TOPusko Gastro Fest 2026 brings traditional cuisine, free meals and an all-day programme at the thermal pools
Topusko will once again bring together gastronomy, local tradition, music, sport and family activities on Saturday, 5 September 2026, at TOPusko Gastro Fest. The programme begins at 9 a.m. at the outdoor pools of Top-Terme Topusko, and according to the organisers' announcement, admission to the event and swimming in the pools will be free of charge. The central part of the event will be the preparation of traditional dishes with Croatian chef Tomislav Špiček, followed by the free distribution of freshly prepared meals to visitors. At the same time, the festival will bring together exhibitors of authentic products and homemade delicacies, children's and sports programmes, as well as musical and cultural-artistic performers. The organisers present the event as one of the central gastro-ethno events in Banovina, a historical and geographical region in central Croatia.
Traditional dishes at the heart of the festival programme
Gastronomy remains the main link connecting the entire event. According to the published programme for 2026, traditional dishes will be prepared with the participation of Tomislav Špiček, a chef well known to the wider television audience, while the prepared meals will be distributed to visitors free of charge. This concept continues the model of previous editions of the festival, in which the emphasis was on cooking dishes associated with the local gastronomic heritage and tasting them in an open festival environment. In its announcement for the 2025 edition, the Croatian National Tourist Board stated that craftspeople and associations from Sisak-Moslavina County participated in the programme, alongside the preparation of authentic dishes and free tastings. This year's announcement retains the same basic direction, while additionally linking the programme with a range of family, recreational and cultural activities.
An important part of the event will also be a fair of authentic products and homemade delicacies. This segment of the festival gives smaller producers, craftspeople and local exhibitors the opportunity to present food, processed products and items connected with the traditions of the area. The organisers also emphasise the preservation of gastronomic customs and the presentation of local cultural heritage, meaning that the festival is conceived not only as a place for consuming food but also as a presentation of products, skills and recipes passed down within local communities. In the broader context of tourism, events that combine gastronomy with local identity are one of the ways in which inland destinations create a recognisable programme outside the classic summer offering on the coast. For Topusko, such an approach is particularly logical because the gastronomic programme takes place next to thermal pools, one of the town's most recognisable features.
Programme for children: TOPusko Kids Race and the visiting Ivanić-Grad Toy Festival
The family section of the programme begins in the morning with the TOPusko Kids Race children's cycling race. The race was introduced as part of earlier editions of Gastro Fest, and the organisers have once again included it among the main daytime activities in 2026. The concept is aimed at children of different ages and levels of cycling experience, so the sporting part of the event serves as an introduction to the rest of the all-day programme. In this way, Gastro Fest is not limited to gastronomy but is shaped as an event where different generations can spend most of the day together at the same location.
The Ivanić-Grad Toy Festival is also coming to Topusko, an event that brings together toy manufacturers in its home town and offers interactive, recreational and educational activities for children. The Ivanić-Grad Tourist Board states that the Toy Festival is intended for families with preschool and school-age children and that its programme traditionally combines workshops, competitions, theatrical and entertainment activities. The twelfth edition of the festival was held on 23 and 24 May 2026 at Zelenjak Sports Park in Ivanić-Grad, while its guest appearance in Topusko brings part of its family concept into the Gastro Fest programme. For visitors, this means that activities for children will form one of the separate programme sections rather than merely being an addition to the gastronomic part of the event.
Music, folklore and a fashion show throughout the day
Alongside gastronomy and the children's programme, a rich cultural and entertainment programme has also been announced. The tamburica ensemble Petrus will perform on stage, while a cultural-artistic programme is also planned during the day. A fashion show is included in the programme as well, expanding the event beyond the usual framework of a gastronomic festival. A detailed timetable for all performances has not yet been provided in the available announcement, so visitors should be prepared for possible subsequent additions or changes to the schedule before arriving. What has been confirmed is that the programme begins at 9 a.m. and that the main activities will take place in the area of the Top-Terme outdoor pools.
This combination of activities follows the concept of the event "Queen of the Lake - Summer in Topusko 2026", of which TOPusko Gastro Fest is a part. According to the organisers' description, the broader summer programme brings together music, gastronomy, sport, culture and entertainment at various locations in Topusko. In previous years as well, "Queen of the Lake" provided a framework for events intended to activate the town's cultural-historical and natural locations during the summer months. Within that programme, Gastro Fest stands out through its concentration of gastronomic activities, product fair and programme designed to attract families with children as well. Taking place in early September also positions it at the transition from the main summer period into the early autumn season.
Free admission and swimming in the outdoor pools
One of the most practically important pieces of information for visitors is the announcement of free admission and swimming in the outdoor pools during Gastro Fest. On its official website, Top-Terme states that the complex includes five thermal-water pools of different depths and temperatures, along with additional sports and recreational facilities. According to current information published in August 2026, the outdoor pools are open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For 5 September, the Gastro Fest organisers specifically emphasise that access to the pools as part of the event will be free of charge, giving the event an additional recreational dimension.
Visitors planning to stay for the entire day should bear in mind that the programme takes place in the open-air area of the pool complex and that some activities will take place simultaneously. For this reason, arriving in the morning is a practical choice for families wishing to follow the children's cycling race, while those primarily interested in the gastronomic section can follow the organisers' announcements for a more precise timetable of cooking and meal distribution. As this is an outdoor event, the final organisation of individual segments may also depend on weather conditions. In the currently available announcement, the organisers have not published specific information about an alternative programme in the event of bad weather.
Topusko is undergoing a major renovation of its tourism complex
Gastro Fest 2026 is taking place at a time when Topusko is undergoing one of the largest investment-driven changes in its recent tourism history. In March 2026, Sisak-Moslavina County announced that the project "Topusko at the Source of Health - Health Resort and Wellness Tourism in a Sustainable Way" includes the modernisation of the Topusko Health Resort and Top-Terme complex, including the hotel complex, pools, wellness and spa zone, sports hall and new conference facilities. According to official County data, the project is worth EUR 40.5 million, of which EUR 17.2 million has been secured through grants from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The project is intended to serve as a foundation for strengthening health, wellness and year-round tourism in this part of Croatia.
In August 2026, local media reported that the works had entered their final phase, while the official Top-Terme website continues to state that Hotel Toplica is closed for renovation. At the same time, the outdoor pools are open to visitors, which is important for holding Gastro Fest at the planned location. This combination of an active tourism offering and extensive reconstruction illustrates the transitional period Topusko is currently experiencing: existing facilities remain operational where possible, while the modernisation of the main complex is being completed in parallel. For festival visitors, this means that the event forms part of the broader transformation of the town, but also that it is worth checking the latest operational information about individual Top-Terme facilities before travelling.
Thermal water as the foundation of Topusko's identity
Topusko is located in Sisak-Moslavina County in central Croatia and has for decades been recognised for its thermal springs, health-resort tradition and green spaces. In its earlier presentations of Gastro Fest, the Croatian National Tourist Board highlighted Topusko's long history as a health-resort destination, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries, when the town attracted guests from various parts of Europe. Today's tourism identity continues to rely on thermal water, while increasingly incorporating wellness, recreation, events and gastronomy. This is precisely why Gastro Fest fits the local tourism profile well: it simultaneously offers visitors food, swimming, music, children's activities and encounters with local products.
For those wishing to combine the festival with a longer stay, accommodation offers in Topusko and the surrounding area may be useful. As the event lasts throughout the day, an overnight stay may be practical for visitors arriving from more distant parts of Croatia or from other countries. When planning a stay, it should be kept in mind that the main hotel complex is undergoing renovation, so the availability of certain accommodation capacities may differ from previous seasons. Private accommodation and other facilities in the surrounding area may therefore play a greater role during larger events. This is particularly relevant during the event weekend, when a larger number of visitors may increase demand for overnight stays.
Who organises TOPusko Gastro Fest 2026
According to the published announcement, the organisers of TOPusko Gastro Fest 2026 are the Topusko Municipality Tourist Board and the Municipality of Topusko. Top-Terme Topusko, Sisak-Moslavina County, the Sisak-Moslavina County Tourist Board, the Croatian National Tourist Board and the Sisak-Moslavina County Chamber of Trades and Crafts are participating in its organisation. This partnership structure shows that the event simultaneously has a local, county-level and tourism-promotion dimension, while also involving the crafts sector. The organisers state that the festival serves to present the traditions and cultural-historical heritage of the area, with a particular emphasis on gastronomy and customs.
The continuity of the event is also important for the development of recognisable events in inland destinations. In its announcement for the 2025 edition, the Croatian National Tourist Board presented TOPusko Gastro Fest as part of "Queen of the Lake", with a programme that also included a children's cycling race, the visiting Toy Festival, the cooking of authentic dishes, a product fair, cultural-artistic performances and free use of the pools. The 2026 edition retains the key elements of that model, but with new performers and Tomislav Špiček as a prominent participant in the gastronomic programme. In this way, the festival is building a recognisable format instead of changing its basic identity every year.
Most important information for visitors
- Event: TOPusko Gastro Fest 2026.
- Date: Saturday, 5 September 2026.
- Programme start: 9 a.m.
- Location: outdoor pools of Top-Terme Topusko, Topusko, Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia.
- Admission: according to the organisers' announcement, admission to the event is free of charge.
- Swimming: according to the organisers' announcement, use of the outdoor pools during the event will be free of charge.
- Gastronomic programme: preparation of traditional dishes with Tomislav Špiček and free distribution of the prepared meals.
- Additional activities: fair of authentic products and homemade delicacies, TOPusko Kids Race, visiting Ivanić-Grad Toy Festival, fashion show, tamburica ensemble Petrus and a cultural-artistic programme.
TOPusko Gastro Fest will therefore bring together local gastronomy, thermal swimming, children's recreation, music and traditional activities in one place on 5 September. For visitors wishing to spend the entire day in Topusko, two pieces of information are crucial: the programme begins as early as 9 a.m., while admission and swimming have been announced as free of charge. Since a detailed timetable for all activities has not yet been published in the available sources, it is useful to check the organisers' latest announcements before setting off, particularly if the purpose of the visit is a specific performance or the time of food distribution. Those planning a weekend stay can review accommodation for event visitors in advance. Combined with the thermal pools and all-day programme, this year's edition continues to develop Gastro Fest as one of the recognisable events of Topusko's summer season.
Sources:
- Sisak-Moslavina County Information Portal - announcement of TOPusko Gastro Fest 2026, date, location, programme, organisers and information on free admission and swimming (link)
- Top-Terme Topusko - official information on the outdoor pools, thermal water and current operating hours of the pool complex (link)
- Sisak-Moslavina County - official information on the renovation and modernisation project of the Topusko Health Resort and Top-Terme and the value of the investment (link)
- Croatian National Tourist Board - information on the concept of TOPusko Gastro Fest and the programme of the previous edition as part of the "Queen of the Lake" event (link)
- Ivanić-Grad Tourist Board - official description of the Toy Festival and the programme of the 2026 edition (link)
- Radio Banovina - report dated 11 August 2026 on the final phase of the renovation of the tourism complex in Topusko (link)