Festival of Melodies of Istria and Kvarner - MIK 2026

Melodies of Istria and Kvarner Once Again Bring a Top-Class Musical Evening to the Crikvenica Riviera

This year, Crikvenica will once again host one of the most important music festivals in the region – the Melodies of Istria and Kvarner (MIK). The grand finale of MIK will take place on June 10 in Crikvenica, at the City Sports Hall at 9:00 PM, marking the conclusion of the festival’s seven-day journey. The city will thus host this beloved musical event for the fifth time.

MIK was first held in Crikvenica back in 1968, while its most recent visit was in 2021, when the grand finale was also held in the city, leaving a special impression on both audiences and performers. This year’s final evening will once again offer a spectacular program and an atmosphere worthy of the festival’s long-standing tradition.

The final evening will be broadcast live on Croatian Radio (HRT), while Croatian Television (HRT) will record the program for later television broadcasting, allowing Crikvenica to be showcased once again to audiences across Croatia and around the world. For decades, MIK has enjoyed a loyal following among Croatian expatriates, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Australia, where the festival is regularly followed with great interest.

This year’s edition of MIK features 18 new songs performed by outstanding artists such as Alen Vitasović, Silvija Rejec, Luka Basi, Mia Staraj, and others. The festival promises to be especially interesting due to its diversity of musical styles and creative approaches. The 18 songs are written by as many as 16 different authors, giving this year’s edition additional artistic breadth and uniqueness.

The audience in Crikvenica can also look forward to an attractive entertainment program. Popular performers Đurđa and Franko, portrayed by Irena Grdinić and Mario Lipovšek Battifiaca, will take the stage with a special performance created specifically for MIK and the final evening in Crikvenica.

Numerous guests and media representatives are expected at the festival’s finale, with the Crikvenica audience playing a particularly important role, as their votes will help determine the favorite songs of the evening. The top three songs of the night will be announced, followed by the presentation of all major festival awards, making the final evening especially exciting and unique. Indeed, the votes of the Crikvenica audience could decide the overall winners of this year’s MIK.

The Crikvenica–Vinodol region will once again have strong representation at the festival. Performers from the area include Neven Barac, Gracian Čop, Joso Butorac, and Klapa Tić, while songwriting contributions also come from Adam Noa, further highlighting the rich musical tradition of the region.