Palikarov studied at the Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music (Bulgarian State Conservatory), where he received four master degrees in orchestral conducting, choir conducting, piano and composition as well as a doctoral degree in music. Later on he continued his composition study during two Summer Academies in Austria with Erich Urbanner.

He made many concerts and performances with other world famous opera singers such as Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Elena Obraztsova, Krassimira Stoyanova, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Kurt Rydl, Alexandrina Milcheva, Nadia Krasteva and Nickola Giuzelev.

Palikarov works as a full-time conductor at the Sofia Opera and Ballet House. It includes more than 60 opera and ballet titles by Mozart, Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Weber, Verdi, Wagner, Ponchielli, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Puccini, Gounod, Delibes, Bizet, Borodin, Rimsky–Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiew, Orff, Bulgarian classical and contemporary composers.

At the beginning of 2005/06 season Palikarov became managing and artistic director and conductor of the Pazardzihik Symphony Orchestra, and in September 2008 he became the principal conductor of Classic FM Symphony Orchestra.

Palikarov has performed with many soloists including members of Vienna Philharmonic: Albena Danailova (concertmaster), Wolfgang Schulz, Franz Bartolomey, Dieter Flury, Robert Nagy, Glenn Dicterow (former concertmaster of New York Philharmonic and Svetlin Roussev (concertmaster of the French National Radio Orchestra). 

As a guest conductor Mr. Palikarov has performed in opera theatres, national festivals, international music festivals, concert halls Germany, Austria, Belgium (with the National Orchestra of Belgium), France, Italy, Luxemburg, Poland, Bulgaria, Portugal, Macedonia, Greece, Slovenia (with the National Opera and Ballet – Ljubljana), Romania, Switzerland, Taiwan (with Century Orchestra – Taipei), Russia (with State opera Krasnoyarsk), Ukraine, UK, USA (with Opera Circle – Cleveland), South Korea (with “Janacek” Philharmonic), Japan, Uruguay (with the National SODRE orchestra – Montevideo), Mexico (with UANL orchestra – Monterrey and Orquesta Sinfonica de Yucatan – Merida), China, etc.

His US debut was mentioned by the critics there as “one of the most important musical events for year 2009 for Ohio State”.

Maestro, Palikarov makes regular recordings of orchestral pieces, opera arias and ensembles as a guest conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio.