Margaretino leto 2026 opens the summer in Bakar: from MIK and the Naval Battle to concerts by Petar Grašo, Marko Tolja and Mladen Grdović
On Saturday, June 6, 2026, Bakar enters a new edition of Margaretino leto, a major summer event which, according to the program of the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar, will be held until July 31 at several locations in the town and in the surrounding settlements of the Bakar area. This year's program opens with the festival evening Melodije Istre i Kvarnera at Žal ribara at 9 p.m., followed during the summer by concerts, theatre performances, film screenings, traditional gatherings, sports programs, interpretive walks, exhibitions and local festivities. The organizers announce events for different generations, with an emphasis on combining culture, entertainment, heritage and the life of the local community. On the same day, according to the program of the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar, the exhibition “Keber in Bakar” also opens at the Paulić Gallery at 7 p.m., giving maritime heritage a place already at the beginning of the event.
According to the published program, Margaretino leto 2026 lasts almost two months and includes Bakar, Škrljevo, Kukuljanovo, Hreljin, Zlobin, Krasica and other locations connected with city and local committees. The event is inspired by the feast day of Saint Margaret, the patron saint of Bakar, celebrated on July 13, and the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar points out that it is the best-known and most popular event in Bakar. This year's program is additionally connected with the fact that Primorje-Gorski Kotar County holds the title of European Region of Sport 2026, so part of the events will be dedicated to recreation and an active lifestyle.
Opening with MIK and the start of the summer festival season
The ceremonial opening of Margaretino leto will be held on June 6 at Žal ribara, where the Melodije Istre i Kvarnera Festival performs at 9 p.m. According to the announcement by the MIK organizers and the notice from the City of Rijeka, this year's edition of the festival is held from June 4 to 10 and passes through seven festival stages, bringing the audience 18 new compositions. The Bakar festival evening is part of that caravan, after Kastav and Pula, and before Ližnjan, Krk, Rijeka and the finale in Crikvenica.
For the Bakar evening of MIK, the ticket costs 15 euros, and according to the published information it is sold through the Moje karte system, at their sales points and at the tourist office of the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar. In case of bad weather, the program moves to the “Matija Mažić” Cultural Centre in Bakar. The organizers state that MIK will mark the beginning of another summer cycle of events by the sea, under the open sky and in front of the Bakar audience.
Maja Šepac Rožić, head of the Administrative Department for Local Self-Government and Social Activities, emphasized in the announcement of the event that Margaretino leto this year again brings a series of diverse programs, from concerts and theatre performances to workshops, sports and traditional events. She especially thanked the local committees, partners, sponsors, performers, technical team, volunteers, firefighters and associations participating in the organization. The director of the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar, Sonja Jelušić Marić, stressed that the event combines culture, entertainment, sport and tradition and contributes to the promotion of Bakar as a town of rich heritage and content for all generations.
Theatre, tango, choirs and local celebration days in the first part of the program
After the opening, the program continues on June 10 with a stand-up impersonation show by Danko Ažić at the “Matija Mažić” Cultural Centre in Bakar, beginning at 9 p.m. and with a ticket price of 10 euros. From June 12 to 14, the Bakar Tango Festival is held, organized by the “La Bamba” association, with dance workshops and evenings of Argentine tango in the same cultural centre. Thus, already in the first week after the opening, the program expands from music into theatre, dance and social formats.
The local part of the program is especially highlighted on June 12 at the Day of Škrljevo, which brings a holy mass, a fair, performances by kindergartens and schools, a goulash cooking event and a festivity in front of the Škrljevo Cultural Centre. The next day, June 13, Antonjica is held in Kukuljanovo, with a children's day and holy mass from noon, while on the same day the theatre play “Skliske vježbe” by Irena Grdinić and Mario Battifiaca will be performed at the Škrljevo Cultural Centre. The ticket for that performance costs 15 euros.
The theatre program continues on June 15 with the play “Trening” by Boom Theatre in the Bakar Town Garden. According to the program of the Tourist Board, the performance is held as part of the marking of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County's title as European Region of Sport 2026, in cooperation with the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar, the Town of Bakar and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Admission is free, but registration at info@tz-bakar.hr is required. The county choir showcase “U skladu s prirodom”, organized by KUU “Sklad”, will be held on June 19 at the “Matija Mažić” Cultural Centre.
Heritage, the sea and recreation as central motifs
The program on June 20 combines an ecological and traditional dimension. In the morning at 9 a.m. at Žal ribara, an eco-action of seabed cleaning organized by SPD “Luben” will be held, while in Zlobin on the same day from 2 p.m. Ivanjski kotlić, a cauldron-cooking competition, will be held, followed in the evening by a festivity with the group “Kožne jakne”. The day after that, June 21, Bakar will turn toward heritage through the program “A Walk Through History” and a concert by Marko Tolja in front of the Castle at 10 p.m.
According to the current program of the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar, on June 21 open-door days, presentations of old customs and tastings will be held in the Upper Town, an exhibition of ship models by Luciano Keber will open in the Castle, and a professional tour will be held under the guidance of guide Boro Štrbac. The program also includes a workshop in the Kaštel Interpretation Centre, with prior registration at info@tz-bakar.hr. The exhibition “Keber in Bakar” will be held from June 21 to July 31 at several locations, and during the event books and catalogues dedicated to maritime heritage will be displayed in the Bakar Town Library.
This very part of the program shows how much Margaretino leto relies on the identity of Bakar as a maritime town. Maritime heritage, the Upper Town, the Castle, traditional boats, local customs and interpretive walks are not an addition to the program, but its central layer. Visitors who plan to spend several days at the events can check accommodation offers in Bakar and the surrounding settlements, especially if they want to combine evening concerts with daytime tours and walks.
From Hreljin and Zlobin to the film festival in Bakar
The second part of June brings the continuation of the program in Zlobin, Škrljevo and Hreljin. Ivanjski kres on Goricami in Zlobin is announced for June 23 at 9:30 p.m., and the Klapa Meeting organized by Klapa Škrljevo will be held on June 26 at the Škrljevo Cultural Centre. The next day, June 27, a night ascent to Tuhobić is scheduled, a night adventure led by adventure guide Marko Sladić, departing from Satničko at 9 p.m.
From June 30 to July 4, the 5th Hreljin futsal tournament will be held in Hreljin on the playground of “Hreljin” Elementary School, organized by Pizzeria “Na Piketu”. Along with the sports part, the program in Hreljin also brings festivities: on July 3 with the trio “Dar Mar”, and on July 4 with TS “Leggiero”. On the same day, July 4, an organ concert will be held at 8 p.m. in the Church of St. Andrew the Apostle in Bakar, organized by the Parish of St. Andrew the Apostle Bakar.
A special place in the July program belongs to the Bura Film Festival, which is held on July 3, 4 and 5, organized by the “Studio B7” association. Afternoon screenings on Saturday and Sunday will be in the Castle in Bakar at 5 p.m., and evening screenings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Plačica Square at 8:30 p.m. In this way, the film audience is brought into the centre of the program, as are the town spaces which during the summer become open stages and meeting places.
July brings major concerts and the central Naval Battle
The beginning of July is also reserved for children's programs, classical music and interpretive walks. Children's Day is held on July 1 in the Bakar Town Garden, with an adventure with Marko Sladić and a rich program for children, while on the same day KUU “Sklad” organizes the classical concert “Sklad and Guests” in the Church of St. George the Martyr in Hreljin. The play “Mamini sinovi” by Hit Theatre is announced for July 7 at the “Matija Mažić” Cultural Centre, and on July 8 a classical concert by Matej Mijalić follows in the Church of St. Andrew the Apostle.
The interpretive walk “The Path of Stone, Salt and Bora” will be held on July 9, departing from Nova Kraljevica Castle at 7 p.m. and guided by Boro Štrbac. Such programs are important because they connect Bakar with the surrounding area and the themes that shaped the life of the town: stone, salt, bora, the sea, trade and the movement of people. Margaretino leto therefore does not remain only at evening concerts, but also offers visitors content that interprets the local area.
The central spectacle of the event is announced for July 11, when the Naval Battle and the concert by Mladen Grdović are held. That day's program begins with a hiking trip to Risnjak organized by PD Bakar, continues with Margaret's Fair in Primorje, a children's corner in the Town Garden, the laying of wreaths and a ceremonial parade of historical units of the Croatian Army, and the highlight of the evening will be the reconstruction of the historical Naval Battle with fireworks at 10:30 p.m. After that follows a festivity with Mladen Grdović and the group “Grooversi”.
Margaretina, opera arias and the finale with Petar Grašo
The feast day of Saint Margaret, July 13, is marked in the program as Margaretina. On that day, a solemn holy mass will be celebrated in the Church of St. Margaret at 6 p.m., followed at Žal ribara by a performance by tamburitza players from Gradišće at 7:30 p.m. and a concert by the klapa “Sv. Juraj” at 9 p.m. According to the organizers' program, that date retains a special place in the event because it connects the religious, cultural and social dimensions of the Bakar summer.
The continuation of the program brings the opera arias concert “5 Tenors” on July 15 at the “Matija Mažić” Cultural Centre, the final festivity for the Days of Krasica on July 18 at Hroljevo in Krasica, the interpretive walk “The Old Glow of Lime Kilns” on July 23 with departure at the Plase Viewpoint, and the film music evening “Stardust” on July 24 organized by KUU “Sklad”. The program thus gradually moves from large public events toward cultural evenings, smaller local festivities and walks that open lesser-known layers of the Bakar area.
The finale of Margaretino leto is announced for July 31, when “Bakar Meetings” and a concert by Petar Grašo are held at Žal ribara. The team competition begins at 7 p.m., and the concert by Petar Grašo and a festivity with the group “Venus” are announced for 10 p.m. In this way, the program closes with a major open-air music event, after almost two months of diverse content. For visitors coming to the finale who want to stay longer in the town, a useful choice can be accommodation near the event venue and earlier planning of arrival, especially for evenings with larger concerts.
Outdoor sport and a program connected with the European Region of Sport
The sports segment is especially emphasized this year because of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County's title as European Region of Sport 2026. According to official information from Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, that title was received in Brussels in December 2025, and it is awarded by the organization ACES Europe. The County states that the recognition is connected with investments in sport, sports infrastructure and the culture of practicing sport among different generations.
Within Margaretino leto, according to the program of the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar, the free recreational training “Outdoor Sport” will be held every Saturday in the Bakar Town Garden from 9 a.m. The program is organized by Primorje-Gorski Kotar County as part of the marking of the European Region of Sport 2026 title. Along with the theatre play “Trening”, the futsal tournament in Hreljin, the hiking trip to Risnjak and the night ascent to Tuhobić, the sports part of the event becomes one of the recognizable highlights of this year's program.
Organizers, patrons and notes for visitors
The organizers of Margaretino leto 2026 are the Town of Bakar and the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar. The partner of the event is the Bakar Industrial Zone, the patrons are the Croatian Tourist Board and the Kvarner Tourist Board, and the general sponsor is INA. According to the program, the platinum sponsor is TIA Partner, among the gold sponsors listed are Metis, Galerija Bakar, Biopel, Jadran Impex, JGL and Ljekarne Smeraldo, while among the media patrons are Novi list, Radio Rijeka, Pomorski radio Bakar, Radio Korzo, RI Prsten and Tunera.info.
In the announcement of the event, INA stated that they strive to recognize and support projects that contribute to the development of the local community and the quality of life of residents. Ljubomir Milaković, head of process safety management at INA, emphasized that Margaretino leto brings together citizens and visitors through diverse content that nurtures tradition, promotes cultural heritage and creates new tourist motives for coming to Bakar. The organizers also stressed that months of preparation stand behind the event, as well as the contribution of local committees, associations, volunteers, sponsors and local partners.
According to the official note of the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar, the organizer reserves the right to change the program, and in case of bad weather certain events will be held at the “Matija Mažić” Cultural Centre in Bakar. Visitors are advised to check current information on the websites and social networks of the Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar before arrival, especially for programs requiring registration, for outdoor events and for concerts with paid admission.
Sources:
- Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar – program of Margaretino leto 2026 with dates, locations, organizers, notes and list of partners (link)
- Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar – description of the Margaretino leto event and the context of the feast day of St. Margaret (link)
- Visit Bakar / Croatian Tourist Board – announcement of Margaretino leto as a cultural and tourist event in Bakar (link)
- Primorje-Gorski Kotar County – official announcement on receiving the title of European Region of Sport 2026 (link)
- PGŽ European Region of Sport 2026 – description of the project and the county sports program (link)
- City of Rijeka – announcement of the Melodije Istre i Kvarnera Festival 2026 and the festival caravan (link)
- Tunera.info – information on ticket sales for MIK in Bakar and the Bakar festival evening (link)