Sarajevo Winter Festival


The Sarajevo Winter Festival is an annual international cultural festival held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, since 1984. It encompasses a wide range of artistic disciplines, including music, theatre, visual arts, literature, and film. The festival serves as a platform for artists from around the world to showcase their work and engage with the local community.

History

Over the years, the festival has attracted thousands of artists and visitors. By its 40th edition in 2025, the festival had hosted over 45,700 artists and cultural workers, presenting nearly 5,000 events.
The festival is a member of the European Festivals Association.
In 2019, the festival opened with the performance Buka i bijes by artist Braco Dimitrijević, where artists marched through Sarajevo's streets carrying messages of peace and coexistence.
In 2017, the 33rd edition of the festival awarded the "Silver Snowflake" to Mila Melank and Collegium Artisticum for their exceptional contributions to the arts.
The festival has also featured international collaborations, such as the Silk Road of Art program held at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In 2015, the festival included a Japanese Film Week.
By its 40th edition in 2025, the festival had hosted over 45,700 artists and cultural workers, presenting nearly 5,000 events.

Notable Editions

2018: 34th Edition – The Other Face of the World

The 34th International Sarajevo Winter Festival in 2018 was held under the slogan The Other Face of the World. The opening ceremony featured a concert by the Guardian Orchestra of Bulgaria, dedicated to the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the Council of the European Union. The festival gathered 1,500 artists from 43 countries,.

2020: 36th Edition – Time for You: Pick Up Art

The 36th edition of the festival in 2020, themed Time for You: Pick Up Art, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.