Ten Days of Music at the Fairgrounds: Kries, Six Pack, and Pirate Metal Are Coming
The fourth edition of the event brings tribute bands, a demo band competition, and a new ticketing system after three years of free admission.
The fourth edition of the event brings tribute bands, a demo band competition, and a new ticketing system after three years of free admission.
The end of summer in Zagreb will once again be marked at the Fairgrounds, with ten days of music, socializing, and festival atmosphere. From August 28 (Friday) to September 6, 2026 (Sunday), the Fairgrounds will become one of the busiest city hubs, at the fourth and largest edition of the event so far, as reported by ZG Portal.
The program includes concerts by well-known local artists, tribute bands, a demo band competition, dance and sports activities, and many other attractions for audiences of all ages and musical tastes.
The event will be opened by Tribute Weekend, held from August 28 to 30, featuring tributes to some of the biggest names in music. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear performances of songs by bands such as Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, Iron Maiden, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beyoncé, Billy Idol, and Bill Withers.
Then, on August 31 and September 1, a two-day demo band competition with a cash prize will take place. The following acts will appear in the competitive segment: Kapitaklizma, Kult pult, Ectratis, Goran glad, Druga pomoć, Soulbrake, Jarek, Eliza Dushku, Overused, Pozeri, Problem, and Šambrana.
The program continues to showcase young and emerging artists, so Summer at the Zagreb Fairgrounds once again gives the audience a chance to discover new musical names among the first. Last year's winners, Raspad sistema, will perform as special guests, and Hard Rock Story will take the audience back to the seventies and eighties, bringing the sound and vibe of rock's golden age.
From Wednesday, September 2, the main festival segment begins with numerous interesting names from the local alternative and rock scene. Taking the stage will be ethno-rock veterans Kries, electro-pop band Kids From The Sky from Križevci, Podočnjaci, Six Pack, Cold Snap, Dorian Gray, Donkey Hot, and Homage Collective plays Sade.
Particularly noteworthy are Rum Smugglers, who call themselves Croatia's first pirate metal band, and Zagreb's groove/thrash metal act Overpower. As a reminder, they previously opened for British band Bullet For My Valentine. The diverse program will cover rock, alternative, pop, metal, funk, and other musical genres.
This year's Summer at the Zagreb Fairgrounds also brings an important novelty. After three years of free entry, the festival is introducing paid tickets and moving into a new phase of development. This new system will enable greater investment in production, content, and the event's long-term growth.
However, part of the program will remain free. Early bird tickets are available at favorable prices for certain days, and entry to the demo competition remains free with prior reservation due to limited capacity, according to ZG Portal.
