Rijeka this December again pulsates with alternative: the 47th edition of the Ri Rock Festival returns to the cult Club Palach, at Kružna Street 8, and through three evenings – December 11, 12, and 13, 2025 – connects rich tradition, young energy, and a special ceremony dedicated to the local scene. For those planning to arrive from other cities or wish to stay for multiple days, we recommend checking accommodation in Rijeka near Palach on time, so they can immerse themselves in the program, networking, and nightlife of the city center without rushing.
This year's concept brings three clearly profiled content blocks. The first evening, Thursday, December 11, stands under the sign of the ceremonial awarding of the "Ri Rock Statuette" – a symbolic recognition for exceptional contribution to the Rijeka and wider regional scene. Entrance on that day is free, whereby the Ri Rock Association confirms its mission: music and community above all. Along with the ceremony, the audience will recall a cross-section of two decades of uninterrupted work of the Association, which has left a deep mark in the cultural fabric of Rijeka. If you are coming from outside the city and plan to stay until the weekend, consider a practical choice of accommodation in Rijeka in the pedestrian zone, to elegantly align evening programs and morning rests.
The second and third days – Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13 – are traditionally dedicated to performances by original bands from the Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Istria counties along with guests from the Croatian and regional scene. Thereby Ri Rock returns to its original role as a "nursery" of new names and a living meeting place of generations. This dynamic has become a trademark of Rijeka's December: Rijeka is a city where alternative music is not only listened to but also built, networked, and transmitted. To make planning simple, the recommendation is to book accommodation in Rijeka for the festival weekend now, especially if you want to catch morning sound checks or accompanying content in the center.
Host, Jury, and Ceremony
Through all three evenings, the audience is guided by radio and television host Sara Ivelja Ćiković. Her recognizable, energetic style and experience on the local scene guarantee clear dramaturgy of the evening: from announcements and short interviews with performers to quick transitions between sets and the awarding of recognitions. The "Ri Rock Statuette" award program relies on a jury composed of various actors of the Rijeka scene – historians, musicians, designers, photographers and video authors, journalists and organizers, as well as members of the Ri Rock Association. Such a cross-section of professions ensures that more than just the performance is assessed: the whole is evaluated – from the author's signature and production to visual identity and the extended presence of the band.
Categories include key segments of work on the alternative scene: from "Performer of the Year" and "Album of the Year", through "New Hopes" and the award for "Single of the Year", all the way to "Video of the Year", album cover design (Album Art Cover) and T-shirt design (T-shirt Art). In focus is – besides music – also broader creative production: covers, videos, and merch are not "decoration", but part of today's authorial story. The "Ri Rock Statuette" award formalizes and records that story, and the festival stage provides an environment where recognitions are celebrated together with the audience. If you are from out of town, count on the ceremony and gatherings lasting long: timely booking of accommodation in Rijeka with late check-in can be a crucial detail for a carefree festival.
First Evening: Free Entry and Return of Legendary Names
Thursday, December 11, brings a combination of a ceremonial award and a celebratory concert. Special weight is given to the evening by the performance of the legendary Rijeka band En Face, whose songs have outgrown generational frameworks and become part of the wider cultural memory of the city. Along with them performs Fákul – a newer band composed of experienced Rijeka musicians and mentors and students of the Ri Rock Academy. Thereby the program not only "looks back" and pays tribute to tradition but simultaneously opens space for those who continue that tradition. When the work of bands, school-mentor practice, and the "live" scene combine – you get a festival evening that is simultaneously a catalog, a workshop, and a celebration. For the audience coming from other environments, it is useful to secure accommodation in the center of Rijeka to easily move between Palach and other city points (Korzo, cafes, night transport).
Friday and Saturday: Original Bands and Guests
Friday and Saturday, December 12 and 13, are reserved for original bands from the Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Istria counties. The audience will meet a cross-section of newer releases, demo materials, and concert sets circulating in clubs during the year. As guests, affirmed names of the alternative scene are announced – for example, on Friday Savršeni Marginalci with the support of last year's "Ri Rock Statuette" winners Kraj Programa, and on Saturday cult punks Antitodor with the return of the winners of the 35th Ri Rock Festival Cut The Cord. Such cross-sections allow young bands to share the experience with veterans from the same stage and present their sound networked with tradition to the audience. If you are coming specifically for one of these two days, yet want to stay for gatherings after concerts, secure yourself accommodation in Rijeka near Kružna so everything is logistically "on foot".
Tickets, Benefits, and First Day Free Entry
The ticket sales model remains simple and transparent. A daily ticket in presale is 15 €, and on the day of the event 18 €. For those who want to "take it all", the festival ticket in presale is 25 €, or 30 € on the day. A special benefit applies to those under 18 years of age – during the days of the event, at the entrance to Club Palach they will be able to buy tickets at the presale price. Important note for budget planning: entrance is free to the ceremonial awarding of the "Ri Rock Statuette" on Thursday, December 11. If you want to secure yourself a spot in advance, presale is managed by CoreEvent; you can check details and make a purchase through their platform (links below), and if you arrive earlier in Rijeka, consider practical accommodation in the center of Rijeka so picking up tickets and arriving at the concert are simple for you.
Where to Buy Tickets: Online and Physical Sales Locations
Presale is available online, and physical sales locations include the national network of TISAKmedia and TISAKplus branches as well as specialized music stores and club points, among which are Zagreb's Dirty Old Empire, Rijeka's Dallas Music Shop, and other partners. The list is regularly updated, so before departure check the current "Sales locations" overview to know where the nearest place for purchase is. For visitors combining multiple concerts and festival days, the note applies once again: plan accommodation in Rijeka that suits you logistically – proximity to Palach facilitates set changes, breaks, and late-night returns.
Program Unit and Production Upgrades
Production-wise, the festival this year also cultivates a standard that allows even smaller original bands to shine "big". During the evening, the selection of Rijeka music is played by Ri Rock veteran Grga – a cross-section of current singles and timeless favorites creates a sound "bridge" between performances. Visuals and projections are taken care of by Ri Rock Association member Mateo Rožić, so the stage and space of Palach take on a unique visual identity aligned with this year's motif: twenty years of the Association. This visual has also spilled over onto festival merch, so visitors will be able to buy T-shirts, badges, and keychains with features of the 2025 edition. If you plan to "catch" specific items, the recommendation is to come earlier – another reason to previously secure accommodation in Rijeka near Korzo, so you can combine a walk through the center with arrival at Palach.
Solidarity and Community
The Ri Rock Association this year also continues humanitarian cooperation with the Rijeka Dog Asylum ("Society for the Protection of Animals Rijeka"). Donation boxes will be in visible places in the club space, and anyone who can – and wants to – can drop a symbolic contribution. The idea is simple: the festival gathering uses the power of the community to, along with music, do a concrete good deed. For guests coming with pets or planning a volunteer visit to the asylum during their stay, a practical recommendation applies – find accommodation in Rijeka with pet-friendly rules.
Why Palach and Why December?
Club Palach is synonymous with Rijeka's urban music and subcultures, and December is the time when the city center turns into a network of small meetings: bands, fans, journalists, photographers, designers – everyone circulates between the stage, backstage, and nearby cafes. This micro-geography is a key element of the festival; that is why it is useful for visitors staying for multiple days to look for accommodation in Rijeka right next to Palach. Thus, instead of taxis and stress, one gets more time for conversations, spontaneous listening to recordings, and creating ideas for future collaborations.
Practical Information: Arrival, Stay, Pace
Arrival: If you arrive by train or bus, Palach is accessible from the center on foot in a few minutes. Parking in the strict center is limited, therefore public transport or taxi is a more practical option – another plus for accommodation in Rijeka within the center. Stay: The program starts in the evening hours (Thursday 19:00), but the doors and bar are usually "alive" even before – a good opportunity to look at merch and take a spot closer to the stage. Pace: Plan short breaks between sets, and if you want to talk to performers, the best time is often immediately after the performance, before the sound system for the next band. For late returns, the city center offers multiple fast food options; everything is within reach when you choose accommodation in the center of Rijeka.
Who is Ri Rock 2025 For?
For the audience to whom discovery and continuity are equally important. For bands that need a stage where "their" people will hear and see them – from fellow musicians to editors, promoters, and photographers. For journalists and editors who want an overview of the season in three evenings. For the zone between the "first post" and the "big hall", which makes up the heart of every scene. If you belong to any of these groups, plan your stay in advance, with accommodation in Rijeka adapted to the festival rhythm, and take advantage of the possibility of acquiring tickets in presale.
Schedule in Short
- Thursday, December 11, 2025 – Ceremonial awarding of "Ri Rock Statuette" + concert program (free entry). Announced performances: En Face and Fákul.
- Friday, December 12, 2025 – Original bands + guests; for example Savršeni Marginalci with support from Kraj Programa.
- Saturday, December 13, 2025 – Original bands + guests; for example Antitodor and Cut The Cord.
Detailed schedules will be published on festival and partner channels as the date approaches. If you plan to "catch" everything, definitely book accommodation in Rijeka for the whole weekend.
Tickets and Sales
Prices: Daily 15 € (presale) / 18 € (on the day). Festival 25 € (presale) / 30 € (on the day). Benefit for those under 18: On the days of the event, at the entrance to Palach, purchase at the presale price. First day free: Entry to the "Ri Rock Statuette" awarding is without charge. Sales locations: Online presale and national network of physical sales locations – TISAKmedia, TISAKplus, Dirty Old Empire (Zagreb), Dallas Music Shop (Rijeka) and other partners. The list is updated – check before purchase. If you are coming from out of town, choose accommodation in Rijeka with flexible cancellation just in case of change of plans.
Merch, Visuals, and the Scene from Inside
This year's visual identity is signed by Ivan Montan (Ive Sekira) from the tattoo studio "Do Kosti", with motifs referring to 20 years of work of the Association. On the spot, you will be able to buy T-shirts, badges, and keychains with limited editions – a collector's detail that often becomes a living archive of the scene. Mateo Rožić is in charge of projections and video materials, and additional finesse is brought by the selection of songs chosen by Grga. If you plan to "catch" a certain T-shirt size or specific item, come earlier – another practical reason to secure yourself accommodation in Rijeka close to Palach.
Humanitarian Note
Donation boxes for the Rijeka Asylum will be highlighted in the space. Even the smallest contribution helps cover food, care, and temporary shelter for abandoned dogs. The festival thus goes beyond "just" a concert and returns to the community a part of what it receives from it. If you are a guest in the city and wish to additionally volunteer, inquire in advance, and simultaneously look for accommodation in Rijeka with good morning access to public transport.
For the End – Plan Smartly
Three evenings in Palach pass quickly. In order for tickets, schedules, and inevitable improvisations to remain in the zone of enjoyment, a few tips are worth it: buy the ticket earlier, follow schedule announcements, respect instructions at the entrance, and take care of your own rhythm. If you are a traveler – book accommodation in Rijeka on time. If you are a local – come earlier, grab a good position, and stay for conversation after the gig. In both cases, the 47th "Ri Rock" returns that for which the audience loves it: authenticity, space for new names, and content that grows from the community, and returns to the community.
Quick Information (Summary for Visitors)
- Location: Club Palach, Kružna 8, Rijeka – a few minutes on foot from the center. For a multi-day stay we recommend accommodation in Rijeka near the center.
- Dates and Time: December 11–13, 2025; start of the program from 19:00 (Thursday), Friday and Saturday in evening slots.
- First Day: free entry + "Ri Rock Statuette" awarding + concerts (En Face, Fákul).
- Tickets: 15 € / 18 € (daily), 25 € / 30 € (festival); under 18 at presale price at the entrance. See online presale and physical sales locations.
- Merch & Visuals: special edition on the occasion of 20 years of the Association; projections and video during the evening.
- Humanitarian: donations for the Rijeka Asylum – boxes at visible locations in the club.
- Host: Sara Ivelja Ćiković; jury – actors of the Rijeka scene and Association members.
For all who want to combine concert evenings with Advent bustles and morning coffee on Korzo – accommodation in Rijeka in the center will make the festival "fall into place" for you without stress.
Useful Links (Tickets and Sales Locations)