New Year's Eve outdoors

New Year's Eve is one of the most anticipated events, and every year Croatia strives to organize unforgettable celebrations for all tastes. In Croatia, celebrations are traditionally held outdoors, with musical spectacles and a rich accompanying program. From the urban bustle of Zagreb and Split, through the historical magic of Dubrovnik and Zadar to the musical diversity of Pula, Rijeka, Šibenik, each city offers a special experience for New Year's Eve during Advent. No matter which city you decide to welcome midnight in this year, you are sure to find something to your taste.

Here are the most interesting places to celebrate New Year's Eve outdoors. The countdown to midnight can begin.

ZAGREB

Zagreb traditionally offers a celebration on Ban Jelačić Square, where thousands of people gather. This year, we bring to the citizens of Zagreb and all guests a program filled with top-notch music performed by new and established stars: Luzeri, Idem, Elemental and Dubioza kolektiv. For the third year in a row, the City of Zagreb is also organizing a Children's New Year's Eve at noon on Petar Preradović Square with song and dance and a concert by Bojan Jambrošić. At Zrinjevac, you can enjoy a more peaceful atmosphere with hot drinks and live music, while the Tomislavac Ice Park is preparing a unique New Year's Eve, designed for all generations, with music, dance and numerous surprises throughout the evening. This is the only place in the city where you can literally skate into the New Year.

SPLIT

The Waterfront in Split is an unmissable destination for an outdoor New Year's Eve party. The open-air music program attracts visitors of all generations, and the beautiful view of the sea and fireworks over the Bay of Split create a special atmosphere. This year, several famous Croatian artists are expected to perform, making Split one of the main centers for New Year's Eve parties. Bebek will count down the last minutes of 2025 and be the first to usher in the New Year. After him, the atmosphere will be further enhanced by Baby Lasagna, currently the most sought-after name on the domestic scene. Vanillaz will conclude the evening to the rhythm of electronic music, confirming Split as a center of urban entertainment and musical spectacles.

ŠIBENIK

Šibenik has established itself as a favorite New Year's Eve destination for many European tourists in recent years. Šibenik continues the city's tradition of bringing in big-name foreign artists to celebrate the New Year, and Morcheeba will perform in front of the Cathedral of St. James on New Year's Eve. Before Morcheeba takes the stage, the atmosphere will be warmed up by Pytzek, one of the best house DJs in the region, followed by Philip Lassiter, a trumpeter and arranger with multiple Grammy awards, known for his collaboration with Prince. On the stage in Perivoj Roberto Visiani, the audience will be entertained by Matija Cvek and his band The Funkensteins.

PULA

Advent in Pula is once again preparing one of the most attractive New Year's Eve celebrations in Croatia on three stages – Portarata, Forum and Portarata noon – by Neno Belan & Fiumens, Gustafi and Lima Len. Pula's festive attire, rich gastronomic offer, Advent houses, traditional flavors and a fantastic atmosphere make this celebration one of the most visited in Istria.

RIJEKA

This year, Rijeka and all its visitors will enter the New Year 2026 with the Big CroDance Party, a unique New Year's spectacle that will bring to one stage on Korzo performers who have marked the domestic music scene and filled discos across Croatia and the region! This special New Year's Eve will bring only the biggest hits of the nineties. The following will perform on stage: Indira Forza, Grupa ET, Simplicia, Senna M, Ilan Kabiljo, Alka Vuica and dancers who will further spice up every performance and turn it into a real stage show! Let's prepare for an unforgettable musical evening and New Year's Eve, let's enter 2026 together with the Big CroDance Party - the biggest New Year's party in the city!

 ZADAR

Zadar will welcome the New Year with a daytime and evening program. Like last year, Zadar residents will be expecting four New Year's Eve parties, so for those looking for fun, the party will last all day. In addition to the children's New Year's Eve party at 11 a.m. on the Market Square, the ARTPOP group will perform at the same time on Trg Petar Zoranića. The farewell to the old year and the New Year's Eve party on Trg Petar Zoranića will be led by the RockStar Show group, which will make you dance to world rock hits, and before them, the Zadar Rockatansky Band will perform. For the evening entertainment at Tržnica, a group of local collectives from the electronic scene will provide dancing with NYE Edition - Selected, Loveroom and Ritmika.

DUBROVNIK

New Year's Eve on Stradun is a special experience due to the historical backdrop of the old city center. The peak of the holiday mood is expected on New Year's Eve, when Stradun will become the center of the spectacle with a large open-air concert and traditional midnight fireworks over the historic center. Dino Merlin, who returns to the Dubrovnik stage after two years, will provide an unforgettable atmosphere, along with Hiljson Mandela and Jakov Jozinović.

OPATIJA

The central Opatija New Year's Eve party will be held in front of the city market, where the people of Opatija and their guests will step into 2026 together with a rich musical program. Danijela Martinović will perform on stage, along with local acts Mauro Staraj & La Banda and DJ Vedran, who will entertain the audience until the early hours of the morning. As in previous years, the organizers have decided to make the reception pet-friendly, so the program will be held without fireworks.

KARLOVAC

Karlovac, the city on four rivers will see off this year, but also welcome the new year 2026, with Maja Šuput at the Music Pavilion.

POREČ

This year, Poreč invites you to a unique New Year's celebration with as many as four New Year's Eves! Get ready for top-notch entertainment, unforgettable moments and a variety of music that will satisfy all ages and musical tastes. On the main stage, located on Trg Slobode, one of the most famous performers in the region - Toni Cetinski - will perform. At the same time, on Trg Matija Gubec, a party will be held with performances by young and energetic performers - Miach and Kids from the Sky. For the youngest visitors, Poreč is organizing a special Children's New Year's Eve at noon - an opportunity for the little ones to experience their first New Year's Eve in a bright and cheerful tone, with animation and music.

ROVINJ

UMAG