Young Olive Oil Days in Vodnjan
- Date
- 20 – 22 November 2026
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Vodnjan in southern Istria celebrates new olive oil for the 20th time from 20 to 22 November 2026: 75 to 80 exhibitors in a tent, tastings, cooking shows and a new forum.
Checked: 29 October 2026, 12:18
Vodnjan in southern Istria holds its Young Olive Oil Days, Dani mladog maslinovog ulja in Croatian and also known as IstraVirgin, from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November 2026. Olive growers and mills present the first oil of the harvest that has just ended, and visitors taste and buy straight from the producers. It is the 20th edition, organised by the Town of Vodnjan (Istra.hr).
What is new in 2026
Mayor Igor Orlić and organiser Velka Šuran presented the anniversary edition in Zagreb on 27 October. The 1,750 square metre tent will hold 75 to 80 exhibitors, and the town expects more than 5,000 visitors over the three days (Glas Istre).
New this year is the Vodnjan Mediterranean Forum with four panels. Friday covers the role of farming in the town and region, Saturday luxury brands and the olive in cosmetics and new industries, and Sunday the future of fine dining.
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Tastings, cooking shows, talks
According to the Istria Tourist Board there are tastings, masterclasses and expert talks on how the oil is made. Chefs, pastry chefs, chocolatiers and bartenders cook and mix with the new oil, and the producers sell their extra virgin olive oils at their stands (Istra.hr).
The 2026 timetable was not yet on the festival website on 29 October. For comparison, the 19th edition from 14 to 16 November 2025 opened on Friday from 12:00 to 21:00, on Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00 and on Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. The Oil Bar ran guided tastings all day, a tourist train took visitors on a free 90 minute tour of the town, and at the weekend there were free guided visits to the town churches (dmmu.info).
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Vodnjan beyond the tent
Vodnjan lies a few kilometres north of Pula. The parish church of St Blaise has by far the tallest bell tower in Istria at 62 metres. Inside the church are the mummified bodies of saints and a collection of relics (Istra.hr).
Istria in November: the food and wine dates
Vodnjan is not the only reason to head to Istria in November. This overview comes from our events calendar and shows which dates combine into one weekend.
| Date | Place | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Nov to 4 Dec, Fridays | Poreč, Tar-Vabriga, Funtana | Dinners with Cabernet Sauvignon and oily fish |
| 7 and 8 Nov | Buzet | Istrian Truffle Festival |
| 12 to 14 Nov, 18:00 to 24:00 | Pula, Giardini | Martinje with new wines from southern Istria |
| 20 to 22 Nov | Vodnjan | Young Olive Oil Days |
| 27 Nov to 6 Dec | Pula | Sa(n)jam knjige u Istri book festival |
| from 29 Nov | Pula | Advent in the Arena, outside it and in Titov park |
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What it means for visitors
- Dates: Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November 2026, Istarska ulica 16 in Vodnjan. We will add the 2026 opening times and entry terms here once the organiser announces them.
- A weekend in southern Istria: Vodnjan pairs well with Pula, the Arena and a day in the city. If you stay longer, plan the Brijuni trip from Fažana.
- Truffles or oil: The truffle festival in Buzet is two weeks earlier. If you arrive at the end of November, Pula has the book festival from 27 November and Advent with price caps from 29 November.
- Taking oil home: Producers sell straight from their stands. If you fly home, pack the bottles in your checked luggage.
About the event
Young Olive Oil Days in Vodnjan
From 20 to 22 November 2026 Istrian olive growers and oil producers in Vodnjan present the first young oils from the harvest that has just ended. The programme includes presentations, tastings, masterclasses, talks and food, and the oils can be bought on site. The fair takes place at Istarska ulica 16.
Frequently asked questions
- When are the Young Olive Oil Days in Vodnjan in 2026?
- From Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November 2026. It is the 20th edition (Istra.hr).
- Where is the olive oil festival in Vodnjan held?
- In a 1,750 square metre tent at Istarska ulica 16 in Vodnjan, a few kilometres north of Pula.
- What is new in 2026?
- The Vodnjan Mediterranean Forum with four panels on farming, luxury brands, the olive in cosmetics and fine dining. The tent holds 75 to 80 exhibitors.
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