Days in the Bay

The sixth edition of the Days in the Bay festival will be held in Stari Grad on Hvar from September 17 to 20. It is the only international event in Croatia and the Adriatic that celebrates the promotion and preservation of maritime heritage.

This year, the partner country is Italy, represented by the Arzana association from Venice. They are coming to Stari Grad with two traditional boats that will represent the Venetian lagoon.

This year’s Days in the Bay festival begins on Thursday, and the parade of participants and the opening ceremony on Tvrdalj Square are on Friday. After that, there will be a presentation of the traditional fleet and promotional sailings. Under the aegis of “Đir po vali”, promotional sailing on traditional boats will be organized on all three days of the festival.

The Italian choir Coro Arzana will perform as a guest of the Terca ensemble from Split at the first full-length concert on Thursday, September 17. After the Terca ensemble and the Coro Arzana choir on Thursday, on Friday there will be a full-length concert by the Cambi a cappella group in Stari Grad, and on Saturday Petar Grašo will sing on Tvrdalj Square.

In addition to the concerts, visitors can expect a rich program of lectures and presentations on maritime heritage. There will also be a “Dalmatian marenda” (brunch), during which various tasty dishes will be sold at promotional prices in the city’s restaurants.

Thursday, 17. 9. 2026.
Arrival of boats during the day
11:00 Opening of the Festival Village and “Friendship Squares” – presentation of the associations “Arzanà” from Venice, the Association for the Preservation of Neretva Heritage Opuzen and the association “Croatian Wooden Boats – CWB” on the New Riva and the friendly cities of Samobor and Rugvica, on Velo Podloža Square and the Riva.
16:30 “Valom na vesla i jedra” – presentation of traditional rowing and sailing by members of the association Arzanà from Venice, a cutter of the Croatian Navy, a Neretva boat and a caulking workshop Bokovac from Bar in Montenegro.
20:30 “Voices of the Adriatic” – a full-length concert by the vocal ensemble Terca from Split, guests: trio Voci dell’Arzanà from Venice, Trg Tvrdalj

Friday, 18. 9. 2026
09:00 – 20:30 Exhibition and presentation of traditional boats participating in the festival, programs and workshops in the Festival Village and on the Friendship Squares
10:00 City Library
• Ars Halieutica Cultural Institution – “Four Decades of Global Promotion of Croatian Maritime Heritage”
Lecturer: prof. emeritus Joško Božanić
• Association for the Preservation of Neretva Heritage Opuzen – “A Ship in New York”, documentary
Introductory presentation: Milojko Glasović
11:00 “Obojimo Valu” – children’s art workshop, Festival Village, Novo Riva
11:00 Exhibition “High Tide”, guided tour in English – Stari Grad Museum
11:00 – 14:00 “Jedra u Vali” – promotional sailing in traditional boats
17:00 Parade, festival parade of all participants, Riva
17:15 Opening ceremony of the festival, Trg Tvrdalj
17:30 Review of the traditional fleet
18:00 “Jedra u kraju” – sightseeing of traditional boats and socializing with their crews.
18:00 Competition in preparation for “Dalmatian Brunches”, Terra Arhaica stage on the New Riva
18:00 Folklore Society Starogrojčica and Friends, KUD Jelsa and KUD Šaltin, younger groups, Trg Tvrdalj
18:30 “Italian Afternoon” – Festival Village, Arzanà Association, Venice, Riva
18:30 Helmsmen’s meeting before Saturday’s traditional boat regatta, theatre atrium, Stari Grad
20:30 “Stari Grad to Friends of the Sea” – Klapa Cambi, full-length concert, Trg Tvrdalj

Saturday, 19. 9. 2026.
08:30 Holy Mass for Sailors, Parish Church of St. St. Stephen’s Cathedral
09:00 Sailing of the replica of the historic galley Karaka from Dubrovnik
09:00 Meeting of helmsmen ahead of the traditional boat regatta, theatre atrium, Stari Grad
09:30 Equipping traditional boats for the regatta
09:00 – 20:30 Exhibition and presentation of traditional boats participating in the festival, programs and workshops in the Festival Village and Friendship Squares
10:30 “Jedra Staroga Grada 2026” – start of the traditional boat regatta, Novo Riva
11:30 and 17:00 “My Little Boat” – children’s boat-making workshop, Festival Village, Novo Riva
18:00 Exhibition “Tide”, guided tour in Croatian – Stari Grad Museum
18:00 Ceremony awarding prizes to the winners of the regatta and awarding certificates and certificates of appreciation to associations, helmsmen and crews participating in the festival, Trg Tvrdalj.
19:00 Equipping of traditional boats for the night parade, departure at 19:45
20:30 “Dance of Sails and Lights” – night sailing with a special drama program, musical accompaniment and light effects, Stari Grad bay
21:00 Petar Grašo – full-length concert, Trg Tvrdalj
22:30 “Days in Bay 2026.” – after party, Trg Tvrdalj

Sunday, 20. 9. 2026.
08:00 – 09:00 “Coffee before departure” – Sailor’s Club, Caffe bar Espresso
09:00 – 12:00 Departure of the festival fleet and return of the boats to their home port