74th Ljubljana Festival 2026

The Ljubljana Summer Festival traces its origins back to 1952, when the Ljubljana Tourist Association organised the first Tourism Week. The following year, from 4 to 13 July 1953, the first official Ljubljana Festival took place, offering a diverse programme of cultural, economic, folkloric, tourist, and sports events. Since then, the festival has remained committed to presenting Slovenian and international audiences with cultural and artistic content of the highest quality, performed by elite artists of international acclaim.Over the years, the festival has grown into a cornerstone of Slovenian cultural life, hosting around 6,300 artists annually from over 55 countries and attracting tens of thousands of visitors from across the globe. For example, the 73rd Ljubljana Festival featured more than 130 events, drawing more than 64,000 attendees from nearly 60 countries. The long list of distinguished soloists, orchestras, ensembles, conductors, choreographers, directors, and actors who have performed at the festival underscores its dedication to artistic excellence.Ljubljana Festival ensures the continuous provision of public cultural goods across theatre, music, visual arts, and other artistic disciplines. Its central event, the international summer festival, includes symphonic and chamber music concerts, opera, ballet, and theatre performances by top domestic and international artists. The programme is further enriched by the International Fine Arts Colony, which annually brings together Slovenian and international visual artists in the inspiring setting of Plečnik’s Križanke, as well as children’s and youth workshops led by established artists.Since 1977, Ljubljana Festival has been a member of the prestigious European Festivals Association (EFA), which connects around 200 festivals and cultural networks from more than 45 countries, reflecting its recognition and standing in the international cultural community. Looking ahead, the 74th Ljubljana Festival, scheduled to take place from June to September 2026, will once again transform the Slovenian capital into a vibrant cultural hub, presenting a rich programme of performances by leading artists and ensembles from around the world. As it continues to evolve, the festival remains committed to offering programmes of the highest artistic calibre, maintaining its lasting impact on Slovenian and international cultural life.