May the 31st, 2025 – The 29th Terezijana Festival in Bjelovar has been formally announced, set to take place from the 18th to the 22nd of June, 2025.
Bjelovar is once again set to transform into a stage where a contemporary spectacle inspired by history and tradition will take place over five days. We can now start counting down to the Terezijana Festival, the most entertaining imperial story of not only Bjelovar but of all of central Croatia.
At a press conference held at the National and University Library in Zagreb, Bjelovar Mayor Dario Hrebak, Deputy Mayor Igor Brajdić, and the director of the Bilogora-Bjelovar Tourist Board, Ana Kelek, presented this year’s festival programme.
The Terezijana Festival programme on the cards for Bjelovar this year was hosted by Ida Prester, talented cellist Ana Gjud was in charge of the musical interlude, and the media were addressed by some of the artists set to perform, as well as the master chefs who will enrich the event in the gastronomic sense. Playwright Dubravka Vrgoč, musicians Mladen Bodalec, Zdenka Kovačiček, Mirela Priselac Remi and Sejo Sexon, comedian Goran Vinčić, host Mario Petreković and Marko Lušić, Šime Šparica, Damir Stupnišek, Davor Šušković and Marin Medak all presented their plans for the Terezijana Festival.
Maria Theresa herself honoured the guests in the hall with her arrival. The Empress, embodied by Bjelovar resident Anita Čleković Vegh, appeared with her entourage and closely followed what Bjelovar is preparing in her honour this year.
2025’s terezijana festival presents a programme for all ages in bjelovar
From June the 18th to the 22nd, visitors will have the opportunity to experience a unique journey through time dedicated to the legacy of Empress Maria Theresa. The event will celebrate the rich cultural and social history of Bjelovar.
“We’re proud to be able to say that the Terezijana Festival in Bjelovar has grown into an event that not only celebrates our past, but also revives the spirit of togetherness and cultural diversity. Terezijana has outgrown its local character and has become a national and even international story, making Bjelovar a desirable June destination for all generations. Year after year, we break records and we believe that this year will be the best yet. Come, visit the Terezijana Festival and enjoy the largest and most exciting festival of history, culture and entertainment, right in the heart of Bjelovar,” stated Mayor Dario Hrebak.
This year, the Terezijana Festival will offer the people of Bjelovar and their guests an exceptionally rich programme with several hundred participants, historical plays, concerts, theatre and dance performances, an exceptional gastronomic offer, and numerous workshops and programmes for children.
“We’re particularly proud to point out that the Terezijana Festival in Bjelovar is a family event, we’ve got something for everyone – from kindergarten aged children to our grandparents. Preserving our cultural heritage is particularly important to us, so we’ve got numerous performances scheduled by cultural and artistic societies, not only from the Bilogora area but from all over Croatia. We’ll also have the imperial procession in which more than 800 participants will perform this year. That will include plays and performers from five countries and a number of other such events,” emphasised Deputy Mayor Igor Brajdić.
bjelovar, the friendliest city in all of croatia
The director of the Bilogora-Bjelovar Tourist Board, Ana Kelek, spoke about the advantages of the Bjelovar area. In addition to the beautiful, well preserved nature and rich gastronomic and wine offer, she highlighted the hospitality that keeps guests coming back. The popular travel platform Booking.com recently declared Bjelovar the friendliest city in Croatia and awarded it the Traveller Review Awards as concrete recognition for its consistent hospitality.
“Hospitality and cordiality are what we’re most proud of and we’d like to invite you to come and feel the positive energy and togetherness that we offer. Come and see us for the Terezijana Festival, and then come back to see us throughout the year! The Bilogora region is continuing to grow when it comes to tourism, and more and more of our residents are deciding to engage in this industry. Owing to that, more and more guests are coming, and most importantly, they’re leaving satisfied and with plans to return,” said Ana Kelek.
how did bjelovar come to be?
According to legend, one day in 1756, a wheel on Empress Maria Theresa’s carriage broke in the area of today’s Bjelovar. Brave hussars from Bilogora came to her aid, and as a sign of gratitude, she enabled them to build the city. Bjelovar initially served as a closed military stronghold, but it was soon decided that it would be an open city after all – and thus the beautiful city of Bjelovar was born.
The popular Terezijana Festival in Bjelovar is inspired by historical events and revives memories of the city’s founder, the first and only woman to rule the Habsburg Monarchy and who issued the order to build Bjelovar in 1756. The event is organised by the City of Bjelovar, co-organised by the Bjelovar-Bilogora Tourist Board and the Centre for Lifelong Learning and Culture. It is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Croatia and with the support of numerous sponsors. They include; Begeom inženjering, Bjelin, B-projekt nekretnine, Calsberg, Crotal, Food Truck Festival, Grad-IM, Harter, Hidro regulacija, HŽPP, Intra lighting, Kokoš ili jaje, Koming, Komunalac Bjelovar, Kronospan, Mplan, Palačinka fest, Pan, Patent Co., Pim termoplin, Pizza&Burger festival Bjelovar, Prima., Prostor – eko, Rotor, the Croatian National Tourist Board, Veterinarska stanica Bjelovar and Vodne usluge Bjelovar.
This June, don’t miss out on experiencing the Terezijana Festival in Bjelovar – a blend of history and entertainment that delights all generations! Join us and become part of the story that Bjelovar has been telling with pride for 29 years now.
Need more information? A detailed event programme can be accessed here, on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
