The Skopje Summer Festival (Skopsko leto) is the city’s biggest cultural festival: around 40 days of concerts, theatre, dance, exhibitions and literary evenings every summer, held in museums, churches, courtyards and open-air venues across Skopje.
About the Skopje Summer Festival
Founded in 1980, the festival has grown into one of the most important cultural events in North Macedonia. The programme mixes classical and contemporary music, theatre productions, dance, exhibitions, literary evenings and collaborations between local and international artists. Many events are free or very cheap, and the open-air evenings in historic venues are a big part of the charm.
The 2026 edition (21 June – 30 July 2026)
The 47th edition opened at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle with the exhibition “75 Years of the State Archives of the Republic of North Macedonia”, followed by the opening concert “Legacy in Silk: The Sounds of Macedonia from Byzantium to the Present Day” – an original project by composer Petar Hristov, performed by the Polyphony Chamber String Orchestra with guest musicians. Over 40 days the festival then filled the city’s venues with concerts, plays and exhibitions (see the 2026 program).
📶 Staying connected in Skopje
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Tips for festival-goers
- Check the daily programme – events change venue from night to night.
- Arrive early for popular free concerts; seating is limited.
- Combine the festival with the summer guides in Skopje in summer, and consider the Ohrid Summer Festival, which runs at the same time.
Where to Stay in Skopje for the Summer Festival
If you are travelling to Skopje for the Summer Festival, stay central: Macedonia Square and the Old Bazaar are walkable, restaurants stay open late and taxis are cheap if you need one at night.
- Skopje Marriott Hotel – right on Macedonia Square, the most central upscale choice.
- Hotel Senigallia – rooms on a rebuilt sailing ship moored on the Vardar, in the middle of the city.
- Solun Hotel & Spa – a central hotel with a spa, a short walk from the main square.
Browse all hotels in Skopje city centre, compare neighbourhoods in our Where to Stay in Skopje guide, or see our pick of the best hotels in Skopje.
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More events in Skopje
See all upcoming festivals in our Skopje events calendar and check the best time to visit Skopje month by month.
Our private tour
Private Matka Canyon Tour from Skopje
Hotel pickup anywhere in Skopje, a private air-conditioned car and a friendly English-speaking local driver. Boat ride to Vrelo Cave, hiking or a lakeside coffee – at your own pace. From €60 per car (1–4 guests).
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