From world renowned music festivals like Ultra to outdoor sports events and art exhibitions, the cultural calendar in the Balkans for 2025 is chock-a-block.
If you’re planning a visit to Albania, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro or Serbia in 2025, see below our round-up of the best activities and events to help you decide when to visit.
But why travel all that way for just a day or two? A lovely way to stretch out your trip and really get to know one of these spectacular Balkan countries is to book a holiday on either side of it.
So, whether you’re looking to keep up the momentum from a regatta or marathon, delve deeper into the local culture following a food festival, or recover from a gig in a sleepy fishing village, we’ve included information on tours located near each for inspiration.
Festivals & events in Croatia 2025
Ultra Europe Music Festival
- When: 11th-13th July 2025
- Where: Split
One of the world’s biggest electronic music festivals, Ultra Europe’s star studded 2025 lineup includes Armin Van Buuren and Eric Prydz and takes place in Mladeži Park in Split.
Following an electrifying weekend of music pulsing through you, retreat to the sleepy fishing village of Mali Ston on the Peljesac Peninsula to recover while soaking up some authentic Croatian culture. Trade the cheap festival beer for quaffable Dingač wine and work on your tan as we sea kayak to secluded islands. See our 7-day adventure multi-activity holiday.
Zen Opuzen Street Art Festival
- When: July 2025
- Where: Opuzen
A must for street art enthusiasts, skilled creators from around the world descend on the town of Opuzen in the Dubrovnik-Neretva county to paint the town red… and green, and blue, and yellow, and every colour really (see zenopuzen.com for details). Art aside, Opuzen is a pleasant little Croatian town to explore, known for its fortress and tangerine production.
For more fortresses and food, Mali Ston is just a 40-minute drive away where you can walk “Europe’s Great Wall of China” and wrap your laughing gear around world renowned oysters (more on that below).
Do all of this and more when you book our 7-day Southern Dalmatia guided holiday or start there and see some of Montenegro too with our 10-day cross border kayaking trip.
Mali Ston Oyster Festival
- When: 15th March 2025
- Where: Mali Ston
Fill your boots on oysters and other local marine delicacies at the Mali Ston Oyster Festival, which celebrates the European flat oyster, a key export from Mali Ston.
Taking place in March, it’s perfect timing to enjoy a shoulder season escape (not that Mali Ston sees half the crowds of Dubrovnik). So, why not extend your visit to this gorgeous hidden gem by booking our 7-day multi activity holiday there?
Ston Wall Marathon
- When: 21st September
- Where: Ston
Looking for a new year’s challenge? The Ston Wall Marathon takes place on “Europe’s Great Wall of China” There are three distances on offer: 4km, 15km and the 42.2km marathon. Whichever you choose, epic views over the towns and glistening Adriatic sea are guaranteed.
Why not bring some spectators and then stick around after for a holiday together? Take a look at our 7-day Southern Dalmatia multi activity holiday.
Find out more about our Croatia holidays
Festivals & events in Albania 2025
Kala Music Festival
- When: 4th-11th June 2025
- Where: Dhërmi
Another one for the dance music fans, this annual festival takes place on the Albanian Riviera, along the sun soaked shores of Dhërmi in Vlorë county (where our guide Aldo is from).
Either side of a week of sun, sea and dancing the night away, allow us to take you off the beaten path to see another side to Albania. Head up north to hike the Theth to Valbona pass in the Accursed Mountains, meet artisans on Lake Shkodra, and devour a slap up lunch at a pioneering agritourism establishment on our North Albania adventure.
We’re all about taking the roads less travelled at UB (it’s kind of in the name), so whether you explore with us before or after Kala, our trips provide the perfect contrast to the Albanian Riviera’s increasingly popular resorts.
Tirana Marathon
- When: October 2025
- Where: Tirana
The Tirana Marathon is one of the Albanian capital’s biggest events, attracting around 4,000 runners, both locally and from overseas. The first three to pass the finish line in the full marathon receive a generous cash prize (€5,000 for first place). But you don’t have to do the marathon; there’s the choice between a half marathon, 10km or 4km.
With those leg muscles already fired up, tackling the Theth to Valbona Pass during our North Albania adventure will be a piece of cake (or a great warm-up if you’re joining us before the race).
See all of our Albania adventure holidays
Festivals & events in Montenegro 2025
Ocean Lava Montenegro Triathlon
- When: 17th May 2025
- Where: Tivat
Located in Montenegro’s UNESCO World Heritage Kotor Bay, the Ocean Lava Triathlon attracts athletes from around the world who come to swim, cycle and run around its pretty fishing villages and crumbling peninsulas.
Our beautiful converted farmhouse on the shores of Lake Skadar is the perfect place to recover from such an adrenaline-fuelled event – or keep that adventurous outdoor spirit fed. We have a range of packages at our Villa Miela base suitable for families, solo travellers or adult groups.
Alternatively, prime your muscles ready for the challenge ahead on our week-long yoga retreat (11th May) and we can arrange your transfer to Kotor Bay in time to start the race.
Prokletije Skyrunning & Vertical Kilometre
- When: July 2025
- Where: Prokletije National Park
Taking place in one of the most beautiful national parks in the Balkans, this sporting event is guaranteed to get the blood pumping (and the adrenaline). As the name suggests, the Vertical Kilometre is a run in which you will gain 1 km in elevation.
Following this leg burner, feast on freshly prepared farm to table food and ease those sore muscles with wild swims in some of Montenegro’s other hidden beauty spots. Lake Skadar, where several of our Montenegro holidays are based, is a three-hour drive away from Prokletije National Park.
Blacklake Xtreme Triathlon
- When: 13th September 2025
- Where: Black Lake, Durmitor National Park
Taking place in a glacial lake at 1,400m above sea level, the Blacklake triathlon isn’t for the faint hearted, but it’s worth the effort. You’ll be swimming, running and cycling amid dramatic karst landscapes and ancient pine forests, so beautiful you’ll forget how exhausted you are (well, almost).
To see more of Durmitor National Park and some of Montenegro’s other beauty spots, join our Montenegro super active adventure holiday.
See all of our Montenegro holidays
Festivals & events in Serbia 2025
Belgrade Marathon
- When: April 2025
- Where: Belgrade
Another one for the runners among us: the Belgrade Marathon is one of the capital’s biggest sporting events and attracts athletes from around the world.
Our exciting week-long adventure holiday in Serbia starts and ends in Belgrade, so ideal if you’d like to extend your stay and really get to know this Balkan state. Highlights include a homestay in a traditional mountain village in Trešnjica, hiking to the famous Bajina Bašta viewpoint in Tara National Park and a walking tour of Belgrade.
Danube Day Regatta
- When: June 2025
- Where: Novi Sad
Taking place in Novi Sad, the Danube Day Regatta is a fun and important event which helps promote sustainability and conservation of the Danube River through watersports such as sailing.
Taking place in Novi Sad, you’re just 90 minutes’ drive away from Belgrade, where you can join us for a week of outdoor adventures along some of Serbia’s other fine waterways.
Drina Regatta
- When: 14th-17th July 2025
- Where: Bajina Bašta
This regatta takes place on Serbia’s other major river, the Drina, which flows through Tara National Park (the location of this event) and forms a natural border between Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Whether you’re taking part or spectating, you’ll be treated to some epic views of the festival and surrounding scenery from the Bajina Bašta viewpoint.
We dedicate two days to exploring Tara National Park on our Serbia adventure, so don’t feel you need to say goodbye to it when the regatta is finished.
EXIT Festival
- When: 10-13th July 2025
- Where: Novi Sad
EXIT is one of Europe’s biggest music festivals – and definitely one of the most epic as it’s set inside the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad. In 2025, it celebrates its 25th anniversary, so it’ll no doubt be a heck of a weekend.
Again, Novi Sad is just 90 minutes from Belgrade, so it’s easy to come and join us for a week of adventures in Serbia on either side of this.
Guca Trumpet Festival
- When: August 2025
- Where: Guca
Another musical affair, quite different to the last one we mentioned, the Guca Trumpet Festival is a unique cultural event which celebrates traditional Serbian brass music.
It takes place in Guca, around two hours’ drive south of Belgrade, the start and end point of our Serbia adventure holiday, in which there will be plenty more cultural moments.
Iron Gate Kayak Marathon
- When: September 2025
- Where: Djerdap National Park
Now, if you love a kayak as much as we do, this is the event for you. The Iron Gate Kayak Marathon is breathtaking in every sense of the word as you follow the Danube’s twists and turns round formidable cliffs, through Djerdap National Park, which is guarded by a fantastic fortress (pictured above).
Belgrade is within a two-hour drive from there, so come and join us for more waterborne adventures on the Danube and the Drina afterwards.
Book now: Serbia 7-Day Multi Activity Holiday
Festivals & events in Kosovo 2025
Pristina Half Marathon
- When: May 2025
- Where: Prishtina
Another world renowned running event, the Prishtina Half Marathon attracts runners from all over the place. You’ll clock up just under 21 km in total on the circular route around the city. The exact 2025 dates are tbc, but it takes place in May.
Prishtina is the start and end point for our Kosovo adventure holiday, which is equal parts active outdoors, culture and food. So once you’re done with the race (or even beforehand), join us for a week of activities like hiking in the Accursed Mountains, visiting a bear sanctuary and watching silversmiths at work in Prizren.
Sunny Hill Festival
- When: August 2025
- Where: Prishtina
- Organised by British-Kosovan pop star Dua Lipa and her father, Sunny Hill Music Festival in the capital features international artists and has, unsurprisingly, become the biggest music festival in Kosovo. Again, 2025 details are yet tbc, but if 2024 is anything to go by (Bebe Rexha, Stormzy and Burna Boy headlining), it’s sure to be epic.
Want to extend your stay in Kosovo? Just meet us at the start point in town and we’ll whisk you away for a week of adventures in Kosovo’s national parks and historic towns.
Book now: Kosovo adventure holiday
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