly five decades: Norbert Mueller.

For our Honorary Members, CIOFF® is more than an organization. It is a lifelong commitment to a global family. For Norbert, it has been a journey of building the structures that allow folklore to thrive, ensuring that the spirit of peace and cultural exchange stands on a strong and lasting foundation. A legacy of leadership and dedication

🇩🇪 At the National Level (Germany):
• Founding Member of CIOFF® Germany (1977)
• Served as President for more than two decades (2004–2025), following many years of service as Treasurer and Vice President

🌍 At the International Level:
• Served as Vice President of CIOFF® International (2013–2023) and Acting President in 2022
• Long time member and Chairman of the Festivals Commission, helping uphold the highest standards for CIOFF® festivals worldwide
• Visionary behind the creation of the Communications and Public Relations Commission and served as CIOFF® Webmaster for nearly 20 years, guiding the organization into the digital age

From attending his first World Congress in Považská Bystrica in 1989 to contributing to the Legal Commission, Norbert has been a steady hand, a strategic thinker, and a passionate advocate for folk culture and international understanding.

Thank you, Norbert, for your decades of wisdom, your leadership through times of change, and your unwavering belief in the power of tradition and cultural exchange. ❤️🌍

.

04/05/2026

250+ dancers. One world. One rhythm. 🌍

This International Dance Day, more than 250 dancers from around the world came together to celebrate the universal language of dance, connecting cultures, stories, and people beyond borders.

Every step, every smile, every tradition shared reminded us that dance does not just move us, it brings us together.

And this is just the beginning. 👀✨

Stay tuned for new ways to connect, collaborate, and celebrate as a global CIOFF® community.

🌍 Were you part of this global celebration? Tag your group where you danced from below!

29/04/2026

How will you celebrate International Dance Day 💃🌍

Dance is the world’s universal language ✨
You don’t need words when you speak the language of dance

No matter where you’re from
this feeling is the same 🤍

Dance connects us across cultures 🌍 generations and borders
it’s how we tell our stories without saying a word 🎶

This is more than movement
it’s identity, tradition, and connection 🌎

Wherever you are… dance with us!

Tag CIOFF® International 🤝 and share your videos, photos, and performances

Join CIOFF® A global dance family in motion!

More challenges 🔥 more moments, more ways to connect are coming

Comment your country 🌎 and dance style below 👇

28/04/2026

Dancers, this is your moment to be seen by the world. 💃🕺

Show us your culture. Your movement. Your story.

🌟 Step into the spotlight
Share your cultural art, dance, photos to be featured by CIOFF® International!

👉 Join us:
• Post on your group’s page
• Tag
• Follow us so we can share your dance globally

Join us as we Celebrate International Dance Day - Let the world see your art. 🌎❤️

22/04/2026

🔥 DANCERS OF THE WORLD 🌍 THIS IS YOUR MOMENT🔥

CIOFF® International is launching a GLOBAL challenge leading up to International Dance Day on April 29, 2026

This year’s theme reminds us that dance is resistance, hope, and healing
Now it’s your turn 👇

🎥 Post YOUR dance (video or photo)
🏷 Tag
🔥 Challenge another dancer or country
🌍 Represent your culture
✨ Like and Follow so you can be seen around the world

Who do you challenge? 👇

09/04/2026

After introducing our founding members, it is our great honor to present an individual whose lifelong dedication has helped shape the very soul of our organization. Her work reflects the values we hold dear: preserving the world’s folklore and traditions.

Today, we proudly present Susanne Kramer.

For Susanne, the heart of our organization has always been about more than dance and music. It is about global human connection.

“To encourage cultural exchanges and through them, promote a growing spirit of friendship and peace. Sharing of knowledge, cooperation between different countries, and supporting each other have always been the goals of CIOFF.”

Susanne’s contribution to the international folklore community is immeasurable. Throughout her years of engagement, she has held key roles that strengthened our global network.

As a member of the Festivals Commission, she served as a guardian of quality, contributing to Festival Reports and the Charter for CIOFF Festivals. As a member of the CIOFF Council and Chair of the Central and North European Sector, she provided strategic leadership. In her role as Sector Representative, she fostered transparent communication and cooperation across borders. As a member of the Folkloriada Committee, she helped shape the Charters for both Adult and Children’s Folkloriadas.

Susanne, thank you for your tireless dedication and for reminding us that through folklore, we can build a more peaceful world.

04/04/2026

This season reminds us that across cultures and communities, life is always renewing itself 🌱

Through the living arts, traditions are carried forward, stories are reborn, and heritage continues to grow with each generation

A time of new beginnings, growth, and hope where each ending quietly gives way to a new chapter

May this moment inspire peace, fresh energy, and the beauty of new life in all its forms

30/03/2026

Today, we pause to remember our late honorary members of CIOFF® International whose vision laid the foundation for our global community.

Their dedication to cultural exchange, friendship, and peace continues to guide our work every day. Though they are no longer with us, their legacy lives on through every festival, every partnership, and every shared tradition.

We carry their spirit forward with gratitude and commitment.

Adresse

201 Avenue De Versailles
Paris
75016

Site Web

http://www.cioff.org/

Notifications

Soyez le premier à savoir et laissez-nous vous envoyer un courriel lorsque CIOFF International publie des nouvelles et des promotions. Votre adresse e-mail ne sera pas utilisée à d'autres fins, et vous pouvez vous désabonner à tout moment.