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The premier event in the city is the Dubrovnik Summer Festival . In 2027, it will mark its 78th consecutive year.
The fundamental details for the 2027 festival are structured below:
The festival runs on a strict, unvarying historic schedule every year:
Start Date: July 10, 2027
End Date: August 25, 2027
Duration: 47 consecutive days
The festival does not take place in a single theater or arena. Instead, it utilizes site-specific staging, converting more than 20 historic, open-air locations inside and around the UNESCO-listed Old Town into theatrical and musical stages. Primary venues include:
Fort Lovrjenac (St. Lawrence Fortress): The dramatic cliffside fortress traditionally serves as the stage for grand theatrical productions, particularly Shakespearean plays.
Rector’s Palace Atrium: Renowned for its acoustic properties, this gothic-renaissance courtyard hosts the festival's premier classical chamber music concerts and recitals.
The Island of Lokrum: Reached via a short boat ride, the island's forested ruins are used for atmospheric, immersive drama performances.
Sponza Palace Atrium: Typically hosts art exhibitions and intimate literary events.
The festival is multidisciplinary and focuses on four main pillars:
Theatre & Drama: Staging a mix of classical works (Shakespeare, Greek tragedies), local Renaissance plays (particularly by Dubrovnik playwright Marin Držić), and modern adaptions.
Classical Music & Opera: Featuring performances by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra alongside international guest conductors, soloists, and opera ensembles.
Dance & Ballet: Modern and classical dance performances taking place on open-air terraces.
Folklore: Regular weekly showcase performances of traditional Croatian music, costumed dance, and Klapa (a capella) singing by nationally acclaimed ensembles like LADO and Linđo.
Opening Ceremony (July 10): The grand opening is a massive public event. It begins with the ceremonial raising of the "Libertas" (Liberty) flag and the reading of Ivan Gundulić’s Hymn to Liberty in front of St. Blaise’s Church, accompanied by fireworks. It is free to watch from the street, but the surrounding squares are highly congested.
Ticket Availability: Tickets for individual indoor or seated fortress events generally go on sale in the spring of the festival year (typically late March or April) via the official portal (dubrovnik-festival.hr). Popular drama premieres and high-profile classical recitals at the Rector's Palace regularly sell out weeks in advance.