New Year's Eve in Split 2026: Rozga and Jozinović on the Riva

The City of Split presented its New Year programme on 27 October together with Advent (City of Split). Mayor Tomislav Šuta named Jelena Rozga and Jakov Jozinović as the headliners of New Year's Eve, with Dino Merlin singing the night before (Dalmacija Danas). During Advent the Riva is reserved for exactly these two evenings; every other concert takes place on the Prokurative, the main Advent stage. As of 12 November the city had not yet published start times for 30 and 31 December.

Programme from 30 December to 7 January

In its tender on the public procurement portal, the city budgets €88,000 for the New Year's Eve performers and €22,400 for the daytime programme. These are estimated values, and the final fees may differ (Dalmacija Danas). The city puts the whole of Advent at around €1.7 million, part of it to be covered by sponsors and stall rents (Dalmacija Danas).

Entry and space on the Riva

Both evenings are open to everyone: all concerts at the main Advent venues are free (Dalmacija Danas). The Riva is the waterfront promenade between the south side of Diocletian's Palace and the city harbour, and the stage stands in the open. Thousands of locals and visitors spend New Year's Eve there every year (Dalmacija Danas). If you want to stand close to the stage, arrive before the evening programme starts. The main bus station and the ferry port are about a 10-minute walk from the Riva, and Varoš, the old quarter below Marjan, 5 to 10 minutes.

How New Year 2025 went on the Riva

Last year's celebration is the best guide. The daytime programme ran on the Pjaca, the square in front of the old town hall, and the evening concerts on the Riva. Baby Lasagna opened at 21:30, Željko Bebek followed, and after midnight Vanillaz played into the first hours of the new year. At midnight 190 drones flew a light show over the city harbour, which the city presented as a modern alternative to fireworks (Dalmacija Danas). By 12 November the city had not said whether drones or fireworks will return for 2026/27.

Concerts in the days before

If you are in Split over Christmas, there are more concerts on the Prokurative. Zorica Kondža sings on 22 December and Tony Cetinski on 23 December. On Christmas Eve the city hands out bakalar, salt cod, at the Peškarija fish market, and Neno Belan performs. After Christmas come Duško Kuliš, Sergej Ćetković and the band Vatra (City of Split, Dalmacija Danas). Every Advent date is in Advent in Split.

Getting there and where to stay

Split Airport is near Kaštela, about 25 km west of the centre. The airport bus takes around 30 minutes to the main bus station next to the ferry port, and city bus 37 also stops at the airport. From Zagreb it is about 410 km on the A1, roughly four hours by car and about five by coach, which arrives at the same bus station. Bora wind closes sections of the A1; tolls, vignettes and current closures are in Croatia by car. For the nights from 30 December to 1 January, the old town, Varoš and the streets between the bus station and Bačvice are all within walking distance of the Riva.

New Year's Day and early January

Friday 1 January 2027 is a public holiday: shops stay shut and public transport runs a holiday timetable. Saturday 2 January is a normal shopping day, and on Sunday 3 January shops close again (Shop opening hours at Christmas and New Year). The Advent stalls on the Riva and the Prokurative stay until 6 January, the ice rink in Đardin until 7 January (Split Tourist Board). Every holiday of the year is in Public holidays in Croatia 2027.

New Year in other cities

In Dubrovnik Plavi orkestar plays the Stradun (Index.hr), and in Pula Bajaga i Instruktori play the Forum (City of Pula). Every stage from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, with last year's acts and the state of announcements, is in New Year in Croatia.