Discover the best festivals in Croatia and the Adriatic Islands

Festivals in Croatia are all about weaving music, culture and gastronomy together in idyllic locations, usually by the sea. Offering a wide range of activities that cater to all tastes and preferences, attending a Croatian festival is a must when visiting this beautiful country and cruising through its many islands.

Discover the top 6 festivals in Croatia, along with detailed information about them and some of our personal travel tips. Find the one that suits you best and book your ferry tickets to Croatia online on Ferryhopper.

Take a look at our selection of the best Croatian festivals to attend:

• Rovinj Wine Festival
• Dubrovnik Summer Festival
• Ultra Europe Festival
• Brač Film Festival
• Lastovo Winter Festival
• Makarska Jazz Festival

Festive mood in the city of Dubrovnik

Rovinj Wine Festival: home is where the wine is

Unfolding in September, the Rovinj Wine Festival steals the hearts of wine enthusiasts every year in Rovinj. It introduces visitors to many local and traditional wine varieties, as well as showcasing how grapes are processed.

Here, you can get to know the wine-making wonders of the region of Istria, including the forward-thinking biodynamic wines. Each year, new additions are included to the Rovinj Wine Festival, making it a fantastic Croatian festival to revisit every autumn.

Tip: for more moments drenched in top-tier wine, you can attend the Weekend Food Festival in Rovinj in spring!

Fun fact: in the summer, you can even reach Rovinj from Italy by ferry! Take a look at the Venice - Rovinj and Trieste - Rovinj routes here and plan your trip step–by–step!

Rovinj in all its breathtaking glory

Dubrovnik Summer Festival: Europe’s finest

As one of Europe’s oldest festivals, Dubrovnik Summer Festival lasts around 45 days! Festival-hopping in Croatia is not complete without attending this cultural gem.

From mid-July to late August, the festival transforms Dubrovnik’s Old Town, the city’s most breathtaking location, into a melting pot of music, culture and thrilling entertainment. Here, you can expect renowned musical acts and fireworks shows illuminating the medieval city.

2024 will mark the 75th edition of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. How about paying Dubrovnik a visit to witness its grandiosity up close? 

Tip: if summer is not your preferred season, you can visit the city in the winter months to admire the festive decorations, markets and shows that unravel during the Dubrovnik Winter Festival!

The Old Town of Dubrovnik, the perfect scenery for celebrations

Ultra Europe Festival: an electrifying paradise

While Split has its own monumental summer festival, this time the spotlight is on the Ultra Europe Festival! As a part of the Ultra Music Festival, it focuses on electronic and dance music, inviting well-known acts and DJs for non-stop outdoor partying.

This multi-day event takes place in several different venues in Split and even includes yacht parties and similar initiatives on nearby islands, such as Hvar, renowned for its vibrant nightlife.

Tickets for the Ultra Europe Festival in Split are already on sale for the summer of 2024. Don’t miss out!

Tip: for night outs in Hvar, consider the Split - Hvar ferry route to travel between the two destinations with ease.

Festive moments at night in Split

Brač Film Festival: life on the big screen

The island of Brač, an oasis of unspoiled beauty, is home to the multifaceted Brač Film Festival. Uniting Croatian, Mediterranean and European creative talents, the Brač Film Festival rewards visitors with a wide range of film genres, activities and even masterclasses!

Some of the key goals of the Brač Film Festival are film literacy and promoting young filmmakers. As such, numerous short films and programs for children are available, making the festival a great option for families with kids.

Naturally, the festival takes place in the summer, when the lush greenery and crystal waters of the island reign supreme. In 2023, the festival took place in mid-August, in the quaint town of Supetar. See you next year, hopefully!

Tip: to reach the island hassle-free, take a look at our interactive Map of ferries and discover how to get to Brač from mainland Croatia (Split, Dubrovnik and Makarska).

Arriving at the scenic town of Supetar

Lastovo Winter Carnival: warm moments in cold times

If you wish to learn all about Lastovo and its traditions, then attend the Lastovo Winter Carnival, full of folklore, historical reenactments and celebrations. Unique costumes, plenty of dancing, fireworks and the burning of a traditional puppet attract countless visitors each winter.

The average temperature in Lastovo is around 15 °C during the winter months and includes a limited number of rainy days, making excursions in Lastovo nothing but smooth sailing! To get there, you can catch a ferry from Dubrovnik with ease. Discover the Dubrovnik - Lastovo ferry route right here!

Makarska Jazz Festival: sophisticated nights

Returning to the musical vibes of Croatian festivals, the Makarska Jazz Festival certainly steals the scene. The city of Makarska itself is known for its diverse music scene, hanging between rave parties inside a cave (!) and jazz evenings in scenic locations.

Taking place in late August, the Makarska Jazz Festival is the perfect way to conclude a summer excursion in Croatia. Featuring multi-awarded artists of jazz and pop-rock scenes, this is a must-see cultural happening with something in store for everyone.

The coastal town of Makarska blooming at night

The numerous festivals of Croatia await you! Make the most of your trip to Croatia and its islands with the top travel tips of Ferryhopper and plan the festival-hopping excursion of your dreams!

Tip: nowadays, it's not just festival tickets that are available in electronic forms, but ferry tickets as well! Download the Ferryhopper App for free, book your ferry tickets in just a few swipes and keep all your bookings in one place!