The eighth edition of Sea Star Festival is just around the corner! The first festival of the season will kick off summer in Umag’s Stella Maris lagoon from Thursday, May 28 to Sunday, May 31, 2026, featuring performances by numerous global and regional music stars.
The atmosphere on the Adriatic coast is heating up: everything is ready for the warmest and sunniest start to the season yet. Sunny and warm weather is forecast, with temperatures around 30°C!
Sea Star will open with a special Welcome Day edition: the box-office hit Svadba will be screened in Nautilus Arena together with the film crew, followed by a Welcome Party with top DJs. Across four festival days, the lagoon will host techno giants Boris Brejcha, KI/KI, Holy Priest and BIIA, West Coast hip-hop legend Xzibit, regional live sensation KOIKOI, and the Sea Star Gang led by Grše, Hiljson Mandela, Prti Bee Gee, TBF and many more. Audiences from all over the world will give summer the warmest welcome this week in Umag!
Welcome Day // Thursday, May 28 from 19:00
This year, Sea Star Festival will open Welcome Day with a special movie screening under the Istrian stars in Nautilus Arena. The audience in Umag will have the chance to experience Svadba, the highest-grossing Croatian film of all time, in the unique setting of an open-air stadium by the sea together with the film crew. Doors open at 19:00, while the screening begins at 20:30. Entry to the screening is free, but visitors must collect invitations at the Umag Tourist Board office (Trgovačka ulica 6) or at the festival entrance itself. Each person may collect up to four tickets, while stadium capacity is limited. The Welcome Party at the Electric Waves stage starts at 22:00, where DJs Laseech, Alessio, Sunny Sun and Recep will welcome all Sea Star visitors, with the party lasting until 02:00.
Day 1 // Friday, May 29 from 18:00
The introduction to the first central festival day will be the panel discussion “The Phenomenon of Svadba” featuring the film and acting crew, starting at 18:30. The main festival programme begins with THE SIIDS, followed by Belgrade live sensation KOIKOI on the Tesla Main Stage. The stage will then host a special EMERGENCY EXIT performance featuring acclaimed producer and DJ Satori. Masked techno icon Boris Brejcha, together with Layla Benitez and Lanna, will keep the audience dancing on the main stage until sunrise. Nautilus Arena will open with Portuguese artist Libra and Hungarian band Sonya. The Sea Star Gang will once again shake Nautilus Arena with urban sounds brought by Bejbe, Amna, Hiljson Mandela, TNG and Bore Balboa. On Friday, the Electric Waves stage will host regional electronic acts Marino Biočić, Sunny Sun, Elena Mikac, Lottie, Vlado Kaponja b2b Roland and O/H/M.
Day 2 // Saturday, May 30 from 19:00
Doors open at 19:00 on Saturday, with Macha Ravel opening the programme on the Tesla Main Stage. Trap heavyweight Grše will take over the stage before the Blackout Showcase w/ Phat Phillie, joined on stage by TBF, Prti Bee Gee and Noti Limun. West Coast icon Xzibit will step into the fiery hip-hop atmosphere, while hard techno giants Holy Priest, KI/KI and BIIA will deliver an unforgettable rave in the Umag lagoon. Saturday in Nautilus Arena begins with performances by Nejc Pipp & Co. and Pistamashina, while hip-hop legends TBF and Prti Bee Gee, together with rising names Noti Limun and Tibor, will expand the arena’s urban vibe. At the Electric Waves stage, one n, Herya, DJ Labud, Kim Ono, Inka and Marcel will bring fresh electronic beats to the crowd.
Closing Party // Sunday, May 31 until noon
For the most dedicated dancers and festival lovers, DJs from the Electric Waves stage will prepare the perfect farewell to this year’s edition with a sunrise Closing Party.
Entrance
Entrance opening hours:
Friday, May 29: 19:00 – 03:00
Saturday, May 30: 19:00 – 03:00
Festival Tickets and VIP Gold
Wristband checks will be active from 19:00 to 03:00. Festival tickets and Festival VIP tickets are valid for one (1) entry into the festival area during the stated times. If visitors leave the festival area after 19:00, a new valid ticket will be required for re-entry. In addition to festival security, police officers will also control entrances in order to prevent prohibited items and substances from entering the festival grounds. Vehicle access to the festival zone will only be permitted with appropriate accreditation.
Voucher Exchange for Wristbands
Avoid queues and exchange your voucher in advance. Exchange points for regular and VIP Gold vouchers will operate on Thursday, May 28 from 19:00 to 23:00, and on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30 from 11:00 to 03:00. Single-day tickets do not need to be exchanged for wristbands and can be used directly at the entrance.
Cashless System at the Festival
Sea Star Festival introduces the Sea Star card equipped with modern contactless technology. Using the cashless payment card, visitors can pay for drinks, food and festival merchandise. Cards can be purchased at any TOP UP cash desk within the festival and loaded with a chosen amount. The deposit for the first top-up is €1.70, the minimum initial top-up amount is €5, and the maximum is €500. Every following top-up is rounded to whole euros only (for example, €7.50 cannot be added). After ordering food or drinks, payment is made simply by tapping the card on the card reader located at every bar. Visitors may also tap their card at any time to check the balance. Please make sure no one is paying at the same time while checking the balance to avoid charges being deducted from your card.
Refunds
Remaining funds on the card can be refunded in any remaining amount. Refunds must be completed before leaving the festival or on Sunday, May 31 until 18:00 at the location near the Electric Waves stage.
Merch
This year’s Sea Star edition also brings a special surprise – exclusive Sea Star, EXIT and artist merchandise will be available for sale at the festival grounds! Look for the merch stand in the EXIT zone between the Tesla Main Stage and Nautilus Arena.
REMEDIES Innovative Beer Cups
At this year’s Sea Star edition, visitors will have the opportunity for the first time to use innovative biodegradable beer cups. Designed as an alternative to single-use plastic, the cups are made from renewable materials and intended for repeated use, providing a durable and sustainable solution for beer consumption. The 0.5L cups will be available at all bars with a €1.50 deposit charged to the festival cashless card. For every new beer order, visitors will receive a fresh cup, and once the party is over, the cup can be returned at any bar for a deposit refund. Visitors may also keep the cup as a souvenir, but it cannot be brought back into the festival on the following day. More information about REMEDIES cups can be found on the festival website.
Join the “Shiny Umag” Cleanup Action!
On Saturday, May 30, from 09:00 to 15:00, the “Shiny Umag” underwater and coastal cleanup action will take place. Residents of Umag and Sea Star Festival visitors are invited to join from 09:00 at Trg slobode in Umag. Applications for participation will be available at the Umag Tourist Board stand or through the provided online link. After registration and a short briefing, participants will receive cleaning and protective equipment, while lunch will be provided for all volunteers.
Festival Rules
Below is a list of items allowed at the festival, as well as those prohibited from entering through the festival gates.
Allowed:
✅ Backpacks (school backpack size is the maximum)
✅ Hats and caps
✅ Lighters
✅ Mobile phones and tablet devices
✅ Sunglasses
✅ Cigarettes
✅ Small umbrellas
✅ Raincoats
✅ Contact lens cleaning drops
✅ Cameras and camcorders (with approved press accreditation)
✅ Insulin (with diabetes documentation and personal documents)
✅ Medicine (with the original doctor’s report and original packaging)
Prohibited:
🚫 Drugs and narcotics
🚫 Knives and other weapons
🚫 Bottles and cans
🚫 Instruments
🚫 Food and drinks purchased outside the festival boundaries
🚫 Tents
🚫 Pets
🚫 Large umbrellas
🚫 Blankets
🚫 Selfie sticks and GoPro sticks
Lost and found
The Lost & Found desk is located at the main top-up point near the main festival entrance. After the festival ends, lost items will be transferred to Umag Police Station, Jadranska cesta 11.
Parking
Parking for Sea Star Festival visitors is located near the entrance. It is public and paid parking. The price is €20 for the entire day and payment is cash only.
Tickets
Festival tickets are available at the price of €64 and can be purchased via the festival’s official website. Single-day tickets are also available at the promotional price of €34. Festival VIP Gold tickets are available for €150. The current pre-final ticket price is lower than the final price that will apply during the festival days.
The eighth edition of Sea Star Festival will be realised with the support of the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Istria County, the City of Umag, the Umag Tourist Board, the Istria Tourist Board and Plava Laguna.
