Zagreb offers a conveyor belt of cultural attractions that just keeps on running, with events leading through the winter and into the spring. It's traditionally in winter months that the serious stuff - the theatre, classical music and exhibition seasons - kicks into gear, although there is a surfeit of things to do when the arts scene takes on a much more serious vibe.
Get gigging
Zagreb has always been a rock-and-roll town and boasts a live music scene that is the envy of many European cities. Grassroots acts and touring bands can be regularly seen at live music clubs such as Močvara and Vintage Industrial Bar. Tvornica kulture caters to bigger local and international acts, while Peti Kupe is the place for DJ action and live pop-rock. The new Lift Club offers an electronic music experience, with an age limit of 23 for men and 21 for women.Among the other significant winter visitors, leave spaces in your diary for Desire in Močvara on December 11 and noise rock Nemeček in Pauk the next night. On December 13, Dub Shepherds will be performing at AKC Attack – don't miss this electrifying show!
For unforgettable live music, Boogaloo Club is the place to be. From progressive metal to Eurovision hits, the club is hosting some of the most anticipated concerts of the 2025 season. Don’t miss TesseracT on January 15, Marduk on February 2, Slovenian Eurovision star Raiven on March 28, and the fiery Tito & Tarantula on April 2. At Vintage Industrial Bar, two exciting concerts stand out in particular. On December 12, catch Porto Morto, a Croatian band featuring award-winning saxophonist Marin Živković, while the captivating performance of Belgian artist Sylvie Kreusch makes March 19 an unmissable date. Looking for more must-see concerts this season? Don’t miss Artur Menezes at Hard Place on March 7, bringing his electrifying blues rock sound to the stage. Relive the magic of Bijelo Dugme at Arena Zagreb on March 29, followed by a high-energy rock experience with Godsmack at Boćarski dom on March 30. At the end of March 2025, Benjamine Celementine will be playing at Tvornica kulture (March 29). Finally, for a unique twist on classic hits, catch Nouvelle Vague at Tvornica kulture on April 18 and the songwriter of the iconic The Stranglers, Hugh Cornwell, who will be a guest at the Tvornica kulture on April 25. Mark your calendars for these unique live shows!
A must-see for art lovers
Several exceptional exhibitions this winter will connect the past and present through art and history. Get ready to dive into a unique cultural experience this winter as the art world gears up for the exciting exhibition To je to! / That's What's Up! in Trotoar Gallery until January 25, curated by Saša Bogojev.First Settlements: The Lost World of the Younger Stone Age is at the Archaeological Museum until February 1, showcasing groundbreaking finds from the 7th to 5th millennium BC that reveal the dawn of agriculture and permanent settlements in the Balkans and Central Europe. At the Ethnographic Museum, the "Travelers" exhibition (open throughout 2025) presents a unique collection of non-European artefacts, exploring themes of colonialism, migration, and cultural exchange.
At Galerija Josip Račić (from January 4 to February 2, 2025), an exhibition by Jelena Bando and Marija Ujević - Galetović will take centre stage. Popucali horizonti brings together Bando’s abstract paintings of Zagreb’s Vlaška Street and Ujević - Galetović’s powerful sculptures, creating a dialogue between personal identity and public space.
Step into the vibrant world of Zagreb's creative scene at an exhibition at Klovićevi Dvori Gallery (December 5 until March) that delves into the dynamic artistic community of the ‘Atelijeri Žitnjak’. Established in 2004, these unique ateliers, located at Žitnjak 31, have been a nurturing ground for innovative talent, and the exhibition offers an intimate glimpse into the works of the artists who have called this creative hub home and who transformed the unfinished space into a place of creation, socialising and the realisation of top-notch artistic works.
The International Art’s Birthday is an annual exchange-art event celebrated on January 17 with the participation of artists and artist organisations worldwide. Croatia joins this celebration for the third year in a row with the involvement of five art/artistic faculties of the University of Zagreb. The program will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Academy of Music with free entry for all visitors.
At the biennial Croatian Design Exhibition 23/24, which opens on January 10 at Lauba - House for Art and People, around 350 design creations will be presented.
The National Museum of Modern Art will open its new space in Oktogon (Ilica 5) with the exhibition Punćela by Dubravka Lošić. The exhibition can be viewed until February 16. In January, the Museum of Contemporary Art will open Triggers by Nina Kurtela. The exhibition can be viewed until March.
The City Museum of Zagreb will present an exhibition of Oton Župančić's drawings from January 16 to March 16. The 158 drawings explore this lesser-known side of the Slovenian poet, reflecting his poetry’s spiritual symbolism and offering a deeper understanding of his creative world.
All About Jazz
In these places you can always find a good jazz concert in town. Močvara offers Jazz concerts twice a month, be sure to check out their website mocvara.com for exact dates and times, and you can also buy tickets online. On Wednesdays, the Sax club offers the New Croatian Jazz concert programme and admission is free. KCM in Kranjčevićeva Street, Melin bar, Bacchus jazz bar, Café Zrin or Vanilla caffe bar offers jazz sessions, so stop by.In the Zagreb jazz cycle - Jazz orchestra of HRT at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Avenija Dubrovnik 17) on December 4 (Brazil /Jazz and More/Emiliano Sampaio,trombone), January 29 (Collective/More Love Ensemble), February 19 (Music Of La Vieja Trova Santiaguera/Lazaro Amed Hierrezuelo Zumeta,vocal), March 5 (Adam Klemm), April 2 (Joel Frahm Trio/Lumination), April 30 (Javier Girotto), May 14 (Boris Majcen). You can get tickets for 10 EUR.
The central spring event for all jazz lovers is most certainly JazzHR Festival, which has attracted the greatest jazz legends to Zagreb since 2005. And don't miss out on the Jazz.hr Spring Edition at the Tvornica kulture (May 14 -16), a real jazz treat!
All About Dance
As we know, dance is good for the heart, good for the mind, and good for the soul. Zagreb is a fabulous city for all types of dance, from the elegance of classical ballet to the vibrant energy of contemporary movement, with plenty of stops in between. The winter calendar is packed with exciting dance events, and top of the list is the return of the Hamlet Ballet to the Croatian National Theatre in late January (28-30) 2025. This evocative interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic tells that famous story through the language of dance. If you’re after something a little more avant-garde, the Zagreb Dance Centre is the place to go. Here, the boundaries of dance are pushed through bold new works and innovative ideas.Looking for something a little extreme? The Rotulus Homo Pendulum performance at Pogon Jedinstvo might be what you are after. This fascinating show is built around the aesthetics of personal and public memory as a common good, with the life and work of poet, performer, musician and activist Marko Brecelj as a launching point. Admission to this performance is free and takes place on January 17, 18, and 19. At the other end of the scale is RNB Confusion’s special Crazy in Love event, a special Valentine’s extravaganza taking place on February 15 at Peti Kupe.
If you’ve run out of dancing energy but still want to interact with the world of movement, head to the special Dancing, Resisting, (Un)working exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Subtitled “Aspects of Dance as Cultural, Political, and Art Work in Yugoslavia and After,” the exhibition delves deep into contemporary dance and the performing arts in the whole region. Through documents, photographs, video footage, books and more, the exhibition will also present the (Non)Aligned Dance Archive, the first digital archive of dance and performing arts in the former Yugoslavia. The exhibition opens on November 20 until February 23.
Get out and meet the people
Zagreb is the place to be in early 2025, with a vibrant mix of cultural events and exclusive festivals.Phat Phillie, the iconic regional hip-hop DJ, is presenting Memory Lane - 40 Years of Hip-Hop from February 25 to March 21 at the Liszt Institute. This exhibition showcases his personal collection of hip-hop memorabilia, offering a unique look at the evolution of the genre.
For coffee lovers, the GR8 Coffee Festival returns to Lauba from April 10 to 12. The event will feature tastings, workshops, Latte Art Show, Coffee Cocktail Show, and more, celebrating the art of coffee.
Wine enthusiasts can enjoy Vinart Petit Tasting on February 1 at Peti Kupe, followed by Vinart Grand Tasting at Lauba on February 28 and March 1, featuring top-tier wines in an exclusive setting.
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