Škatulica Wins Audience, Oželanda Triumphs Before Expert Jury at 17th Festival
Young klapa from Grude confirmed its popularity, while Zagreb's Oželanda took home the Golden Statue of Our Lady of Sinj.
Young klapa from Grude confirmed its popularity, while Zagreb's Oželanda took home the Golden Statue of Our Lady of Sinj.
The seventeenth Festival of Spiritual Klapa Music "Klape Gospi Sinjskoj" was held on August 7, 2026, at the Basilica of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, bringing together 14 klapas from various parts of Croatia. In the special atmosphere of Marian tradition, the audience and the expert jury chose their favorites, with awards going to performers from Grude, Zagreb, and Dugopolje.
The audience's sympathies were won by the young klapa Škatulica from Grude, who performed the piece "Balada o Gospinim pčelama" (Ballad of Our Lady's Bees). Their performance earned them the first audience award, confirming their quality and growing recognition on the Croatian klapa scene.
On the other hand, the expert jury gave their vote to the female klapa Oželanda from Zagreb. They were awarded first place and the Golden Statue of Our Lady of Sinj for their compelling performance, the festival's highest honor.
Second place and the Silver Statue of Our Lady of Sinj went to klapa Armorin, also from Zagreb. Third place and the Bronze Statue were won by klapa Merla from Dugopolje, rounding out the list of the most successful performers of this year's edition.
The festival "Klape Gospi Sinjskoj" has been nurturing spiritual klapa music and Croatian musical heritage for seventeen years. In addition to the competitive segment, the program also had a humanitarian character and was held at the Basilica of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj in Sinj.
