For the eighth time, Sea Star Festival delivered the perfect welcome to summer! The official opening of the season took place in Umag’s Stella Maris lagoon from 28 to 31 May, marked by standout performances from West Coast hip-hop legend Xzibit, beloved German high-tech minimal mastermind Boris Brejcha, and a stellar trio leading the new wave of techno – KI/KI, BIIA and Holy Priest – whose performances drew the largest crowds ever seen in the lagoon. The Tesla Main Stage also hosted the spectacular multimedia performance EMERGENCY EXIT, directed by the renowned artistic troupe La Fura Dels Baus, known for opening the Barcelona Olympic Games. Festival-goers were also treated to explosive trap performances by Grše, Hiljson Mandela, TBF, Prti Bee Gee, Bore Balboa and many others. Once again, Sea Star Festival demonstrated the power of music and togetherness, bringing together more than 48,000 visitors over four days, who travelled to Umag from several continents.
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The eighth edition of Sea Star Festival transformed Umag’s Stella Maris lagoon into the epicentre of music and entertainment. Set against a unique backdrop filled with energy, emotions and unforgettable moments, thousands of visitors from Croatia, the region and around the world celebrated music, freedom and life over four sunny festival days. Beneath the stars and alongside performances by some of the biggest regional and international artists, music united people and turned every moment into a cherished memory. Once again, the festival proved its significance not only as a musical event, but also as a symbol of unity and freedom.
The festival opened with a screening of the film Svadba, attended by members of the film crew, after which the Welcome Party moved to the Electric Waves Stage. Outstanding DJs got the crowd dancing on the beach from Thursday onwards, warming up the atmosphere for the festival’s main days.
Friday’s programme began with the panel discussion “The Phenomenon of Svadba”, featuring actors Linda Begonja, Dragan Bjelogrlić and Rene Bitorajac, director Igor Šeregi, Mayor of Umag Vili Bassanese, and EXIT Festival founder and director Dušan Kovačević, moderated by Aleksandra Držaić. The panellists agreed on the importance of encouraging conversations about art and togetherness in the region, emphasising that freedom and love ultimately prevail. The first day on the Tesla Main Stage saw performances from Rijeka’s The Siids and Belgrade-based band KOIKOI, who arrived in Umag on the back of numerous international successes. Visitors were particularly captivated by the unique EMERGENCY EXIT performance, created in collaboration with the artistic troupe La Fura Dels Baus, acclaimed producer and DJ Satori, and visual collective Eyesberg, delivering a powerful manifesto for saving the planet. The evening’s most anticipated act was Boris Brejcha, the masked techno genius. Following his set, exceptional DJs Layla Benitez and Lanna took over the stage, performing both solo and back-to-back sets inspired by the world’s biggest electronic music stages. The Nautilus Arena shook with trap hits from Bejbe, Hiljson Mandela, TNG and Bore Balboa, while Amna delivered an urban pop performance accompanied by impressive choreography. As part of the European GrassrEUts project promoting emerging artists, Sea Star also welcomed Hungarian band Sonya and Portuguese artist Libra. The Electric Waves Stage kept the crowd dancing until sunrise with sets from Sunny Sun, Elena Mikac, Lottie, Vlado Kaponja b2b Roland, and O/H/M.
The festival’s second central day was packed with legendary performances from opening until closing. Tesla Main Stage was opened by the incomparable Macha Ravel, who performed hits such as “Lutkica” and “Pasegoni”, as well as new material, before handing over the microphone to the undisputed ruler of the Croatian charts. Grše ignited the atmosphere within seconds, with the audience singing every word of hits including “Forza”, “Tokyo Drift”, “Fantazija” and “Mamma Mia”. He also surprised the crowd with renditions of fan-favourite songs by fellow artists, delivering an unforgettable party. Following Croatia’s favourite trap heavyweight, hip-hop took centre stage during a special Blackout Showcase led by Croatia’s leading hip-hop promoter Phat Phillie. Regional legends TBF and Prti Bee Gee joined him on stage, while Noti Limun represented the new generation. Together they brought the spirit of the West Coast to Umag, perfectly setting the stage for the arrival of a true legend: Mr. X-to-the-Z. Accompanied by his band Furnace, Xzibit dominated the stage and delivered a nearly two-hour performance. In front of thousands of fans, he performed classics including “X”, “Get Your Walk On” and “The Moment”, showcasing the full power of the West Coast sound. Sea Star transformed into a true Rave in Paradise when masked antihero Holy Priest took over the Tesla Main Stage. One of the festival’s most eagerly awaited performers shook the entire lagoon with his hard techno sound, performing tracks such as “Vielleicht Vielleicht”, “Holy Atlantis” and “Gangsta’s Paradise”. Portuguese techno powerhouse BIIA followed with a masterclass in hard-hitting beats and melodic techno. The peak of euphoria arrived with Dutch all-night queen KI/KI. Tracks including “What’s a Girl To Do in ‘25”, “Losing Control” and “Time To Party” pushed the atmosphere to its limits and ensured Sea Star’s audience welcomed the sunrise to an unforgettable techno soundtrack.
At the Nautilus Arena, the programme began with an energetic set from Sunny Sun, followed by rising Zagreb trap artist Yung Normy. Through Sea Star’s collaboration with Eurosonic, Slovenian musician Nejc Pipp performed a dreamy live set with his band, while Bulgarian project Pistamashina impressed audiences with its futuristic show. The tennis stadium was then filled with the sounds of the ping-pong genre as Split legends TBF took the stage. In outstanding form, the group had the crowd singing every lyric in unison, from “Smak svita”, “Mater” and “Veseljko” to “Uvik kontra” and “Alles Gut”. The audience simply would not let them leave the stage. Hard-hitting underground rap followed courtesy of Prti Bee Gee. Mikri Maus and Eufrat once again proved that old-school hip-hop never goes out of style. To close the programme, Noti Limun and Tibor showcased the future of the genre, winning over the crowd with tracks such as “Gan Barsi”, “Prigušivač” and their latest release, “Prah Prahu”.
Saturday also belonged to electronic music favourites on the Electric Waves Stage. one n, Herya, DJ Labud, Kim Ono, Marin Biočić and Marcel kept visitors dancing by the sea from sunset to sunrise.
This year’s edition of Sea Star Festival once again confirmed Umag’s Stella Maris lagoon as an essential destination for the perfect start to summer, attracting more than 48,000 visitors from dozens of countries. Four days filled with sunshine, good vibes, dancing and unforgettable parties will be remembered as the most ambitious and musically rich summer opening yet, set in one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful seaside locations.
This year’s Sea Star Festival was realised with the support of the Croatian National Tourist Board, Istria County, the City of Umag, the Umag Tourist Board, the Istria Tourist Board and Plava Laguna.
