Dubrovnik rightfully holds the title of the cultural center of Croatia and the wider region, with its own theater, film company, symphony orchestra, folklore ensemble, and 9 different museums organized into 5 museum institutions. It is also widely known for the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, an ambient festival established in 1950, during which various music, drama, and dance performances, as well as exhibitions and other accompanying programs, are held daily from July 10 to August 25. Additionally, throughout the year, Dubrovnik hosts many other renowned festivals such as the Dubrovnik Music Spring Festival, Dubrovnik Classic, Dubrovnik in Late Summer, Midsummer Scene Festival, Dubrovnik Jazz Outbreak Festival, and the Lumiart Light Festival.
Cultural production in 2025 is particularly vibrant as four major anniversaries are being celebrated – 100 years of the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, 80 years of the Dubrovnik Art Gallery, 60 years of the Linđo Folklore Ensemble, and 45 years of the Libertas Choir.
The Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1925, continues the long musical tradition that developed during the period of the Dubrovnik Republic. This centennial orchestra is today an important part of Croatia's cultural heritage and a recipient of numerous awards. In addition to concerts in its home city, in the unique setting of the Rector’s Palace, the DSO also performs across the country and abroad. During the anniversary year, the audience can look forward to many events, including an exhibition of old photographs and the particularly significant "Starry Cycle," which will bring celebrated conductors and soloists to the city. The concert schedule can be found on the DSO's website, and all true music lovers are sure to enjoy the concert evenings that our orchestra has prepared for this major anniversary year.
The Dubrovnik Art Gallery was founded in 1945 and was initially located in the Crijević Pucić summer residence, before moving in 1948 to the Banac Villa at Ploče, a building designed by Lavoslav Horvat and Harold Bilinić between 1937 and 1939, which represents an exceptional achievement of interwar Croatian architecture. The Dubrovnik Art Gallery celebrates a major anniversary in 2025, marking 80 years since its founding. Today, it is the leading institution focused on modern and contemporary art in the broader Dubrovnik area. As a museum that showcases local, national, and international cultural scenes, it is recognized beyond the borders of our country. In the anniversary year, a Guide through the Collection will be published, which includes over 2,800 artworks, as well as a large exhibition celebrating 80 years of the Dubrovnik Art Gallery. This exhibition will present the rich history of the institution, which has, since its inception, collected, preserved, curated, exhibited, and published visual art works, striving to establish and maintain a high level of quality in all its activities. Among the highlights of the extensive exhibition program are two retrospective exhibitions: one featuring one of Croatia's most important artists, Josip Vaništa, whose work will soon be exhibited at MoMA in New York, and the other one by the renowned Dubrovnik artist, Josip Škerlj.
In 2025, the Linđo Folklore Ensemble celebrates a major anniversary – six full decades of successful activity. The ensemble's programs consist of dances and songs from all regions of Croatia, and the performances of the lively and cheerful Dubrovnik youth are "free from any balletic influence, routine professionalism, and choreographic-theatrical imitations," as evaluated by Croatian and international folklore and ethnology experts.
The best choreographers and musicians, original folk costumes and instruments, a wealth of different performance styles, and a diverse repertoire, accompanied by young people radiating positive energy – these are the principles on which Linđo developed and which are still being nurtured to this day. Linđo has received numerous international recognitions and awards, and its greatest success is reflected in the fact that, over the past sixty years, Dubrovnik has created an environment that consistently gathers 200 to 300 young girls and boys, aged 12 to 30. This fact forms the foundation of the current activities of the Linđo Folklore Ensemble, which has been developing since 1998 as a cultural institution of the City of Dubrovnik and an inseparable part of the overall cultural-tourist life of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
The central celebration is planned for November, when an anniversary concert will be held featuring all generations of Linđo. Throughout the year, a series of lectures about the ensemble and other ethnochoreological topics will be organized, with guest lecturers taking part. The anniversary will also be marked with a concert in front of the Cathedral during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival on August 22, 2025, and to close the year, a monograph of the ensemble will be presented.
The Libertas Choir celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2025. Since its founding in December 1980, when the first audition was held, to its first concert performance in May 1981, and up to this day, the choir has given hundreds of performances in Dubrovnik, Croatia, and numerous cities abroad.
This valuable amateur choir regularly participates in holiday celebrations, charitable events, and cultural performances, and also organizes its own concerts. Their dedicated work, enthusiasm, and the quality of their musical expression, along with an interesting repertoire, have been recognized by music experts and the audience. As a result, the choir received the City of Dubrovnik Award in 1983 and the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Award in 2000.
The choir has been conducted by many world-renowned conductors on various occasions, and its long-time artistic director is Professor Viktor Lenert. The choir members are Dubrovnik residents from various backgrounds, professions, and age groups, amateur singers who gladly dedicate their time preparing for new performances. They particularly enjoy performing outside of Dubrovnik, as it allows them to represent their beloved city, make new friendships, and have plenty of time for socializing.