August the 8th, 2025 – The incredible Dubrovnik Summer Festival held in the heart of the Pearl of the Adriatic is always impressive. The 76th edition of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival is living up to all of its previous editions thus far, attracting culture loving visitors from far and wide.
Dubrovnik is so much more than just another destination in Croatia famed for its scenery, sunshine and sea. Once an autonomous republic and the envy of the Venetian Empire, this stunning city has always been a cut above most other places across the Mediterranean. One enduring event that makes this walled gem stand out in the crowd is it being the host of the oldest cultural and artistic phenomenon in not only Croatia, but one of the oldest in all of Europe. The Dubrovnik Summer Festival in its initial form was founded in 1950 when there were many theatrical and musical events springing up all over the continent.
dubrovnik – setting itself apart from the very beginning
Dubrovnik decided to give such events a twist of its own, and the idea of harmonising the renaissance and baroque atmosphere of Croatia’s southernmost city and the living spirit of drama and music came to be. The latter was actually derived from the intellectual way of life of the city and its people. Dubrovnik has always nurtured a living creative tradition, bestowing many great names and works upon Croatian cultural and scholarly history, especially in theatre and literature. It could be argued that Dubrovnik has kept the entire country continually in touch with contemporary currents spanning western Europe.
The city’s unique ambience determined not only the repertoire but also the organisation of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, with the majority of the performances being performed by the Festival Drama Ensemble, composed of the absolute best Croatian actors. There were also guest appearances that enhanced the exclusiveness of these events, such as the Old Vic with Zefirelli’s Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s iconic Hamlet has also been played by prestigious actors including Derek Jacobi and Daniel Day Lewis.
Over the years, the programme has hosted world’s finest artists, performers and musicians, the latter including the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan and Israeli Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta. The list also includes Svyatoslav Richter, Vladimir Ashkenazy, David Oistrakh, Monserrat Caballé, Ramon Vargas, Inva Mula, Leo Nucci, Daniel Barenboim, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Ravi Shankar, Tom Jones, Richard Bona, Il Volo, 2Cellos, and many others.
endless summers of music, drama and more
Each summer, from the 10th of July to the 25th of August, nearly 2,000 artists from around the world perform approximately 70 drama, music, dance, folk and other programmes on the ambient stages of the Baroque-Renaissance city of Dubrovnik. The Dubrovnik Summer Festival promotes all kinds of art forms and aesthetics that are reflected in its perfect fusion of tradition and modernity, while also making sure to blend in local, national, and international creativity.
Drawing on its abundant and vibrant heritage, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival promotes ambience as its unique artistic postulate, and is proud of its site-specific theatre productions. This truly unique festival doesn’t use open air venues as mere visual attractions or the ancient walls of its palaces and beautiful gardens only as sets. In Dubrovnik, these gorgeous spaces are decisive in creating a given theatrical event. That’s the reason why our catalogue, (throughout its over seven decades of existence!) comprises approximately 130 various venues. That means almost the entire city and the sea surrounding it are encompassed, which results in a unique bond between the city and the festival.
The respected BBCMusic Magazine wrote that the Dubrovnik Summer Festival is “Croatia’s major export brand”, seeing it included on their list of the best European classical music festivals in 2024.
turning to the 76th dubrovnik summer festival
Turning to this year and the 76th Dubrovnik Summer Festival, there’s plenty to boast of thanks to its exceptionally rich and varied programme. Theatre productions include three exciting premieres, and performances of successful productions from previous seasons. This summer’s third premiere title, The Seagull by A.P. Chekhov, focuses on unfulfilled dreams, longing for love and conflicts between generations. The work of the famous Russian writer is entrusted to the direction of the Polish director Janusz Kica, is set in the ambient of the island of Lokrum, with the characters embodied by the Festival Drama Ensemble.
The 76th Dubrovnik Summer Festival’s music programme also brings events you mustn’t miss. The big anniversary of the festival will be celebrated with a glamourous Opera Gala concert. Select arias will be performed by one of the greatest opera singers of today, soprano Nino Machaidze, Italian golden tenor Vittorio Grigolo and world-renowned Croatian bass Marko Mimica, accompanied by the Croatian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sebastian Lang Lessing. The staple of the 76th Dubrovnik Summer Festival’s music programme, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, will put on concerts and feature amazing soloists. In addition to big international names such as Sonya Yoncheva, Khatia Buniatishvili, The Philharmonix and others, there will be a flamenco show programme performed by the Marcos de Silvia Trio.
No summer festival in Dubrovnik would ever be completed without Croatia’s rich folk dance and music heritage being presented in a series of four performances by the Linđo Folklore Ensemble.
a look at what we can expect as of august the 8th…
Following on from last year’s acclaimed premiere, Equinox returns to the stage of the 76th Dubrovnik Summer Festival at the Posat dockside venue under the direction of Krešimir Dolenčić. Hailed as the best production of the past season, the play will run from the 8th to the 12th of August. This celebrated staging has already (rightfully) earned numerous accolades, including the Croatian Theatre Award for Best Direction to Krešimir Dolenčić, and Best Leading Roles to Zrinka Cvitešić and Goran Višnjić. For her portrayal of Jela, Cvitešić was also honoured with the prestigious Orlando Award and the Golden Studio Award for Best Actress.
On August the 9th, a longstanding and cherished guest of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, will return to the festival stage. In doing so, they will mark the grand occasion of their 100th anniversary. The orchestra will be conducted by Hungarian maestro Gergely Madaras, Chief Conductor of the Liège Philharmonic. Joining them is acclaimed violinist Alina Pogostkina, whose international career has earned her a place among the most captivating performers of her generation. The evening’s programme will be dedicated to the music of Felix Mendelssohn and his sister, Fanny Mendelssohn – a celebration of both virtuosity and legacy.
On August the 13th, a truly vibrant blend of rhythms and cultures is scheduled to arrive at the 76th Dubrovnik Summer Festival with Marocuba – an energetic world music programme performed by pianist Marialy Pacheco and percussionist Rhani Krija. In this unique musical dialogue, 88 piano keys will transform into percussion, weaving seamlessly with an array of richly coloured rhythms. Rhani Krija, renowned for his refined sensitivity and rhythmic inventiveness, has performed alongside legends such as Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Prince, and Sting. His first encounter with Marialy Pacheco in the summer of 2013 sparked an immediate musical connection, giving rise to Marocuba – a project that has since travelled the world. The programme is powered by RAO.
