Festivals and Entertainment
While Bosnia and Herzegovina buzzes with festivals and entertainment events, especially during the summer, there are a few notable festivals you will want to put on your map and visit immediately. This is the time you will meet many locals at their best – while they are entertaining themselves and enjoy some of the best meals you ever had. Indeed, the festival energy is something to experience, not read about. But do check the list below so you can create your own bucket-list.
Sarajevo Film Festival was a perfect response portraying the locals’ resilience, and spirit to survive and live established by Obala Art Centar at the end of the city siege in 1995. This cosmopolitan spirit continued to grow, and Sarajevo Film Festival has become the most prominent South East Europe film festival. Yet, contrary to most, Sarajevo Film Festival has not become famous for its glamorous side with tuxedos and paparazzi but as a festival dedicated to art and the support of regional filmmakers, actors and directors.
In 2007 it started as cooperation with the Berlin International Film Festival and the Berlinale Talent Campus to introduce the Sarajevo Talent Campus, an educational platform for young and aspiring film professionals. Still it gained the attention of many stars like Morgan Freeman, Mike Leigh or Bono to name only a few.
During the festival, Sarajevo shines in lights and the streets are filled with life. It has become a festival not only dear to the domestic audience but for many foreigners too. During this 7-day film festival, nightlife of Sarajevo reaches its peak. If you are catching a breaking between excellent movies, just take a walk through the center of Sarajevo and visit some of the local bars playing great music. The festival takes place in across the city so the choice to find a hotel is an easy one since you cannot miss it. Whether you decide to spend your time watching movies from aspiring filmmakers or just want to walk the streets of Sarajevo and get to know the local culture, it is the perfect time to do so.
Diving-Off the Old Bridge (Stari most) in Mostar is one of the oldest festivals in the region. The event dates centuries back, and gathers skilled divers from all over the world. Crowds of visitors gather around the Old Bridge to watch daring divers leaping into the cold Neretva River. Since 2015, Old Bridge in Mostar has been a tour stop in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. It is an absolute must-see and takes place in the peak of the summer season (end of July).
Una Regatta is an international event which takes place in one of the country’s most beautiful natural sites – the Una National Park, near the city of Bihać. One-week event taking place in July is a blend of adventure and entertainment. Regatta has several phases, and the evening events feature great music, dance and food. The event gathers participants and visitors from all over the world, whereas the skilled skippers ensure abundance of fun while tasting the adventurous rapids of the River Una and high level of safety.
Kozara Ethno Festival is the festival dedicated to portraying the old ways and customs of the Potkozarje region, near Banja Luka. The festival features traditional ethno music, dance, costumes and theatre plays which depict all of these. The festival takes place in the first week of July in the Piskavica Village (one of the Potkozarje region villages). It is quite a unique experience where you will learn the culture and customs of this specific region and try some of the most delicious traditional meals.
The oldest art colony in South East Europe, the International Art Colony in Pocitelj, is hosted annually in July. Many acclaimed and new artists across the world gather in this tiny Herzegovinian town to immerse themselves into the amazing artistic atmosphere and architectural beauty of Počitelj.
Sarajevo Winter is the oldest Sarajevo festival. It is dedicated to the 14th Winter Olympic Games which took place in 1984 on the mountains surrounding Sarajevo. Traditionally, the festival takes place in February and March and festival features variety of art genres such as music, dance, theatre plays, fine art exhibitions…with participants coming from all across the world.
The Youth Festival in Medjugorje takes place in August, and gathers young people from all over the world. This is a peace seeking, friendships and cultural dialogue type of an event. It is also very spiritual and abides special atmosphere of the third largest Catholic Pilgrimage in the world.
Streets of Sarajevo smell of the festival atmosphere in the summer. Bascarsija Nights is a month-long event taking place in July. It is a full event featuring exquisite traditional music, poetry, opera, ballet, art exhibitions and traditional dance (International Folklore Festival gathering folklore groups from all over the world also takes place in July). The festival is hosted in the old part of the town, Bascarsija, at various locations.
Ever since it has been established in 1997, the Jazz Festival has grown to be one of the most popular music events in South East Europe and wider region. This international event gathering new and cutting edge artists for late night jazz performances is hosted at several spots across Sarajevo.
Summer on the Vrbas is a something-for-everyone-event. An amazing combination of sports and culture entertainment with concerts, kayaking, swimming, diving off the bridge, zip line, and much more, which takes place in the second half of July at the Kastel Fortress. This is an amazing opportunity to meet the locals’ at their best.
MESS is a theatre festival with a long history. It was established in Sarajevo in 1960 as the Festival of Small and Experimental Stages of Yugoslavia on the initiative of one of the most prominent regional theatre directors, Jurislav Korenić. The festival was reestablished after the war as the International Theatre Festival “MESS” (Small Experimental Scenes Sarajevo), and now features some of the finest theatre and modern dance performances. It is a very innovative event, with theatre plays from all across Europe performed in the original language.