The eighth edition of the Trag u beskraju (Trace into Infinity) event turned Vela Luka into the largest open-air amphitheater on the Adriatic, and record attendance confirmed that Oliver's music never fades.
On Wednesday evening, the Vela Luka bay became the center of an emotional musical pilgrimage: according to organizers' estimates, the concert Trag u beskraju gathered around 30,000 people, which is also confirmed by Slobodna Dalmacija, reporting "over 30,000 people" who filled the waterfront, streets, terraces, and boats. DalmacijaDanas emphasizes that this is the best-attended edition since the event began.
Two ferries, six catamarans, and 17 buses brought visitors to Korčula during the day, and from early morning the place resonated with Oliver's songs, from shops, taverns, cars, while many guests inquired about additional lines, writes JUGInfo.
The main event was held on an impressive floating stage positioned right in the center of the bay. According to JUGInfo, the structure was 27 meters long, 12 meters wide, and spread over more than 320 square meters. Around it, hundreds of boats and sailboats lined up in a crescent, while stage lights, torches, lanterns, and smoke over the sea created a scene that turned Vela Luka into a vast open-air amphitheater for one night.
The concert was broadcast live by Hrvatska radiotelevizija (Croatian Radiotelevision), and from the very first notes, the audience sang along to almost every song. After the broadcast, there was an after concert by the band Ante Gelo Band, featuring islander Petar Šegedin Pjero.
The program began with Petar Grašo singing "Neka se drugi raduju," while torches simultaneously illuminated the waterfront and the boats. He then addressed the crowd with words recorded by DalmacijaDanas:
"It's wonderful to see you. There's more of you than ever. Why? Because he deserves it."
Throughout the evening, the stage hosted Nina Badrić, Zorica Kondža, Marko Tolja, Matija Cvek, Iva Ajduković, Jakov Jozinović, Ines Tričković, Ivica Sikirić Ićo, and Klapa Ošjak. The music program was designed by Ante Gelo, and the orchestra was conducted by maestro Alan Bjelinski.
The event began as early as July 26, 2026 with a concert on the ferry on the Split - Vela Luka line. In the preceding days, a concert called "Mladi pjevaju Olivera" was held in Žardin park, featuring young singers from all over Croatia, the children's choir Luški štići, and students from the Oliver Dragojević Elementary Music School, also under the baton of Alan Bjelinski, reports JUGInfo.
According to photos by Duje Klarić from Slobodna Dalmacija, seen at the concert were Ante Gelo with his wife, actress Jelena Perčin, in their first public appearance after their wedding, as well as businesswoman Andreja Vukojević and Krešimir Renzo Prosoli. DalmacijaDanas also notes the arrival of singer Marija Šerifović, who described Oliver's songs as "sacred scripture."
The eighth edition of the event, held July 29, 2026, on the eighth anniversary of Oliver Dragojević's death, confirmed that his music does not belong to just one generation. Aerial footage provided by DalmacijaDanas shows an endless sea of people and boats, and the emotions were as strong as in the first years.
Dubrovački dnevnik expected more than 30,000 people to attend, which according to reports came true. Organizers emphasize that this is the most ambitious and production-wise largest music event in Croatia, a ritual of remembrance that grows stronger year after year.
