ART & EXHIBITION
DESIGN
HISTORY & TRADITION
GOURMET
MUSIC
MOVIE
SPORT
THEATRE & PERFORMANCES OTHER
INTRODUCTION
Winter is back in town! The festive season in Zagreb is truly an enchanting time to visit one of the best and most popular Christmas markets in Europe, as listed by CNN, National Geographic, The Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, Independent, Lonely Planet and many more. Magical vibes take over the entire city, with thousands of Christmas lights and festive holiday-themed markets. This year’s special ‘Advent Warm Up’ program starts as early as the 27th November so make sure to check out the exciting list of festive events!
The Celsius readings might be low but Zagreb gets the temperature rising with all sorts of wintry treats. Wrap up warmly and go for a stroll over frosty leaves, exploring numerous exhibitions, concerts and pop-up events across the city. Stop at the romantic and vibrant Ice Park on King Tomislav square and join in the tenth anniversary celebrations of this magic Winter landmark of the city.
Winter in Zagreb isn’t just about Christmas - there’s a lot going on in January and February, as well. You can attend numerous jazz concerts or embark on some of the amazing musical journeys at Lisinski Concert Hall. Keep an eye out for the Human Rights Film Festival and various sports events throughout the winter months. Last but not least, bag yourself a bargain during the Zagreb Winter sales.
If you’re lucky, you may even see many of Zagreb’s parks looking spectacular under a frosty blanket of snow!
As the song goes: “A beautiful site, we’re happy tonight Walkin’ in the Winter Wanderland!”
Martina Bienenfeld, Ph.D. CEO Zagreb Tourist Board
30/11/2024 .. 7/1/2025
www.adventzagreb.hr
The “most wonderful time of the year” is here again. Advent is a brilliant time to be in and around Zagreb as the streets, squares, museums, galleries and more shine with the joy of Christmas. The Advent calendar in the Croatian capital is packed with more than chocolate, and every new year seems to bring fresh, exciting events that add a new layer of happiness to what is already a joyful time. No matter whether you like your festive cheer to be cultural, artistic, musical, or downright delicious, you’ll find it here.
So put on your warmest clothes and get ready to experience an award-winning festive celebration. From thought-provoking exhibitions to wine markets, costume runs, tradition, innovation, history, and more, there is something for everyone this Advent in Zagreb. It all builds to the big day, but the best part? The fun continues into the new year. Get ready to say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025 in the most magnificent of manners.This is Advent in Zagreb.
ADVENT CLASSICS
It wouldn’t be Christmas with out festive songs ringing around the city, and the talented mu sicians of the Croatian capital will do their part in bringing those famous sounds to town. Classical performances by the Zagreb Soloists and The Zagreb Chamber Orchestra will set the scene, while a special collection of shows will see Brahms played on an iconic Streicher piano. The Ivan Filipović Chamber Choir will bring beautiful harmonies to melodies old and new, and there will also be a cycle of festive masses held at St Mark’s Church.
MERRY MELODIES
How do Christmas melodies singing out from the city’s balconies sound? That is precisely what the Ad Gloriam Brass Ensemble will provide in December, and the Kralj Music and Art Studio will engage the public in singing on the streets and squares. Advent compositions from all across Croatia will light up Zagreb’s churches, while the Vox Quartet and tram Flash Mob will be performing a series of unannounced pop-up shows at various passages in town. Finally, the tradition of carolling under a gas lamp will cloak the city in true Christmas cheer.
Christmas creativity can be expressed in many different ways, and Zagreb will be showing off this Advent. The nation’s festive traditions will be showcased at the Ethnographic Museum, while the iconic Nativity scene will be represented in 30 unique ways at the Zagreb City Museum. The Natural History Museum brings science, festivity, and art together through workshops, concerts, and more, and cartoon fans must make a pilgrimage to the house of Otto Reisinger for an amusing experience. What is Christmas without chocolate? The archives and stories of Zagreb’s Chocolate Museum will also be open.
Finding individual dates to celebrate is a most charming challenge in a schedule as packed as Zagreb’s Advent. Luckily, magic abounds on this calendar. The Zagreb Soloists will perform a special noon concert under the gorgeous roof of the Oktogon Passage, while the famous Nutcracker ballet will come to life in front of the Croatian National Theatre on December 20. Ban Jelačić Square on Christmas Eve will be accentuated by the harmonies of eight Zagreb choirs, and the same venue will see a line-up of superstars ring in 2025 on New Year’s Eve.
ADVENT ART JAM
While adults refer to Christmas as the “most wonderful time of the year” in a nostalgic way, for many children, it truly is just that. For some, the entire year builds up to Christmas, and nothing excites like the prospect of the festive season. Advent in Zagreb is packed with kid-friendly events that will ramp up that excitement even more, from puppet shows to educational animal-centric activities via theatre performances, special handmade craft workshops, and all the festive fairytales you could want. If you’re looking to rekindle the magic of Christmas, maybe try embracing your inner child.
ADVENT DÉCOR
Christmas decorations will take over homes and houses this festive period, but don’t for one second think that the architecture of Zagreb is going to miss out. Quite the opposite; the beautiful buildings, passages, squares, and parks of the capital will be dressed up in gorgeous attire for the occasion. The largest Christmas tree will be found in the main city square, the Grič Tunnel will be transformed to embrace the world of the Polar Express, and Petrićeva Street will bring Old Zagreb and modern decoration together with delightful results.
MINGLE & MINGLE IN THE HOOD
Zagreb will find new ways to embrace tradition and history over Advent. Bringing famous historical Croatians to life in sculpture form will certainly do the job, so head to Caffe de Matoš for that, while street food and bright lights will be found in the squares and parks of town. No Advent is complete without a skating rink, and King Tomislav Square will once again become the Ice Park we know and love. Finally, the fabulous Mingle in the Hood extravaganza will fill Kvatrić Square with festive cheer.
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
Advent in Zagreb is a truly special time, and there is something about seeing the capital city dressed up in lights that gets the spirit going. All the bells and whistles are on show, from spectacular light shows in the Upper Town to food markets, Caribbean dance workshops, Santa Claus sleigh rides and more. Christmas is a time of many dimensions, and Zagreb isn’t afraid to show every side of its personality at this time of year. It all creates a magical mix of entertainment for everyone lucky enough to spend Advent in Zagreb.
Zagreb’s selection of hotels gets better every year, and the best of the best love to get involved in the Advent excitement with special Christmas menus, events, and decorations all around. Some of the finest hotels in town are going all-out, and the Esplanade, Republika, Hilton Radnička and Jägerhorn hotels should be top of your list for a Zagreb stay packed with Christmas cheer. Everything from hunting exhibitions to special decorations will fill the halls and corridors as the Christmas spirit continues from breakfast to bedtime and beyond.
Klovićevi dvori Gallery Exhibitions
23/10/2024 .. 9/3/2025
Jezuitski trg 4
www.gkd.hr
This stunning gallery in the city’s pleasant Upper Town will host two major exhibitions over the coming months. The First Golden Age of Hungarian Finger Painting and the Roots of Croatian Modern Art is exactly what the title suggests, while the second show focuses on wood and canvas paintings by the Dutch masters of the 17th century.
23/10/2024 .. 10/1/2025 Ideal and Reality: The First Golden Age of Hungarian Painting and the Roots of Croatian Modern Art
12/12/2024 .. 9/3/2025 The Golden Age of Dutch Painting
5/9/2024 .. 16/3/2025
Opatička 20 www.mgz.hr
The capital’s eponymous museum has plenty of things packed into its schedule to keep visitors engaged over the winter.
5/9/2024 .. 2/2/2025 Sljeme – the first factory of suitcases and leather goods
25/9/2024 .. 5/1/2025 Independent Concert Scene in Zagreb 2023
29/11 .. 21/12 Exhibition Nativity
Under the Stars, advent workshops, nativity scene, concerts by the Zagreb Soloists
16/1 .. 16/3 Oton Župančić: Drawings / I Painted Myself, Therefore I Am, a Guest Exhibition from the City Museum of Ljubljana
Kutija šibica Futsal Tournament
23/11 .. 30/12
www.kutijasibica.hr
The popular mini-football competition is back again, with competitions for veterans and women alongside the famous main tournament. Taking its name from the hall where the first tournament was held (it means “box of matches”), this year’s finals will take place at Dražen Petrović Hall.
Zagreb City Museum Archive
MNT Kutija šibica Archive
Gyula Benczúr, Woman Reading in the Forest, 1875, oil on canvas Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest,, inv. no. 61.121T
Croatian National Theatre Performances
2/12/2024 .. 8/1/2025
Trg Republike Hrvatske 15 www.hnk.hr
No Christmas theatre schedule is complete without “The Nutcracker” and “The Bat,” and the famous works of Tchaikovsky and Strauss will excite audiences young and old once more.
2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 13, 17, 19, 24, 28/12, 2, 4/1 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker 14, 18, 27, 30/12, 7, 8/1 Johann Strauss Jr., The Bat
Natural Resources, Green Technology, and Sustainable Development /5-GREEN2024.
3 .. 5/12
Hotel International, Miramarska cesta 24 www.sumins.hr/green2024/
The fifth edition of this conference will continue where the previous editions have left off, bringing together some of the most authoritative and credible voices in sustainability (covering green technology, development, natural resources and more) to present progress, ideas, insights and more in this most pressing area.
22nd Human Rights Film Festival
2 .. 7/12
Kaptol Boutique Cinema, Nova ves 17; Kinoteka Cinema, Kordunska 1 www. humanrightsfestival.org
A range of cinemas across the city play host to the 22nd edition of this festival, a socially-conscious event that brings together around 30 feature, documentary, and experimental films from across the globe. The festival also includes a discursive program covering a range of topics.
Croatian National Theatre Archive
HRFF Archive, Photo by Mladen Pobi
Green2024 Archive
56th Golden Spin of Zagreb
4 .. 7/12
Velesajam Ice Skating Rink
Avenija Dubrovnik 15 www.croskate.hr
The elegance of the Croatian capital and the grace of figures gliding across the rink collide once again. This year will be the 56th holding of this prestigious international figure skating competition, one that will showcase the stunning skills of over 200 skaters from more than 30 nations. Many officials and VIPs will be in attendance to see the men, women, pairs and dance couples take the audience on a journey through technique, timing, and beauty.
Zagreb Fair Events
5/12/2024 .. 23/2/2025
Avenija Dubrovnik 15 www.zv.hr
The turn of the year presents an interesting collection of fairs and shows covering the nuts and bolts of simple life, from agriculture and healthy living through to hunting, fishing, and much more.
5 .. 8/12 4th International Fair of Agriculture, Agricultural Equipment and Machinery – CroAGRO
5 .. 8/12 Food and Healthy Living Fairs
19 .. 23/2 32nd Zagreb Boat Show
21 .. 23/2 6th Hunting and Fishing
Days - International Hunting and Fishing Equipment Fair
Zagreb Fair Archive
Jazz events 4/12/2024 .. 19/2/2025
Zagreb can be a chilly place over the winter months but you’ll find plenty of warmth and comfort in the city’s fantastic schedule of jazz events.
4/12 .. 19/2 Croatian Television Jazz Orchestra Concerts 4/12 Brazil, Jazz and More; Emiliano Sampaio, composer, trombone, conductor; Contemporary Art Museum
29/1 Collective; More Love Ensemble, Miron Hauser, conductor; Contemporary Art Museum
19/2 Music Of La Vieja Trova Santiaguera; Lazaro Amed Hierrezuelo Zumeta, vocal Miron Hauser, conductor, Pascal Rophé, chief conductor; Contemporary Art Museum
11/2 Dhafer Youssef; Vatroslav Lisinski Hall
18/12 15th Zagreb Jazz Festival Emmet Cohen Trio; Cinema SC
15/1 .. 4/2 JazzHR Cycle
15/1 Jazz Continuo: Music for Boško Petrović; Vatroslav Lisinski Hall
4/2 Anniversary Author Concert: One Hundred Years (Since the Birth) of Miljenko Prohaska; Vatroslav Lisinski Hall
www.facebook.com/udrugasretno
The traditional mining ceremony is an important rite of passage for those entering the industry. It is a special event that initiates new students into the tightly-knit community. The ceremony is the highlight, and there are also processions featuring ceremonial attire and other effects.
Udruga Sretno Archive
Dhafer Youssef, Photo by Bechir Zayene
Various Advent Events
6 .. 31/12
Zagreb comes alive during the Christmas season, with a fabulous range of markets lighting up the city centre as special events mark advent with a distinctly “Zagreb” touch. These are some of the highlights.
6, 13/2 PLACe Market Christmas PopUp, Dolac Market—The city’s finest chefs will bring their signature holiday specialities to the market, which will feature live music, dancing, and more.
7, 14/12 Musical control of the ZET Zagreb Orchestra- If you’re using public transport in the city, you might be serenaded by the orchestra. Fingers crossed!
8/12 Zagreb Advent Run, https://www. zagrebadventrun.hr/ - One of the largest costume races in Europe, this is a wildly popular date on the Advent calendar.
14/12 Gajevo Advent - This annual event is always fun for all the family, but 2024 will see special “musical fireworks” that might just top the lot. (Gajevo community center, Koprivnička 47)
6, 20, 31/12 RNB Confusion December Lineup
If you’re looking to throw shapes until the early hours, this is the party for you. The city’s legendary R&B extravaganza has a packed lineup to round off 2024, capped off with one of the city’s most unforgettable New Year’s Eve shindigs.
06/12 British Square – Advent editon –free entry
20/12 Trg Bana Josipa Jelačića - Advent edition – free entry
31/12 NYE in Zonar hotel
If you’re looking for a seriously unique challenge, how does a running race to the top of Croatia’s fourth-tallest building sound? It takes skill and determination to scale the 490 steps and 25 floors of this monolith once, let alone four times. Are you up to the task?
Zagrep
Photo by Daniel Roščić
Desire 11/12
Močvara Club, Trnjanska struga 34 www.mochvara.hr
The Canadian synth-pop champions bring a unique bilingual approach to the magic of melody to the city for the very first time as they promote their new album “Games People Play.” If you want to throw some shapes, this is the show for you.
Dancing Queen Abba Tribute Band 11/12
Tvornica kulture, Šubićeva 2 www.tvornicakulture.com
Expect all the hits and so much more from one of the most popular tribute bands on the continent.
Whether you are looking for nostalgia, pop classics, Swedish style or just a good night, you’ll find all that and more here.
59th Zagreb Salon of Architecture and Urbanism: Dialogues / Monologues 15/12 .. January 2025
Art Pavilion, Trg kralja Tomislava 22 www.uha.hr
After a process that involved more than 250 applicants, the 59th edition of this city institution will present 124 works in its special exhibition to go alongside the usual deep dive into all things architecture and urbanism.
Desire Promo
Photo by Simone Di Luca
Ira Payer, Superstudio
Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall concerts and events
16/12/2024 .. 22/2/2025
Trg Stjepana Radića 4 www.lisinski.hr
The capital’s premier concert hall has a schedule to envy over the festive period, with a fantastic range of concerts, events, performances and shows covering everything from choirs to carnivals via tributes, bootlegs, and beasts.
16/12 Dream Gospel Choir from Harlem
17/12 Queen Symphony Sensation
20, 21, 28/12 The Nutcracker – A Musical Story for Children
23/12 40 Fingers
29/12 Hall Day: The Nutcracker – A Musical Story for Children
29/12 Hall Day: Pianomania
29/12 Hall Day: Winter Carnival
29/12 Hall Day: Dancing in the Foyer - Gelato Sisters
30/12 Philharmonic Ball, Strauss Gala; Dawid Runtz, conductor; Lana Kos, sopran; Filip Filipović, tenor; Girls’ Choir Zvjezdice
7/1 Harry Potter Tribute: A Concert of Film Symphony Music
8/1 The Wall & Dark Side Of The Moon – Live In Concert
9/1 The Bootleg Beatles
14, 15, 16/1 Beauty and the Beast 22/2 Saturday at Lisinski: Vienna Boys’ Choir; Oliver Stech, conductor
Exhibition PasteUP & Sticker SHOW - Zagreb Street Art Festival 17/12/2024 .. 4/1/2025
VN Gallery, Ilica 163a www.zagrebstreetartfestival.com
Workshops, street art tours, a special exhibition and a sticker show are the highlights of this vibrant event that aims to bring a fresh layer of colour to the streets of Zagreb. There will also be a special screening of the “Sticker Movie” documentary.
Zagreb Street Art Festivale Archive
Vienna Boys, KD Vatroslav
Lado Ensemble Christmas Concerts 18, 20/12
www.lado.hr
18/12Parish of St. Nicholas the Bishop, Medpotoki 1 (Stenjevac)
20/12 The Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua, Sveti Duh 31
A popular annual tradition of the festive season, a selection of classic Croatian Christmas songs and lesser-known arrangements of traditional tunes dig deep into the annals of national culture with gorgeous results. These concerts bring together the best of Christmas melodies and the many regions of the nation.
30 Heferer Organ Festival 2024 20/12
Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, Nova Ves 64 www.facebook.com/heferer/
A vital part of Croatia’s musical and cultural heritage, the Heferer organ was restored in 2006 and has gone from strength to strength in the years since. A gorgeous 12th-century church provides the stunning surroundings for what promises to be a most atmospheric event.
Maruja 19/12
Boogaloo Club, Vukovarska 68 www.facebook.com/boogaloozgb/
The British underground rock scene continues to pump out exciting bands at will, and you can add this jazz-inspired quartet to its long list of thrilling live acts. The Manchester-based band brings a unique mix of post-rock, punk, jazz, and whatever else they feel like bringing to the stage.
Heferer Organ Festival Archive
LADO Archive, Photo by Petra Slobodnjak
Maruja Promo
New Year’s Eve in Zagreb 31/12
Ban Jelačić Square
Say goodbye to 2024 and ring in 2025 in style with this special New Year’s Eve party in the heart of the capital city. Many of the nation’s most popular stars will perform at an exciting extravaganza for all the family, including Eurovision hero Baby Lasagna and iconic pop diva Josipa Lisac. Singer-songwriter Miach, rapper Grše, and hip-hop superstar Hiljson Mandela will also take to the stage to start the new year in the best way possible.
Exhibition of Croatian Design 10/1 ..
Lauba– House for People and Art, Prilaz baruna Filipovića 23a www.dizajn.hr
The only project in the country that covers the entirety of Croatian design creativity, the works on show at this exhibition have been meticulously selected and represent the best of the best that the country has to offer. It also focuses on the ever-changing relationship between design and economics.
Baby Lasagna, Photo by Antonio Zub
Kasper Andreasen – High Capacity
World handball championship
14/1 .. 2/2
Arena Zagreb, Vice Vukova 6 www.hrs.hr
For the very first time, this prestigious competition will be jointly organised by three different nations, namely Croatia, Norway, and Denmark. In Croatia, the matches will take place in Zagreb, Varaždin and Poreč, as a passionate home crowd cheers the team on in group phase matches against Bahrain, Argentina and Egypt, as Croatia goes in search of its first medal since 2013. Slovenia will also play its matches in Croatia, so expect a raucous reception for them as well, while Zagreb will host one of the two semi-finals.
TesseracT 15/1
Boogaloo Club, Vukovarska 68 www.facebook.com/boogaloozgb/
One of the pioneers of the ever-complex and fabulously heavy djent movement, the British progressive metal band brings their unique brand of polyrhythmic riffs and quirky time signatures to one of Zagreb’s finest music venues at the beginning of 2025. Expect musical excellence in a most heavy manner.
TesseracT Promo
Photo by Kollectif images
Museum Night 31/1
www. noc-muzeja.hr
The wildly popular night of culture returns again, and this year’s theme will be “Museums — Visible and Invisible.” The idea is to focus on the institutions that do the hard work behind the scenes, collecting and researching and ensuring that what makes it to the public is as credible as possible. More than 250 museums, galleries and heritage institutions from around Croatia and abroad are scheduled to participate in this fantastic cultural event.
One of the most hotly anticipated events on the fencing calendar returns for the 40th time in 2025, as over 400 fencers take to the piste in a battle of patience and guile. The tournament is one of the most significant parts of the World Junior Cup (men’s and women’s foil).
NN JWC Zagreb Archive
Vinart Biz Edition
1/2 .. 1/3
www.grandtasting-vinart.com
An absolute must for oenophiles, this series of events brings the best of the wine world to the public through tastings, workshops, networking, and more. Whether you consider yourself an expert or just enjoy a tipple now and then, this will be a delightfully refreshing event.
1/2 Vinart Petit Tasting, Peti kupe Club
20,21,22,26/2 Wine workshops, Hotel Esplanade
28/2 .. 1/3 Vinart Grand Tasting, Lauba House for People and Art
Grand Prix Zagreb Open
5 .. 9/2
Arena Zagreb www.gpzagrebopen.com
The wrestling ranking series makes its way to the Croatian capital, where wrestlers from all over the world will compete for ranking points, prize money, and those all-important medals. Last year saw Iran finish top of the medal table, while the host nation was able to take away a bronze in the Men’s Greco-Roman 72kg class. Get ready to watch as incredible athletes battle on the mats in a test of technique, strength, and determination.
Photo by NOVI LAB Archive
VGT2024 Archive
stay 27 .. 28/2 Hotel Sheraton, Kneza Borne 2 www.beststayevent.com
A must-attend for professionals working in the hospitality and tourism industries, this event brings together some of the finest minds in the field to discuss, prevent, plan and engage. The 2025 program will focus on innovative revenue approaches, cutting-edge technology, and sustainability.
Stay Archive
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)
Advent Zagreb, 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.