advent in Split 2026: dates, concerts on the Riva and New Year's Eve
Advent in Split runs from 27 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. Key dates, free concerts on the Riva and at the Prokurative, the ice rink in Đardin and tips for your visit.
Split doesn't do Christmas with snow. It does it with the sea, palm trees and a Riva (the seafront promenade) full of people in winter coats. On 27 October the City of Split presented this year's Advent programme, which runs from 27 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. The main events are on the Riva and at the Prokurative (Republic Square), with more happening around town and on the University Campus. According to the city, all concerts are free.
key dates
| Date | What and where |
|---|---|
| Fri, 27 Nov | Opening: Alan Hržica, Prokurative |
| Sat, 28 Nov | First Advent candle lit, the Husar sisters and Dalmatian klapa groups (traditional a cappella singers) |
| Thu, 24 Dec | Badnjak (Christmas Eve): salt cod at the Peškarija, Neno Belan on Pjaca |
| Wed, 30 Dec | Dino Merlin, Riva |
| Thu, 31 Dec (daytime) | Daytime New Year's party with Jacques Houdek |
| Thu, 31 Dec (evening) | New Year 2027: Jelena Rozga and Jakov Jozinović, Riva |
Advent candles are lit on Saturdays. Also announced are Crvena jabuka (early December), Rišpet, an evening dedicated to Oliver Dragojević, Miroslav Škoro, Bijelo dugme, Psihomodo Pop, Dalmatino, Silente, Zorica Kondža, Tony Cetinski and Vatra, but exact dates for most of these haven't been officially published yet.
beyond the concerts
The ice rink returns to Đardin (Strossmayer Park), and this year there's a new panoramic wheel and a carousel. A nativity scene goes up in a geodesic dome in front of the Prokurative. Saturday mornings have a children's programme with dancing, games and shows.
On Christmas Eve, salt cod (bakalar) is traditionally handed out at the Peškarija, Split's fish market. If you're curious why cod is on the table on 24 December and what else Croatians eat over the holidays, see our guide Christmas at the Croatian table.
The student side of town gets Advent na Kampusu (Advent on Campus), along with the University Fair and the "Science Comes to Town" programme.
planning your visit
The Riva, Prokurative, Pjaca and Đardin are all in the city centre, so you can do the whole Advent on foot. For the bigger concerts and New Year's Eve, arrive early, because the Riva fills up fast. If you're comparing cities, Dubrovnik's Advent starts the same weekend and Zagreb has its own rhythm. We've covered both: Advent in Dubrovnik 2026 and Advent in Zagreb 2026.
tips
- Check dates before you travel. The city has published the outline, and the schedule for individual concerts is still to come.
- Plan New Year's early. Dino Merlin on 30 December and New Year's Eve on 31 December will be the busiest nights, so book accommodation for those dates as soon as you can.
- Spend Christmas Eve in town. Salt cod is handed out at the Peškarija, and Neno Belan plays on Pjaca.
- Kids and Saturday mornings. The morning children's programme and the ice rink in Đardin work well together for families.
- Bring layers. Evenings by the sea can be windy, even when the day is mild.
If you're looking for a place where everything is within walking distance, have a look at Hana City Apartment in Split.