31 December 2026 · Seven capitals and the Montenegrin coast
New Year’s Eve 2026 in the Balkans
New Year’s Eve 2026 is a Thursday. Here is how the Balkan capitals and the Montenegrin coast see the year out, as confirmed on our city guides on 12 November 2026.
Updated October 2026
Ljubljana
Ljubljana Tourism lists four open-air celebrations in the main squares from 9pm to 2.30am, with no admission charge, and fireworks rise from Ljubljana Castle at midnight. Children have their own celebration on Congress Square from 4pm to 5.30pm.
Zagreb
The city and the Zagreb Tourist Board stage the public countdown on Ban Jelačić Square, inside Advent in Zagreb. The Croatian National Theatre plays Die Fledermaus at 6pm on New Year’s Eve.
Sarajevo
Visit Sarajevo holds open-air concerts at 8pm on First Police Brigade Square, opposite Vijećnica, on 28, 29 and 30 December and 1 and 2 January, with no admission charge. The Sarajevo Philharmonic gives its New Year’s Concert on 31 December at 7.30pm.
Belgrade
At the Kolarac Foundation the New Year’s Concert starts at 9.30pm on 31 December. New Year comes twice in Belgrade: again on the night of 13 to 14 January, the Orthodox New Year, when the National Theatre holds its gala concert.
Podgorica and the coast
Podgorica switches on its festive lights on 19 December. On the coast, Budva holds three days of music in front of its Old Town walls (30 December to 1 January), Tivat has four nights of concerts on the Pine waterfront, and Herceg Novi counts down on Nikola Đurković Square.
New Year’s Eve in Montenegro The Bay of Kotor & Budva
Tirana and Skopje
In Tirana, New Year runs from 31 December to 2 January; last season the Christmas market on Skanderbeg Square stayed open until 6 January. Skopje lights its great tree on Macedonia Square for the New Year.
Line-ups and hotel galas are announced through December; check our city guides before you travel.