# Golden Stag Festival

The Golden Stag Festival (Romanian: Cerbul de Aur) is an international pop song contest, festival, and award show, held annually in the Piața Sfatului of Braşov, Romania.
First held in 1968, the festival honors musical talents both in Romania and abroad.
Non-Romanian honorees who have participated in the festival include Josephine Baker, Pia Colombo, Dalida, Diana Ross, Amália Rodrigues, Julio Iglesias, Sheryl Crow, Tom Jones, Coolio, Christina Aguilera, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Martin, The Kelly Family, Jerry Lee Lewis and Patricia Kaas.
Culturally significant non-musician Romanians, such as Romanian cartoonist Ștefan Popa-Popas have also participated.

## History

The Golden Stag was first held in 1968, but after 1971 it was banned by the Communist leadership. After the fall of Communism, new editions were organised starting from 1992. Between 2010 and 2017 the festival wasn't held due to lack of funds. It returned in 2018.
The Golden Stag Festival takes place during the summer and is broadcast live by Romanian TV station TVR1.

## Competition

| Ed. | Year | Winner | 1st Prize | 2nd Prize | 3rd Prize | Big Artists section |
| 19 | 2019 | Eliza G. | Sara de Blue | Ralphs Ellands | Monika Marija | Ștefan Bănică Jr., Irina Rimes, Emeli Sandé, Ronan Keating, Zoli Toth Project, Laura Bretan, Ester Peony, Olivier Kaye, We Will Rock You, Corina Chiriac, Viktor Lazlo, Gabi Luncă, Loredana Groza, Lidia Buble, Alexandra Ungureanu, Ionuţ Ungureanu, Gheorghe Zamfir, Valentin Boghean, Paula Seling, Rodica Anghelescu |
| 18 | 2018 | Inis Neziri | Olivier Kaye | Antonia Gigovska | Kelly Joyce | Nicole Scherzinger, Edvin Marton, Eleni Foureira, James Blunt, Amy Macdonald, Gigliola Cinquetti, Andra, Carla's Dreams, Delia Matache, Loredana Groza, The Motans, Flavius & Linda Teodosiu, Paulo Bragança, The Humans, Horia Brenciu |
| Festival not held between 2010 and 2017 |||||||
| 17 | 2009 | Antonino | The Marker | Ovi Jacobsen | not awarded | Steve Vai, Tiziano Ferro, Hot Chocolate |
| 16 | 2008 | Răzvan Krivach | Biondo | Toni Poptămaş & Desperado | not awarded | Ruslana, Simply Red, IRIS, Ștefan Bănică Jr., Mircea Baniciu, Luminița Anghel, Paula Seling |
| Festival not held between 2006 and 2007 |||||||
| 15 | 2005 | Linda Valori | Vanessa Quai | Andra | Olivia Lewis | Natalie Imbruglia, Joe Cocker, O-Zone |
| 14 | 2004 | Eleanor Cassar | Slang | Anri Jokhadze | Analia Selis | P!nk, Thomas Anders, Nino D'Angelo |
| 13 | 2003 | Sha Baoliang | Sister K | Nico | Kaffe | Ricky Martin, Simple Minds, Holograf, Vama Veche |
| 12 | 2002 | Paula Seling | Mike Peterson | Millenium | not awarded | The Kelly Family, Boyz II Men, Scorpions, t.A.T.u. |
| 11 | 2001 | Proconsul | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | INXS, UB40, Cyndi Lauper, Holograf, Ștefan Bănică Jr., 3rei Sud Est |
| Festival not held between 1998 and 2000 |||||||
| 10 | 1997 | Meiske Shakila Sherhalawan | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | Diana Ross, Sheryl Crow, Big Mountain, Masterboy, Thérèse Steinmetz, Gheorghe Zamfir, Dan Spătaru, Christina Aguilera |
| 9 | 1996 | Monica Anghel | Garrett Wall | Brenda K. Starr | Yeşim Dönüş Işın | Tom Jones, Coolio, Vaya Con Dios, Soul II Soul, MN8, La Bouche |
| 8 | 1995 | Cramps in The Leg | Luo Zongxu | Jan Werner | Eka Deli | Status Quo, The Temptations, Kenny Rogers, MC Hammer, Belinda Carlisle, 2 Unlimited |
| 7 | 1994 | Worthy Davis | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | James Brown, Ray Charles, David Palmer, Commodores, Paul Young, Boy George, Culture Beat |
| 6 | 1993 | Arina Commodores | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | Kylie Minogue, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dionne Warwick, Toto Cutugno |
| 5 | 1992 | Trie Utami | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | Patricia Kaas, Sister Sledge, Johnny Logan, Linda Martin, Riccardo Fogli, Angela Similea, Doina and Ion Aldea Teodorovici |
| Festival not held between 1972 and 1991 |||||||
| 4 | 1971 | Ann-Louise Hanson | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | Thérèse Steinmetz, Charles Trenet, Sergio Endrigo, Enrico Macias, Alain Barrière, Dalida, Doina Badea |
| 3 | 1970 | Thérèse Steinmetz | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | Connie Francis, Josephine Baker, Memphis Slim, Julio Iglesias, Marie Laforêt, Raphael, Doina Badea |
| 2 | 1969 | Luminița Dobrescu | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | Juliette Gréco, Cliff Richard, Udo Jürgens, Gigliola Cinquetti, Ilinca Cerbacev, Margareta Pâslaru |
| 1 | 1968 | Jacques Hustin | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | Rita Pavone, Gilbert Bécaud, Amália Rodrigues, Caterina Caselli, Bobby Solo, Cliff Richard, Constantin Drăghici |