Fifth CIOFF Folklore Festival in Split: From Mexico to Ukraine
The jubilee edition of the UNESCO-backed event, running from August 17 to 24, brings ensembles from six countries, with free admission to all events.
The jubilee edition of the UNESCO-backed event, running from August 17 to 24, brings ensembles from six countries, with free admission to all events.
This year's Split Summer is once again enriched by the CIOFF® International Folklore Festival Split 2026, which will be held for the fifth consecutive year from August 17 to 24. The organizer, the Jedinstvo Folklore Ensemble, in collaboration with the Split-Dalmatia County, brings top world dance and music groups, and the event has been officially declared an event of special significance for the City of Split.
Thanks to its artistic quality and organizational success, the festival has been included in the prestigious CIOFF® calendar of world folklore festivals under the auspices of UNESCO. This year, the festival directorate again faced the challenging task of selecting from numerous applications, resulting in a program that turns Dalmatia into a world capital of cultural heritage.
Attractive international ensembles will present their traditions: Tecniart Dance Studio from Mexico City brings colorful Mexico, while the energetic performance of Folklore Ensemble Tryzub from Calgary, Canada, which preserves Ukrainian heritage, is highly anticipated. Turkey will be represented by the Ankara University Folk Dance Group, Slovakia by the Orgonina ensemble from Vranov nad Topľou, and neighbors from Bosnia and Herzegovina by Sarajevo's KUD Lola.
Croatia's colors will be carried by the hosts from Split's Jedinstvo, as well as FA SKUD Ivan Goran Kovačić from Zagreb, Trogir's Kvadrilja, KUD Šolta from Gornje Selo, and representatives of the diaspora, FS "fra Filip Grabovac" from Mainz, Germany.
The festival begins on August 17 with the arrival and accommodation of participants at the Spinut Student Dormitory, where the photo exhibition "4 Years of World Rhythms in the Heart of Dalmatia" will also open. The exhibition will be available at the City Center One shopping mall until August 23.
The central event, the grand opening, is scheduled for August 18 on Split's Riva. Starting at 6:30 PM, a program in front of the Croatian National Theatre (HNK), as part of the Split Summer Kolure, will herald the evening, followed by a parade of all participants from Gaje Bulata Square via Marmontova Street to the Riva at 7 PM. The grand concert begins at 8 PM. Earlier that day, at 10:30 AM, the County Prefect and the Mayor will receive delegations from all participating countries.
The program then moves to the islands and historic towns. On Wednesday, August 20, at 8:30 PM, a folklore evening will be held in Park Đardin in Grohote on Šolta. The following day, August 21, Trogir becomes a world dance stage: a parade along the Riva starts at 7:30 PM, and a concert on the square in the old town center at 8 PM.
Friday, August 22, brings an all-day program at City Center One: from 10 AM a parade through the shopping center, a creative workshop for children making folklore ornaments, and at 11 AM a concert by all participants. The festival's grand closing moves to Solin that same day, where the final concert begins at 8 PM at Gradina, preceded by a parade at 7:30 PM.
Most participants depart on August 23, but the festival has a special finale. On Sunday, August 24, at 8:30 PM, on the plateau below Klis Fortress, a joint concert will be held by the Canadian-Ukrainian ensemble Tryzub and Split's Jedinstvo, marking Ukraine's Independence Day.
The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, the City of Split, HNK Split, the Croatian Heritage Foundation, Split branch, tourist boards of Split, the County, Trogir, Klis, and Šolta, JUUK Zvonimir Solin, and donors and sponsors Leda, Digitalni studio AKVARIJ, City Center One Split, hotels Park and Ambasador, Quantum code, and MM Tours. Media partner is Slobodna Dalmacija. Admission to all events is free.
