Brunch in the Park begins at Kalemegdan: two days of music, gastronomy and outdoor programming
The premiere edition of the Brunch in the Park festival begins on Saturday, 29 August 2026, in the Lower Town of Kalemegdan in Belgrade, where over two days it will bring together concerts by regional performers, gastronomy, art, a DJ programme and family-oriented activities. According to the festival's official website, the programme on both days begins at noon, and the concept is designed as an all-day outdoor stay that gradually turns into an evening concert programme. The organisers have divided the event into several themed zones, so musical performances on the main stage are complemented by creative workshops, daytime parties, relaxation areas and a food and drink offering. The festival is held in the Lower Town, part of the Belgrade Fortress complex and Kalemegdan Park, one of the best-known historical and tourist areas of the Serbian capital. For visitors coming to Belgrade because of the festival, it may also be useful to check the accommodation options in Belgrade, especially because of the all-day programme that continues until late in the evening.
Saturday brings Rundek with a big band, Zoster and Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša
The main concert programme on the first day begins at 6 p.m. with a performance by Darko Rundek and Novosadski Big Band, and according to the schedule of the Long Play concert agency, their slot is planned to last until 7:30 p.m. What makes this performance special is the combination of Rundek's songwriting catalogue and the sound of a large jazz orchestra, conducted by Ivan Ilić, giving the opening programme a different character from a standard festival rock concert. After them, Zoster takes the main stage at 8 p.m., with their performance scheduled to last until 9:30 p.m. according to the published timetable. Saturday's main programme is closed by Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša, starting at 10 p.m. and with the end scheduled for around 11:15 p.m. Long Play also states that Saturday First Notes, O.K.O.T. by Bunt Rok, DemoD by Balkanrock and the band (Ne)normalni perform on the Main Stage during the day, opening the space to performers even before the evening headliners.
Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša come to the festival with more than three decades of experience on the alternative scene and with the more recent EP release "Što pre", according to the festival announcement published on the Dan u Beogradu portal. Frontman Oliver Nektarijević emphasised there that he likes the festival format in which the audience is not focused solely on standing in front of the stage, but can move around, talk, eat, drink and meet friends, and then return together to the concert. Such an approach aptly describes the broader idea of Brunch in the Park, which is presented not merely as a series of musical performances but as a multi-hour urban gathering. In that sense, Saturday's line-up connects several generations of the regional alternative and rock scene, from Rundek's extensive body of songwriting to Zoster and KKN. At the same time, the concert schedule remains compact enough for visitors to move through other festival zones between the main performances.
Sunday marked by 20 years of S.A.R.S. and the closing performance by Marko Louis
On the second day, Sunday, 30 August, the main programme opens at 6 p.m. with Mostar Sevdah Reunion, whose performance is scheduled to last until 7:30 p.m. according to the Long Play timetable. S.A.R.S. takes the stage at 8 p.m. and marks 20 years of existence with a concert, making it one of the central programme moments of the festival's first edition. The official Brunch in the Park website announced that immediately after the concert there will also be a meet-and-greet between the band and the audience, with photographs and a symbolic celebration of the anniversary. Frontman Žarko Kovačević previously said during the presentation of the festival that the band's songs gain new life at concerts when the audience sings them together with the group, and that he is especially pleased that they will celebrate the twentieth anniversary specifically in the Lower Town of Kalemegdan. His statement was reported by the Dan u Beogradu portal after the festival presentation held during a boat trip along the Sava towards Kalemegdan.
Although S.A.R.S.'s anniversary concert is one of the most striking points of Sunday's schedule, the final performance of the entire festival, according to the detailed timetable, belongs to Marko Louis. He takes the main stage at 10 p.m., and Long Play states that the end of his set is scheduled for 11:30 p.m. Before the evening concerts, Polsky by Bunt Rok, Markotik by Balkanrock and Janne appear on the main stage, so Sunday's music programme also begins considerably earlier than the first major evening act. In this way, both festival days develop in a similar rhythm: the daytime programme and smaller performances gradually lead towards the main concerts. For the audience coming primarily because of S.A.R.S., the organisers have particularly highlighted the post-performance meet-and-greet, but according to official announcements, the festival continues with Marko Louis's closing concert.
Themed zones and a programme that begins as early as noon
According to the organisers' announcement and media materials, Brunch in the Park is divided into several themed sections intended to make it possible to experience the festival without constantly staying in front of the main stage. Dan u Beogradu mentions several themed zones and three stages in its festival announcement, while the official website, in its description of the concept, emphasises separate spaces for music, gastronomy, art, families and relaxation. The My Family zone is particularly focused on children and parents, with a programme that includes workshops, dance and stage activities, sports activities, experiments and interaction with animals. The festival's official website states that children up to the age of 14 have free admission when accompanied by a parent or guardian, and the published time slots include interactive stage programmes, dance workshops and a Sunday stretching session. The organisers have also confirmed that pets are welcome, with the usual obligation for owners to take care of their animals, other visitors and the festival grounds.
The Art & Mix District is conceived as a space that brings together street art, local design, creative workshops, mixology and daytime electronic music. The announcement reported by Dan u Beogradu mentions DJs and collectives Floki & Gox, Hajde Da, DJ Iron, DJ Groovyman, Kaizen and Gužva, as well as activities such as painting canvases and footwear, creating a communal festival graffiti piece, face painting and presentations by local creators. The Shade & Social Hub is intended for relaxation and socialising, while the Beer Garden functions as an open-air pub with larger tables and board games. The official festival description also mentions a more intimate whiskey garden with blues music, food and a slower pace, while part of the area is dedicated to gastronomic offerings and a more comfortable stay with a view towards the stage. This distribution of activities shows that Brunch in the Park is conceived as an event in which the main concerts build upon an all-day programme rather than being the sole reason for attending.
Kalemegdan as the historical backdrop of a major city event
The choice of the Lower Town gives the festival a strong spatial identity because the programme takes place within the Belgrade Fortress complex, in an area where layers of the city's history meet large open spaces along the Sava and Danube. The Tourist Organisation of Belgrade states that Belgrade Fortress consists of the Upper and Lower Towns and Kalemegdan Park, and that the entire complex developed over centuries as a defensive and urban entity. Today, the Lower Town contains, among other things, Nebojša Tower, the Great Gunpowder Magazine, Ružica Church, the Chapel of Saint Petka and the remains of former historical buildings. The public enterprise "Belgrade Fortress" points out that the fortress and park complex covers more than 60 hectares and is one of the most visited places in the city. This is precisely why the Lower Town already has experience with major outdoor cultural and musical events, while Brunch in the Park seeks to introduce into this setting a format that emphasises daytime stays, food, socialising and parallel activities.
Behind the festival concept is Vanja Maslov, whom Dan u Beogradu identifies as the initiator and founder of Belgrade Beer Fest. According to the same source, the idea was to develop an urban event that differs from the classic model in which the audience comes only for one performer and leaves after the concert. Festival PR representative Ljiljana Vukotić explained that the goal is to create a space where visitors can spend the entire day and choose for themselves whether they want to spend their time by the stage, with children, in the gastronomic zones, at workshops or socialising. The Long Play concert agency also became involved in developing the concept and published the detailed main-stage timetable. This combination of musical production and daytime festival content is also the reason why the organisers describe the event as a new urban ritual rather than just another weekend concert.
Strong public interest and additional tickets for Saturday
Interest in the premiere edition, according to the latest announcement on the festival's official website, led to Saturday tickets selling out before the event began. The organisers then announced that another 300 additional tickets for Saturday, 29 August, would be released for sale, while at the time of the announcement another 500 tickets remained for Sunday. Since availability can change quickly, visitors should check the current situation on the festival's official channels before arriving. The official FAQ states that tickets are sold through the Tickets.rs system and at Ticket Vision sales outlets. The organisers also recommend arriving earlier for those planning to spend the whole day at the venue, especially families with children.
For access to the Lower Town, the official website mentions pedestrian access from the direction of central Belgrade and the Belgrade Fortress area, as well as the possibility of using public transport to nearby stops. Since this is an outdoor event, the organisers warn in the FAQ that any changes related to rain or unfavourable weather conditions will be published on the official website and social media. In the official information, the programme is broadly listed as running from noon to 11 p.m., but Long Play's detailed concert timetable shows that Saturday's final performance lasts until 11:15 p.m. and Sunday's until 11:30 p.m. Because of this difference, the most sensible approach is to follow the organisers' latest announcements and the current timetable on the day of arrival. Visitors staying in the city for the entire weekend may find it practical to check in advance accommodation near central Belgrade and Kalemegdan, from where the festival location can be reached on foot or by public transport.
Main stage programme
Saturday, 29 August 2026
- 18.00–19.30 – Darko Rundek & Novosadski Big Band, conductor Ivan Ilić
- 20.00–21.30 – Zoster
- 22.00–23.15 – Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša
Sunday, 30 August 2026
- 18.00–19.30 – Mostar Sevdah Reunion
- 20.00–21.30 – S.A.R.S. – concert marking the band's 20th anniversary
- 22.00–23.30 – Marko Louis
In its first edition, Brunch in the Park thus seeks to bring together several types of urban outing that often take place separately: an afternoon gathering in greenery, family activities, a gastronomic offering, creative workshops, DJ sets and evening concerts by established regional performers. Music remains at the centre of the programme, but the schedule from noon onwards and the division of the venue into multiple zones show that the organisers are also counting on an audience that wants to spend most of the day at the location. Saturday's main names are Darko Rundek with Novosadski Big Band, Zoster and Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša, while Sunday brings Mostar Sevdah Reunion, the anniversary performance by S.A.R.S. and the closing concert by Marko Louis. The twentieth anniversary of S.A.R.S., celebrated with a concert and a meet-and-greet with the audience, carries particular symbolism, as does the fact that the entire event is being held for the first time specifically in the Lower Town of Kalemegdan. Whether Brunch in the Park will grow into a regular part of Belgrade's festival offering will only become clear after its premiere weekend, but strong interest in tickets and a broadly conceived programme have already given it a highly visible start.
Sources:
- Brunch in the Park – official festival website, programme, zones, family activities, ticket information and latest availability announcements (link)
- Brunch in the Park – official FAQ, dates, location, opening hours, access, rules for children and pets, and information in the event of bad weather (link)
- Long Play – detailed main-stage timetable for 29 and 30 August 2026 (link)
- Dan u Beogradu – festival presentation, statements by performers and organisers, description of zones and programme content (link)
- Tourist Organisation of Belgrade – information about Belgrade Fortress, Kalemegdan and the Lower Town (link)
- PE Belgrade Fortress – information about the Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park complex (link)