In 1965, the Union of Philatelists in Bulgaria had decided to organize a Philatelic Exhibition with the name “Balkanfila”. The invitation was open to collectors of all Balkan countries. This idea was accepted with great enthusiasm by all Balkan Philatelic Federations, so the decision was taken to set up a similar exhibition every two years, in a different city each time, with the intention that all countries will take turns in hosting the event. Balkanfila exhibitions were regularly held until 1991.

Sixteen years later, Balkanfila exhibitions were revived with the successful event of 2007.

BALKANFILA XX – Thessaloniki, Greece (13 – 16 November 2024)

Grand Prix International BALKANFILA: Chirescu Andrei Alexandru (Romania): The fluvial and maritime postal routes in the Romanian territories, 1840-1920.
Grand Prix National BALKANFILA: Bauer Wolfgang (Germany): Greece – Incoming and outgoing mail and their destinations up to UPU, 1827-1875.
Grand Prix International: Popovic Vladimir (Serbia): General classification and types of postcards of the Golden Age in the collection of Herceg Novi and its surroundings.
Grand Prix National: Mylonogiannis George (Greece): The Hellenic pre-adhesive period

General Commissioner: Th. Arvanitis
Greek Comissioner: F. Keramidoglou
Greek Jury Members: G. Thomareis, N. Mallouchos, Al. Papadopoulos, M. Koutsounakis
Balkanfila XIV – Istanbul 2007 (October 28 – November 3, 2007)

Grand Prix Honour Class: Emmanuel Mavrides (Greece): The 1896 first Olympics
Grand Prix Balkan Competition: Manolis Mylonakis (Greece): Postal history of Crete
Grand Prix for non-Balkan residents: Mehmet Basaran (UK): The first stamps of Ottoman Empire 1863-1865
Grand Prix National: Turgut Telman (Turkey): Classic Crescent and Star stamps

Greek Commissioner: P. Leoussis
Greek Jury Members: A. Virvilis, A. Galinos
Expert Group Member: N. Zafirakopoulos
Balkanfila XIIΙ – Bacau 1991 (September 20-25, 1991)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: Yalcin Bicioglu (Turkey): The Anatolia government
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Stefanos Calligas (Greece): Large Hermes Heads 1861-1885
Grand Prix National: Mircea Stanculescu (Romania): Romania postal history 1790-1872

Greek Commissioner: S. Patakias
Greek Jury Member: A. Virvilis
Balkanfila XII – Thessaloniki 1989 (September 30 – October 8, 1989)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: Gerassimos Zissimatos (Greece): Postal history of the Dodecanese
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Costantin Mattheos (Greece): Large Hermes Heads
Grand Prix for non-Balkan residents: Otto Hornung (UK): Turkey
Grand Prix National: Athanassios Kadinopoulos (Greece): Large Hermes Heads

Greek Commissioner: G. Karatsalis
Greek Jury Members: M. Anagnostou, N. Wasdekis, O. Vlastos, A. Kotopoulis, M. Tsironis
Greek Jury Apprentices: M. Tsipidis, A. Kalogeras
Balkanfila XI – Novi Sad 1987 (September 19-26, 1987)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: George Dolianitis (Greece): Greek first flights
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Yalcin Bicioglou (Turkey): Classic period of the Ottoman Empire
Grand Prix National: Velizar Kardos (Yugoslavia): Principality of Serbia 1840-1872

Greek Commissioner: N. Podas
Greek Jury Member: A. Papaioannou
Balkanfila X – Vratza 1985 (November 29 – December 6, 1985)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: Vojin Visacki (Yugoslavia): “Vojna granica”
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Nia Stratou (Greece): Postal history of the Aegean Sea
Grand Prix National: Bratan Raltchev (Bulgaria): Classic Bulgaria 1879-1901

Greek Commissioner: P. Sboros
Greek Jury Member: G. Dolianitis
Balkanfila IX – Bucuresti 1983 (December 17-21, 1983)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: Angelos Papaioannou (Greece): Postal history of Crete
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Vedat Cocak (Turkey)
Grand Prix National: Dimitri Pishoski (Romania)

Greek Commissioner: N. Stratou
Greek Jury Member: M. Tsironis
Balkanfila VIII – Istanbul 1981 (August 8-16, 1981)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: E. Deris (Turkey): Classic Turkey
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Vassilios Arapoyiannis (Greece): Greek air mails
Grand Prix National: Hiluyi Bayindir (Turkey): First classic editions of Turkey

Greek Commissioner: G. Dolianitis
Greek Jury Members: A. Virvilis, N. Wasdekis
Balkanfila VII – Athens 1979 (November 24-30, 1979)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: Cengiz Arsman (Turkey): Postal history of the Ottoman Empire
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Angelos Papaioannou (Greece): Small Hermes Heads
Grand Prix National: George Trefonas (USA): Large Hermes Heads

Greek Commissioner: n/a
Greek Jury Members: N. Wasdekis, O. Vlastos, P. Drossos, A. Zeis
Balkanfila VI – Beograd 1977 (October 24-30, 1977)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: Vasil Karaivanof (Bulgaria): First Bulgaria issues
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Vedat Kocak (Turkey): Collection of first editions of Turkey and Duloz
Grand Prix National: Mihajlo Janjic (Yugoslavia): Specialised Serbia collection 1840-1920

Greek Commissioner: E. Chronis
Greek Jury Member: A. Virvilis
Balkanfila V – Sofia 1975 (September 27 – October 5, 1975)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: Ara Garmiryan (Turkey): Turkey specialised collection
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Ludovic Dengel (Romania): Transylvania cancellations
Grand Prix National: Theodor Popov (Bulgaria): Pre-classic and classic Bulgaria

Greek Commissioner: E. Chronis
Greek Jury Member: A. Virvilis
Balkanfila IV – Izmir 1973 (October 26 – November 5, 1973)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: Ara Garmiryan (Turkey): Turkey specialized collection
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Charilaos Binos (Greece): Large Hermes Heads
Grand Prix National: Teufik Kuyas (Turkey): Anatolia overprints

Greek Commissioner: G. Ballis
Greek Jury Member: C. Soliotis
Balkanfila IΙI – Bucuresti 1971 (May 27 – June 5, 1971)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: Theodor Popov (Bulgaria): Bulgaria specialised collection
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Orhan Brandt (Turkey): Venetian and Austrian post offices in Near East
Grand Prix National: Ludovic Dengel (Romania): Romania 1858-1872

Greek Commissioner: M. Tsironis
Greek Jury Member: A. Xanthopoulos
Balkanfila II – Istanbul 1966 (September 3-11, 1966)

Grand Prix Classe d’ Honneur: Cemil Filmer (Turkey): Turkey specialised collection
Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Nicolaos Vasdekis (Greece): Large Hermes Heads
Grand Prix National: Aram Hocalanyan (Turkey): Turkey specialized collection

Greek Commissioner: G. Ballis
Greek Jury Member: I. Koutsis
Balkanfila I – Varna 1965 (August 7-15, 1965)

Grand Prix Interbalkanique: Cemil Filmer (Turkey): Turkey specialised collection
Grand Prix National: Theodor Popov (Bulgaria): Bulgaria specialised collection

Greek Commissioner: G. Photiades
Greek Jury Member: G. Photiades