Opatija on Sunday, February 8, 2026, once again becomes the stage for the 43rd Balinjerada: a “karići” downhill run that blends adrenaline, satire, and carnival imagination
Opatija on Sunday, February 8, 2026, enters one of the most anticipated days of its carnival season: the 43rd Balinjerada takes place, a unique race of improvised vehicles on ball bearings – “balinjere” – which for decades has filled the city’s main thoroughfare with laughter, cheering, and creativity. In Opatija’s vocabulary, this event long ago ceased to be merely a sporting contest; Balinjerada is at once a mask parade, a moving stage set, a public joke at the expense of everyday life, and a mirror of local identity in which competitive spirit mixes with carnival freedom.
For visitors arriving in Opatija these days, Balinjerada is also a good reason for an all-day stay in the city: from morning practice sessions and the “Taxi balinjera”, through the race start and the parade of carnival groups, to Kukalka – a witty maritime version of the Sinjska alka at Slatina. Behind it all stands the recognizable Opatija carnival atmosphere, what the city often describes as the “fifth season”, when masks take over the streets and humor becomes a legitimate form of commentary on society and politics.
It is already clear that Sunday will bring big crowds in the city center, so for those planning to stay longer or come from other parts of Croatia it is useful to think in advance about logistics, arrival and parking, as well as options for
accommodation in Opatija during Balinjerada. Such days traditionally attract thousands of people, and it is liveliest precisely along the downhill route, where the sense of speed and the closeness of the competitors is experienced from the front row.
What is Balinjerada and why Opatija turns it into the event of the season
Balinjerada is in many ways an Opatija original. Vehicles – in local jargon “karići” – are created in garages and workshops, often as the result of months of work by carnival groups or individuals. The basic idea is simple: instead of classic wheels, ball bearings (balinjere) are used, enabling fast, loud, and very distinctive descents down the main street. But what makes the race recognizable is not only speed, but also imagination: many “karići” look like moving sculptures, caricatured replicas of everyday life, or satirical installations that, through masks and jokes, comment on current social events.
It is precisely this element – the blend of adrenaline and carnival satire – that explains why Balinjerada is not “just another” event in a series. While some come for the competition and lap times, others come for the visual spectacle, costumes, witty slogans, and improvised scenarios that unfold on the spot. In practice, this means the audience simultaneously follows start numbers and comments on the best masks, while along the route you hear both cheering and laughter, often at the same moment.
For many, it is also an opportunity to experience Opatija beyond the typical postcard image. The city behaves those days like a large open stage, where for a few hours the line between participants and spectators is erased: someone cheers, someone records, someone is disguised “just” for a stroll, and someone at the last moment decides to try the “Taxi balinjera”. Because of this, first-time visitors are often advised to set aside the whole day – and, if they can, to stay overnight as well, especially if they want to combine the event with evening carnival programs and a walk by the sea. In that case, many look for
accommodation close to the center of Opatija and the race route, to get around on foot and avoid traffic stress.
Sunday program schedule: from the “Taxi balinjera” to Kukalka at Slatina
The official framework of the event is set so that the public can follow several segments in one day. The program starts already in the morning: from 10 o’clock, training sessions and the “Taxi balinjera” are planned, when visitors – with professional supervision and on specially prepared vehicles – can descend the course and experience what Balinjerada looks like from the driver’s perspective. This option is especially popular because it provides a safer experience of speed and gradient, without the need for someone to build or register their own vehicle.
The ceremonial race start is planned for 12 o’clock. After that, at 12:30, the parade of carnival groups follows, a segment that further emphasizes the carnival dimension of Balinjerada: large constructions, costumed teams, and imaginative “moving scenes” pass along the route and give the event rhythm between individual descents. At 13 o’clock, Kukalka is on the schedule, a traditional attraction in the shallows at Slatina, where the Opatija kukali stage a witty, maritime version of the Sinjska alka. This part of the program regularly attracts a large number of spectators because it combines recognizable “Opatija humor” with an unusual setting – the sea as an arena and the audience right by the edge of the shallows.
For those planning to come from other cities and wanting to secure a good spot along the route, it is practical to arrive earlier. In central Opatija, especially along Marshal Tito Street, crowds grow as noon approaches, so it is reasonable to count on slower walking as well. If the goal is to experience multiple program segments, it is useful to determine “points” in advance – for example the morning part near the start, then the middle of the route for the best view of speed, then the end of the program and a walk toward Slatina for Kukalka. In such a plan, deciding to take
accommodation for Balinjerada visitors in Opatija can also help, especially for families with children or those who want to avoid returning the same day.
The role of the city and key actors: Kirigin, the “pusni” mayor, and carnival tradition
Over the years, Balinjerada has built a recognizable protocol in which the city, tourism structures, and carnival groups intertwine. According to organizer announcements, this year as well the ceremonial part includes city and carnival figures who symbolize the continuity of the event – among them Opatija Mayor Fernando Kirigin and the “pusni” mayor and founder of Balinjerada Duško Jeličić – Dule, a person the audience often sees as one of the faces of the Opatija carnival. This combination of official and carnival authority is typical of local tradition: during carnival, the city functions as a community that for a time “hands over the keys” to masks, while maintaining a clear framework of safety and organization.
Safety becomes an important topic precisely when it comes to high-speed descents down a city street. Although Balinjerada carries a dose of madness, event organization as a rule includes route control, separating the public from vehicles, and coordinating services on the ground. Visitors are regularly advised to follow steward instructions and not cross fenced-off sections, especially on bends and in places where “karići” reach the highest speed. For families with children, an additional recommendation applies: it is best to stand in places with good visibility and enough space, to avoid congestion in the narrowest parts of the route.
Karići as a creative commentary: from “children’s toys” to serious constructions
One of the most striking transformations of Balinjerada is the change in perception of the vehicles themselves. What once seemed like a children’s game – a wooden plank, bearings, and a rope – today is often a technically developed project. “Karići” have become the result of teamwork, with a design that includes stability, handling, braking, but also scenography and narrative. In some cases, vehicles are “costumes” in themselves: a moving ship, a caricatured institution, a parody of trends, or a satirical replica of a current topic.
That creative dimension also carries an important social element: Balinjerada enables public expression of criticism through humor. Carnival is traditionally a space where one can say what in “normal” circumstances would sound too harsh; in Opatija, this is often done precisely through moving constructions that, along with audience laughter, comment on everyday frustrations and absurdities. That is why Balinjerada is perceived as a cultural event as well, not only as a sporting one. In that sense, it is also a tourist product, but also a local tradition that is renewed year after year with new ideas.
Awards and special segments: speed, impression, and Miss Balinjerada
The competitive part of Balinjerada traditionally awards different categories – from the fastest and most skillful to the most striking and funniest. In practice, this means that not only descent time is decisive: impression, innovation, and even an “anti-award” for the slowest also matter, which the audience experiences as part of the charm of the event. Such a structure encourages a wider circle of participants, because it gives space to those who are not focused on results, but on performance.
A special place in the program is held by the selection of Miss Balinjerada – a carnival title awarded to the person who most successfully embodies the spirit of the event, often through humor, costume, and stage performance. This segment further emphasizes that Balinjerada is “more than a race”: it is a complete carnival ritual in which competition and show overlap.
According to announcements, the atmosphere along the route should again be boosted this year by musical and hosting segments, including performances and commentary that keep the audience “in rhythm” between descents. Although details of performances and schedules are followed through the organizers’ official channels, experience shows that the main trump card is precisely immediacy: the audience is close, reactions are instant, and each new “karić” brings a different story.
Carnival season 2026 and the broader context: Opatija as the “fifth season”
Balinjerada is not an isolated event, but the peak of a carnival sequence that lasts for weeks in Opatija. According to programs published for the 2026 season, carnival events in the city began already in January with the raising of the carnival flag and the traditional “pust”, and continued with a series of events that include the children’s corso and other masked programs. In that picture, Balinjerada comes as a logical climax: it combines all elements of carnival – family atmosphere, humor, music, tradition, and tourist visibility – into one day that is remembered.
That is precisely why many visitors plan their arrival in advance. Besides wanting to secure a good spot along the route, they also want to experience Opatija as a whole: a walk along Lungomare, coffee on terraces, a short break in parks, and then a return to the crowd by the race. For such a plan, a practical option is to book
accommodation in Opatija during carnival, especially if combined with other events during the week or weekend.
Practical tips for visitors: arrival, crowds, and the experience from the “right” side of the barrier
For those coming to Balinjerada for the first time, a few simple rules apply. First, expect large crowds in the center and arrive earlier, especially if you want to “catch” the morning part and Taxi balinjere. Second, choose a place along the route where you have a good view and enough space – the most attractive spots are often on sections where vehicles accelerate or where there are bends, but those spots can also be the most crowded. Third, respect fenced zones and service instructions; Balinjerada is a carnival, but the speed of the vehicles is no joke.
If you are coming with children, it is useful to have a “retreat” plan toward calmer zones – for example toward parks or the seaside promenade – and then return to the route when you want. If you are in Opatija all day, it is natural to combine the race experience with going to Slatina for Kukalka, where the atmosphere shifts from “asphalt” to maritime, but still remains carnival. And if you want to be flexible and not think about returning the same day, the simplest thing is to secure in advance
accommodation offers in Opatija close to the event location.
In the end, Balinjerada is the type of event that is hard to explain with a photograph or a short video: you need to hear and feel it on the spot. The sound of bearings on asphalt, improvised audience comments, masks passing like moving sketches, and the moment when a “karić” sets off downhill – all of that creates the impression that Opatija is truly a different city that day, a city that turns its own tradition into a spectacle open to all.
Sources:- Tourist Board of the City of Opatija (Visit Opatija) – official schedule and description of Balinjerada 08/02/2026. (link)- City of Opatija – announcement of carnival events 2026 stating the date of Balinjerada and the context of Kukalka (link)- HRT Radio Rijeka – report/preview text about Kukalka at Slatina and carnival dynamics in Opatija (link)- Kvarner.hr – tourist context and description of Balinjerada as a carnival race in Opatija (link)
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