Zagreb Events & Culture Spring 2023

spring 2023

ART & EXHIBITION

DESIGN

HISTORY & TRADITION

GOURMET

MUSIC

MOVIE

SPORT

THEATRE & PERFORMANCES

OTHER

INTRO duc TION

spring is the perfect time to enjoy Zagreb at its finest, with days becoming longer and the sun shining warmer. Trees and events are in full bloom as the city wakes up from its winter hibernation and joins in the celebration of the new cycle of nature.

Spring and light have always been associated with each other, so it is only natural that the season starts with the Festival of Lights Zagreb, a celebration of color and sparkle. This is a symbolic rebirth of Zagreb, when streets and squares are illuminated in the most spectacular ways, a great introduction to the upcoming easter festivities.

Spring definitely means one thing – getting outdoors. Make the most of the warmer weather by sitting on a terrace in one of zagreb’s many cafés and restaurants. Absorb the sun rays and the lively atmosphere, seasoned with conversation and coffee.  Outdoor activities begin to fill the calendar, while sports, recreation and cultural events pop up everywhere like flower buds in Zagreb’s lovely parks. Wondering how to make the most of your springtime in Zagreb? The following ideas will fill up your diary in no time!

Martina Bienenfeld, Ph.D. ceO zagreb tourist board

Festival of Lights Zagreb

15/03 .. 19/03

festivaloflightszagreb.hr

get ready to see zagreb in an entirely new light, quite literally. The annual Festival of Lights zagreb is one of the most popular events on the calendar, a spectacular celebration of spring and the beginning of a new season experienced through a stunning combination of performing arts and technology.

With 33 beautiful light installations in 28 different locations of the Upper and Lower Town, the Festival of Lights Zagreb gives visitors the chance to explore Zagreb in its most magical form. The festival brings together art, spectacle, architecture, technology, entertainment and much more through the medium of light, as installations, projections and animations illuminate the Croatian capital.

From March 15 to 19, Zagreb comes alive in a flood of light as the city streets, parks, promenades, museums, and squares become a canvas for artists near and far. The Festival of Lights Zagreb is a light show without equal, and one that is guaranteed to live long in the memory.

This anti-war installation is a stark and direct message to an increasingly tumultuous world. It references John lennon’s iconic song of the same name and is centred around a gun locked in a black cage. The gun is a long-lasting symbol of violence, killing and war, and imagine puts the instrument front and centre. The installation is also known as ‘Freedom for birds, prison for weapons’.

Festivities of the Passion Heritage

22/2 .. 5/4

Various locations

www.pasionska-bastina.hr

the passion and resurrection of Christ has been interpreted, documented and presented countless times over the centuries, and this special program focuses on the subject in great detail. Everything from music to art via literature and innovation is covered.

.. 3/5

in front of croatian National Theatre Trg Republike Hrvatske 15 www.hnk.hr

Photo by Vedran Metelko

Vladimir Dodig Trokut 22/2

Photo by Kristina Štimac

Krzysztof Rukasz and Krzysztof

Szymanowicz – (Par)alaksa

1/3 .. 26/3

Prsten Gallery

Trg žrtava fašizma 16 www.hdlu.hr

(Par)alaksa is a monographic exhibition of work from renowned polish graphic artists Krzysztof Rukasz and Krzysztof Szymanowicz. The exhibition is a celebration of the thriving polish graphic art scene, with its famous attention to detail and contemporary themes. the polish scene is internationally beloved for its traditions, craftsmanship and precision, and the two Krzysztofs brilliantly showcase it all.

La rondine (The Swallow) may have premiered in Monte Carlo in 1927, but it remains one of Puccini’s lesser-known operas from his mature phase. Time to change that. La rondine is a remarkable mosaic of upbeat melodies, unforgettable choruses and heartwrenching romance, all packed with that undeniable Puccini charm.

Oton Iveković – Retrospective

16/3 .. 11/6

Jezuitski trg 4

www.gkd.hr

this retrospective celebrates the life and work of one of Croatia’s most influential modernists, Oton Iveković. He was one of Croatia’s most prolific and significant historical painters. There was more to Iveković than painting, of course, and this artistic marvel was involved in everything from fresco painting to graphic design, with plenty in between. Prepare to be inspired by the variety and quality of his work.

Giacomo Puccini - La rondine

15, 18, 21/3

croatian National Theatre Trg Republike Hrvatske 15 www.hnk.hr

Klovićevi Dvori Gallery

Krzysztof Szymanowicz, linocut, 90 x 60 cm

Photo by Mara Bratoš

In Kordun, National Museum of Modern Art Archives

Maksim Mrvica 18, 19/3

Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall

Trg Stjepana Radića 4 www.lisinski.hr

After four long years away, the world-class piano skills of Maksim Mrvica return to the capital. It has been a long journey for the Šibenik-born artist, with concerts around the globe, and he will be accompanied by a new band to perform songs from ‘The Collection’.

Place2Go 24 .. 26/3

Arena Zagreb

Vice Vukova 6 www.place2go.org

the 10th edition of the beloved Place2Go tourism extravaganza will take place over three days. 700 exhibitors from 38 countries will be on show, with Algeria taking centre stage as the official partner country. The event is open to all visitors and admission is free, so get ready to explore the world. For those in the know, Friday is B2B day, although the entire weekend will be packed with education, entertainment and exploration. Not sure where to go this year? place2go might just give you an idea or three.

Promo MM

Place2Go Archives

HRT’s Jazz Cycle

22/3 ONA – Thana Alexa, vocalist, composer; Miron Hauser, conductor

26/4 Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride – Luka Žužić, trombone, composer, conductor

17/5 Stories on a Summer’s Day – Elliot Mason, trombone, composer - Miron Hauser, conductor

Gorgona hall

Museum of Contemporary Art https://glazba.hrt.hr

JazzHR March in the colors of jazz

19.3. Matija Dedić SOLO/TRIO ZKM

Zagreb Youth Theatre

29.3. B’s FUNstallation and Tamara Obrovac Quartet

Tvornica kulture (Culture Factory)

For more info on concerts see www.jazz.hr

Mangroove and Jazz Orchestra HRT

30/3

Peti kupe www.petikupe.com

International Jazz Day

30/4

Various locations

Jazz Events

22/3 .. 20/5

Jazz and spring go together like cheese and wine, as the blossoming of nature meshes magically with the artistic explorations of music’s most adventurous genre. World Jazz Day takes place on April 30, but that is just the tip of this tremendous iceberg. Zagreb’s calendar of jazz events features some fabulous names, from Thana Alexa all the way to Mangroove and beyond.

www.eventim.hr

The iconic hits of Deep Purple will reverberate around the city as Iron Maiden legend Bruce Dickinson and influential keyboardist Jon lord come together with the Zagreb Philharmonic to perform concerto for group and Orchestra. The set list will cover all three movements of the concerto, along with snippets from lord’s second solo album and much more.

JazzHR, Photo by Matej Grgić

Jon Lord’s concerto for Group and Orchestra and the music of Deep Purple 24/3

Dražen Petrović Concert Hall Savska 30

PR Photo: Bruce Dickinson i Paul Mann, Győr, 5.11.2021.

Zagrebdox Documentary Film Festival

26/3 .. 2/4

Kaptol Boutique Cinema & Bar Nova Ves 17

www.zagrebdox.net

We all love a documentary festival, and they don’t come much more exciting than ZagrebDox. The 19th edition of the festival promises to be the best yet, displaying the city’s love for investigative and innovative filmmaking for all to see. One of the world’s truly elite documentary festivals, ZagrebDox 2023 will also see Italian icon gianfranco rosi receive an honour for his outstanding contributions to documentary making. Expect a packed schedule of brilliant films and more.

croatian National Theatre Trg Republike Hrvatske 15 www.hnk.hr

peer gynt is one of the great anti-heroes of history, the creation of great Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen and an icon of restlessness and longing. Peer Gynt has inspired many an adventure, and this large ensemble ballet performance promises to be something special indeed.

Henrik Ibsen – Edvard Grieg – Edward Clug - Peer Gynt

31/3, 1, 4, 5, 12/4

Croatian National Theatre Archives

Photo by Samir Cerić Kovač

Saturday at Lisinski

– Czech Philharmonic 1/4

Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall

Trg Stjepana Radića 4 www.lisinski.hr

it is no great surprise that the beauty of prague has inspired melodies and harmonies for centuries, and the Czech philharmonic remains one of the most magnificent orchestras on the planet. The famous ensemble will perform works by Dvořák and Tchaikovsky, accentuated by the marvellous talents of Korean pianist seongJin Cho.

www.projektilica.com

Over two dates this spring, Project Ilica: Q’Art will once more breathe new life into Zagreb’s longest street, illuminating neglected spaces with creativity and culture. This will be an entertaining and educational spectacle for all the family.

13/4

Tvornica kulture (Culture Factory) Šubićeva 2 www.tvornicakulture.com

Steve Vai has been wowing audiences with guitar virtuosity for decades, but seeing the great man frying the fretboard in person remains one of the great rock music experiences.

Project Ilica - Q’Art 2/4, 21/5

An Evening with Steve Vai

Vatroslav Lisinski Archives

Project Ilica Archives

Steve Vai Promo

ABBA SYMPHONIc Real Tribute Show

13/4

Dražen Petrović Concert Hall Savska 30 www.eventim.hr

Who doesn’t love abba? You can’t beat the magical melodies of Sweden’s finest, and this tremendous tribute show is a must for anyone with an interest in one of the greatest pop bands in the history of time and space. until a time machine is invented to take us back to the ‘70s, this is the closest you can get to the full ABBA experience.

32nd Music Biennale Zagreb

13/4 .. 22/4

Various locations www.mbz.hr

the largest croatian festival dedicated to the magic of contemporary music, Music Biennale zagreb has been a staple in the croatian capital since its inception in 1961. No restrictions, no boundaries, just fabulous music in a tremendous environment.

Laibach - Love is

Still Alive

14/4

Tvornica kulture (Culture Factory) Šubićeva 2 www.tvornicakulture.com

More than 40 years into their career, Slovenian avant-garde icons laibach remain as unpredictable as ever. Trbovlje’s finest know no boundaries, they have made that abundantly clear since the ‘80s, and ‘Love is Still Alive’ is another adventurous string to this most eclectic of bows.

Photo by Simone Di Luca

Laibach, Photo by Ciril Jazbec

MBZ Archives, Photo by Vedran Metelko

Honey Dijon

15/4

Šalata Stadium

Schlosserove stube 2 www.bsh.events

House fans, the wait is almost over. Honey Dijon, DJ diva extraordinaire, will finally make her presence felt in the croatian capital. The Chicago-born artist is a tour de force in the world of music and fashion, and this one promises to be one of the most memorable zagreb nights of 2023. Get your tickets fast, because Honey Dijon doesn’t come around every day.

16/4

www.lisinski.hr

Tchaikovsky’s magical masterpiece is something everyone should experience at least once. One of history’s most magnetic ballets, Swan Lake is as influential as the art form gets, and the story of prince siegfried and princess Odette (not to mention the dastardly Rothbard) will be brought to life this spring by the Ukrainian Classical Ballet.

European Wrestling Championships

17/4 .. 23/4

Arena Zagreb

Vice Vukova 6

www.zagrebarena.hr

Grapple fans, this one is for you. More than 700 athletes from 35 countries will showcase technique, skill, grit and determination at the european senior Wrestling Championships in Arena Zagreb, and entrance to the spectacle is free.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake

Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall Trg Stjepana Radića 4

PR Photo: Honey Dijon

Vatroslav Lisinski Archives

Copyright: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov

WRC Croatia Rally 20/4 .. 23/4

In front of National and University Library in Zagreb Ulica Hrvatske bratske zajednice 4 www.rally-croatia.com

For the third year running, Zagreb will host the WRC Croatia Rally, a demanding motorsports event like no other. The rally covers five counties across the country, but the start and finish are found in the capital; the race starts in front of the national and university Library, with the chequered flag waiting at the INA office building in Novi Zagreb. The rally has a history of going right down to the wire; will 2023 go the same way? We can’t wait to find out.

Photo by Mario Pavlović

Earth Day at Medvedgrad

22/4

Visitor centre Medvedgrad (Medvednica Nature Park)

Himper 16

www.medvedgrad.eu

located in the heart of the marvellous Medvednica Nature Park, Earth Day (two days, technically) will accentuate the fantastic permanent exhibition with creative workshops for children and a special photo exhibition that shows the park through the eyes of its employees.

St Mark’s Festival

23/4 .. 18/5

Various locations

www.festivalsvmarka.hr

spread across several locations throughout the city, St Mark’s Festival has been a beloved event on the Zagreb calendar for 11 years. The 2023 edition of the event will see domestic and foreign artists wow audiences once again, a true meeting point of local traditions and International innovation. come and see the city’s church spaces in a new light.

29/4

Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall

Trg Stjepana Radića 4

www.lisinski.hr

Whether you consider him a creative genius or a true eccentric, the artistic fearlessness of Ivo Pogorelić is undeniable. His recordings are among the best-selling classical music albums, and a live Pogorelić performance is a musical experience like no other.

Ivo Pogorelić

Medvedgrad, Photo by Marko Edge

St Mark’s Festival Archives

Vatroslav Lisinski Archives

Modular Homes Expo

4/5 .. 7/5

Arena Zagreb

Vice Vukova 6

www.modularhomexpo.com/hr

House building is a unique form of expression, and this brand-new expo is all about celebrating the present and future of construction, with energy-efficient ways of living taking centre stage. What will construction look like in 5, 10, or 20 years time? Come find out.

Days of Science Fiction

– SFeraKon 2023

12/5 .. 14/5

Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER)

Unska 3

www.sferakon.org

Science fiction is eternal, and SFeraKon is the undoubted HQ of Croatian Sci-Fi. The convention has been visited by a who’s who of science fiction legends over the years, famous names mingling with over 2,000 attendees covering everything from obsessives to the curious. No matter which group you fall into, this isn’t to be missed.

Days of Croatian Film

15/5 .. 20/5

Student Centre (University of Zagreb) Savska 25 www.dhf.hr

Days of Croatian Film has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1992 as an annual review of the nation’s film production. This is now one of the most important events of its kind in the region, featuring film-making in all its glory.

croatian cinematography has a glorious past and a thrilling present, and this festival is a celebration of its many layers.

Neimar d.o.o. Archives

Days of Croatian Film Archives

Photo by Miroslav Šilović

Zagreb Beer Fest 2023

18/5 .. 21/5

Dr. Franjo Tuđman Park

www.facebook.com/zagrebbeerfest

You know what you are getting from a good beer festival, and Zagreb Beer Fest is no different. A wide range of beers both local and international will be available, along with a packed schedule of fantastic live bands.

Greencajt Festival 24/5 .. 25/5

Rougemarin Park TEŽ (Old Light Bulb Factory) Frana Folnegovića 10 www.greencajt.hr

the most intuitive minds in regional sustainability will come together at Greencajt, a festival focusing on the future of our environment. The festival will feature many international speakers talking about ecology in business, tourism, food, zero-waste and more.

Lord of the dance 25/5

Arena Zagreb

Vice Vukova 6 www.eventim.hr

the most successful dance tour in the entertainment world, Michael Flatley’s famous Lord of the Dance is still going strong after 25 incredible years. More than 60 million people have experienced the magic, with many more to join them at arena Zagreb this May.

Photo by Filip Bušić Photography

Greencajt Festival Archives, Photo by Matej Grgić

Lord of the Dance Promo

Publisher zagreb tourist board Kaptol 5, 10000 zagreb, croatia info@infozagreb.hr

www.infozagreb.hr

www.meetinzagreb.hr

Production Plava ponistra d.o.o.

design & Layout Ivana Mihoković

Photo credits (cover) zagreb tourist board ???

cest is d’best Archives

zagreb tourist board is not responsible for any changes or cancellations of events organised by third parties.

Although we have made every effort to ensure that the information here presented is correct at the time of publishing, we cannot take any responsibility for errors or changes thereafter.