Pre & After Programme - Arts Festivals Summit 2026
For those with a little more time, we are developing an additional programme with the option to attend performances and activities within and outside the city of Budva before and after the Arts Festivals Summit.
Pre-Summit programme: 15-16 May: City Orchestra Budva – 120 Years Anniversary
For those arriving in Budva before the start of the Summit, the two-day ceremonial programme of the City Orchestra Budva offers the opportunity to experience local culture. The City Orchestra Budva celebrates its 120 years of tradition, music, and community spirit with concerts and a ceremonial parade.
The programme looks as follow:
- 15 May, 20.00 – Evening concerts with City Orchestras from Budva (Montenegro), Makarska (Croatia), Kastel (Croatia), and Kamnit (Slovenia).
- 16 May, 17.00 – Ceremonial parade with the City Orchestras and other music groups from Montenegro, followed by a joint performance of Through the Split Streets (Kroz Splitske kale), conducted by Milutin Barbul.
Pre-Summit programme: Showcase of Montenegrin Theatre (fully booked)
Are you interested in exploring Montenegro and its artists before the Arts Festivals Summit? Do you want to attend additional local Montenegrin performances?
From 13 to 17 May, the Showcase of Montenegrin Theatre will give you the opportunity to arrive to Montenegro three days prior to the Summit and discover what the region has to offer on the artistic level.
The programme includes 11 performances of classic and contemporary dramas, dance, and children theatre with artists coming from 5 different cities of Montenegro (Podgorica, Cetinje, Kolašin, Budva and Tivat).
The first three days (13 to 15 May) of the Showcase will take place in Podgorica.
In addition, EFA participants will be able to attend a show in Cetinje on 14 May and visit Skadar Lake with a short boat trip.
Practical information for the pre-programme
EFA participants will be offered three nights of accommodation (13, 14, 15 May) in Podgorica.
A transfer is organised and covered on 16 May from Podgorica to Budva.
Free tickets for all performances will be provided for all EFA participants.
This programme is organised and above expenses covered by the Ministry of Culture and Media for Montenegro.
After-Summit programme: 19 May in Kotor
Discover Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a charming medieval Old Town, set between steep mountains and the Bay of Kotor, shaped by centuries of cultural and architectural influences.
The programme offered by the KotorArt International Festival combines cultural visits, artistic experiences, and local flavours.
Participants will depart from Budva at approximately 14.00, with arrival in Kotor expected in the early afternoon.
Upon arrival in the UNESCO-protected Old Town, guests will be welcomed by the KotorArt team, accompanied by a performance by the traditional Kotor City Brass Band. The programme will begin with a short walk through the Old Town, offering an introduction to Kotor’s rich heritage.
The visit will continue with a guided exploration of key cultural sites, including the Church of St. Paul and the Cultural Centre, where participants will experience the festival atmosphere through an open rehearsal of the Boka Symphony Orchestra. Encounters with local artists and cultural professionals will offer further insight into Kotor’s contemporary creative scene.
The tour will then extend to other important landmarks, including St. Tryphon’s Cathedral and the historic layers of the city, highlighting Kotor’s unique position at the intersection of Mediterranean and Balkan influences.
In the early evening, the programme will move to the Kotor Creative Hub, a former Austro-Hungarian prison transformed into a vibrant space for artistic production and exchange, and one of the key venues of the KotorArt International Festival. Following a guided visit, guests will be welcomed with a reception featuring local specialties and refreshments, accompanied by short addresses from festival and city representatives.
After the reception, participants will have some free time to further explore the Old Town.
The evening will conclude with a concert at Museum Square, featuring the Simple Neoclassical Orchestra, presented in collaboration with the China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF). For those wishing to continue the evening, nearby venues offer opportunities to experience Kotor’s vibrant nightlife.
Return to Budva is planned later in the evening.
Thursday 21 May - National Independence Day
21 May is Montenegro's National Independence Day. Discover the country and take part in activities celebrating this important milestones happening throughout the entire country.