Renaissance Festival August 2026.

In late August, when torches are lit along the remains of Koprivnica’s historic ramparts and the city fills with knights, craftspeople, court jesters and travelling merchants, Koprivnica becomes a spectacular Renaissance stage for four unforgettable days.

The Renaissance Festival is more than an event to watch – it is an experience to step into. It takes visitors back to a time when the streets echoed with horses’ hooves, food was prepared over open fires and everyday life unfolded alongside the city fortifications.

This historical spectacle recreates the period following 1356, when Koprivnica became a free royal town, with a particular focus on the late 15th and 16th centuries, the era from which the Renaissance fortifications originate. More than 1,300 costumed participants from Croatia and across Europe bring the late Middle Ages to life through knightly battles and tournaments, sword fighting, medieval music, street performers, alchemists, merchants and a large traditional crafts fair.

The festival’s special character lies in its authenticity. Plastic is completely excluded from the festival grounds, while food and drinks are served exclusively in wooden and ceramic tableware. Dishes are prepared according to medieval recipes, often featuring nettle – the plant to which Koprivnica owes its name. Visitors can taste mead, nettle beer and a variety of traditional dishes while becoming part of a vivid historical story.

Today, the Renaissance Festival is one of Croatia’s best-known and most highly awarded events. Yet its greatest appeal remains the feeling that history is not merely presented here – for four days, it truly comes back to life.

Program

Everyday

Daily Programme

FRIDAY, 21 August – from 4:00 p.m.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, 22–23 August – from 10:00 a.m. until late at night

Main theme: Hygiene

Travelling merchants
The largest medieval marketplace in this part of Europe, featuring craftspeople, traders, alchemists, food vendors, entertainers, animal breeders and many others
An extensive selection of medieval food and drinks, including wild game, fish, porridges, gingerbread, nettle dishes, nettle beer, Pan beer, wine and mead
Medieval brewery with monastic nettle beer
Medieval cooking
Wooden maze
Life in medieval knights’ encampments
Exhibition of wild and domestic animals and falconry displays
Knightly games and skirmishes, including combat and competitions, archery, crossbow and mace-throwing demonstrations, sword and halberd fighting, arquebus and musket displays, and cannon fire
Siege-engine demonstrations
Interactive knightly workshops, including archery and crossbow shooting
Medieval torture display
Performances by medieval entertainers, including jugglers, court jesters and stilt walkers
Medieval rugby
Medieval musicians, drummers and belly dancers
Traditional medieval craft workshops for children and adults
Medieval camps and performances by knightly groups from Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Germany, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia
The Siege of Koprivnica
Mystical nightlife in Renaissance Koprivnica beneath the moonlight and burning torches
Life in the “leper village”
Peasant games
A Renaissance world for children
Minting Renaissance coins

The Renaissance Festival is a pioneering plastic-free event. All food and drinks will be served exclusively in wooden or ceramic tableware. Drinks may be consumed only from ceramic mugs, which will be available for purchase at information points and food and beverage stalls throughout the festival grounds.

Thursday

THURSDAY, 20 AUGUST

Opening Ceremony at the Koprivnica City Ramparts – Festung

7:00 p.m. – Opening of the Renaissance Festival, featuring Koprivnica’s knightly groups and local craftspeople

Opening of the medieval marketplace featuring local artisans
Interactive knightly workshop – archery
Arrival of the travelling merchants and negotiations with the Town Judge
Wooden maze
Renaissance games and dances for children
Quarrels between peasants and “lepers”
Medieval torture display
Jesters and fools
Alchemists
Knightly skirmishes
Animal display
Minting Renaissance coins

8:00 p.m. – Fire show by Jaga III Kukuriječki

Friday

FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST

ROYAL STAGE

4:00 p.m. Renaissance dances – Braća Radić Primary School

4:30 p.m. Medieval theatre performance – Prsteki group: Secrets of the Clean Castle

5:00 p.m. Performance by court jester Jaga III Kukuriječki

5:30 p.m. Renaissance dances – Seisenbergensis Tumultus Žužemberk (Slovenia)

5:30–6:00 p.m. Parade participants gather in the town square

5:45 p.m. Musical performance – Pipers of Transylvania (Romania)

6:00 p.m. Parade of knightly groups from the town centre to the city ramparts

6:15 p.m. Performance by the Ursus knightly group (Slovakia)

6:30 p.m. Arrival of the knightly groups at the ramparts, followed by a ceremonial presentation of the Charter of the Free Royal Town to the citizens of Koprivnica

Presentation of gifts to the Town Judge

7:30 p.m. Performance by court jester Freddy

8:00 p.m. Musical performance – Musica Ursusica (Slovakia)

KNIGHTS’ STAGE

5:00 p.m. Renaissance rugby – Opolskie Bractwo Rycerskie knightly group (Poland)

5:30 p.m. Flag-throwing performance – Sbandieratori e Musici di Palmanova and Tamburi e Sbandieratori, Dama Castellana di Conegliano (Italy)

6:30 p.m. Presentation of the knightly groups

7:15 p.m. Equestrian tournament – Hector knights (Slovakia)

8:00 p.m. Performance by the Markus M knightly group (Czech Republic)

8:30 p.m. Musical performance – Pipers of Transylvania (Romania)

9:15 p.m. Sword belly dance – Varuna

9:45 p.m. Fire show – KDIS viteza Gašperja Lambergarja (Slovenia)

Saturday

SATURDAY, 22 AUGUST

10:00 a.m.–12:00 noon Robin Archery Tournament for adults

ROYAL STAGE

1:00 p.m. Musical performance – Musica Ursusica (Slovakia)

1:30 p.m. Renaissance dances – Braća Radić Primary School

1:50 p.m. Arrival of the travelling merchants and negotiations with the Town Judge

2:15 p.m. Medieval theatre performance – Prsteki group: Secrets of the Clean Castle

2:45 p.m. Performance by court jester Freddy

3:00 p.m. Kontea dance group (Konjščina)

3:15 p.m. Renaissance dances – Seisenbergensis Tumultus Žužemberk (Slovenia)

3:45 p.m. Musical performance – Pipers of Transylvania (Romania)

4:15 p.m. Performance by the Markus M knightly group (Czech Republic)

4:45 p.m. Renaissance dances – Braća Radić Primary School

5:30 p.m. Performance by the Aramis knightly group (Slovakia)

5:50 p.m. Musical performance – Musica Ursusica (Slovakia)

6:30 p.m. Performance by the Ursus knightly group (Slovakia)

7:00 p.m. Performance by court jester Jaga III Kukuriječki

7:30 p.m. Performance by the Knight Gašper Lamberger Performing Group (Slovenia)

8:00 p.m. Kontea dance group (Konjščina)

8:15 p.m. Hunt for the Copranitza Witch

KNIGHTS’ STAGE

1:00 p.m. Performance by the Dragon Order of Knighthood of Siklós (Hungary)

1:30 p.m. Performance by Oroszlánszív Lovagrend Egyesület (Hungary)

2:00 p.m. Renaissance rugby – Opolskie Bractwo Rycerskie knightly group (Poland)

2:30 p.m. Performance by the Markus M knightly group (Czech Republic)

3:00 p.m. Musical performance – Musica Ursusica (Slovakia)

3:30 p.m. Performance by the Ursus knightly group (Slovakia)

4:00 p.m. Performance by the Historical Ages of Debrecen Association (Hungary)

4:30 p.m. Equestrian stage performance – Nova Utopia (Germany)

5:00 p.m. Flag-throwing performance – Sbandieratori e Musici di Palmanova and Tamburi e Sbandieratori, Dama Castellana di Conegliano (Italy)

5:45 p.m. Robin Archery Tournament awards ceremony

5:45 p.m. St Bavo Falconers (Slovakia)

6:30 p.m. Equestrian tournament – Hector knights (Slovakia)

7:15 p.m. Musical performance – Pipers of Transylvania (Romania)

EVENING PROGRAMME

8:00 p.m. Night attack on the City – flaming projectiles and arrows, cannons, muskets and arquebuses

9:00 p.m. Fire-eaters – Markus M (Czech Republic)

WORKSHOPS

10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Presentation of Renaissance musical instruments – MAIN STREET and ARMOURY

10:00–10:30 a.m. Medieval jewellery-making workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

10:30–11:00 a.m. Children’s face-painting workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

11:00–11:30 a.m. Medieval nettle beer-making workshop – MAIN STREET

11:30 a.m.–12:00 noon Children’s alchemy workshop – Prsteki camp, MAIN STREET

12:00–12:30 p.m. Pottery workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

12:30–1:00 p.m. Children’s alchemist puppet-making workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

1:00–1:30 p.m. Calligraphy workshop – ARMOURY

1:30–2:00 p.m. Chainmail-making workshop – MOAT

2:00–2:30 p.m. Carpentry workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

2:30–3:00 p.m. Archery workshop – MOAT

3:00–3:30 p.m. Blacksmithing workshop – MAIN STREET

3:30–4:00 p.m. Medieval painting workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

4:00–4:30 p.m. Alchemy workshop – MAIN STREET and ARMOURY

4:30–5:00 p.m. Baking workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

5:00–5:30 p.m. Leatherworking workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

5:30–6:00 p.m. Printing workshop – ARMOURY

6:00–6:30 p.m. Children’s medieval hairstyling workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

6:30–7:00 p.m. Weaving workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

7:00–7:30 p.m. Rope-making workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

7:30–8:00 p.m. Executioner’s workshop – MAIN STREET

8:00–8:30 p.m. Grape-must making workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

Sunday

SUNDAY, 23 AUGUST

10:00 a.m. Festival grounds open

10:00 a.m.–12:00 noon Robin Archery Tournament for children, followed by an awards ceremony

12:00 noon–2:00 p.m. Creative, artistic and entertaining activities and workshops in the Children’s Renaissance World and Fairy Kingdom, accompanied by peasant games

ROYAL STAGE

1:00 p.m. Medieval theatre performance – Prsteki group: Secrets of the Clean Castle

1:45 p.m. Lunch delivery to the “lepers”

2:00 p.m. Renaissance dances – Grofovija Konjski

2:30 p.m. Performance by the Knight Gašper Lamberger Performing Group (Slovenia)

3:00 p.m. Renaissance dances – Braća Radić Primary School

3:30 p.m. Performance by the Ursus knightly group (Slovakia)

4:00 p.m. Musical performance – Musica Ursusica (Slovakia)

4:30 p.m. Performance by court jester Freddy

5:00 p.m. Dance performance – Knights of the Šalek Valley Society (Slovenia)

5:30 p.m. Renaissance dances – Seisenbergensis Tumultus Žužemberk (Slovenia)

6:00 p.m. Musical performance – Musica Ursusica (Slovakia)

6:45 p.m. Performance by court jester Jaga III Kukuriječki

7:15 p.m. Performance by the Aramis knightly group (Slovakia)

KNIGHTS’ STAGE

1:30 p.m. Performance by the Dragon Order of Knighthood of Siklós (Hungary)

2:00 p.m. Performance by the Historical Ages of Debrecen Association (Hungary)

2:15 p.m. Performance by the Markus M knightly group (Czech Republic)

2:45 p.m. Renaissance rugby – Opolskie Bractwo Rycerskie knightly group (Poland)

3:00 p.m. Flag-throwing performance – Sbandieratori e Musici di Palmanova and Tamburi e Sbandieratori, Dama Castellana di Conegliano (Italy)

3:30 p.m. Performance by Oroszlánszív Lovagrend Egyesület (Hungary)

4:00 p.m. Equestrian stage performance – Nova Utopia (Germany)

4:30 p.m. Performance by the Ursus knightly group (Slovakia)

5:00 p.m. Musical performance – Pipers of Transylvania (Romania)

5:30 p.m. Performance by the Aramis knightly group (Slovakia)

6:00 p.m. St Bavo Falconers (Slovakia)

6:45 p.m. Equestrian tournament – Hector knights (Slovakia)

7:45 p.m. Musical performance – Pipers of Transylvania (Romania)

8:15 p.m. Sword belly dance – Varuna

9:00 p.m. Fire show – Aramis (Slovakia)

WORKSHOPS

10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Presentation of Renaissance musical instruments – MAIN STREET and ARMOURY

10:00–10:30 a.m. Medieval jewellery-making workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

10:30–11:00 a.m. Children’s face-painting workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

11:00–11:30 a.m. Medieval nettle beer-making workshop – MAIN STREET

11:30 a.m.–12:00 noon Children’s alchemy workshop – Prsteki camp, MAIN STREET

12:00–12:30 p.m. Pottery workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

12:30–1:00 p.m. Children’s alchemist puppet-making workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

1:00–1:30 p.m. Calligraphy workshop – ARMOURY

1:30–2:00 p.m. Chainmail-making workshop – MOAT

2:00–2:30 p.m. Carpentry workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

2:30–3:00 p.m. Archery workshop – MOAT

3:00–3:30 p.m. Blacksmithing workshop – MAIN STREET

3:30–4:00 p.m. Medieval painting workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

4:00–4:30 p.m. Alchemy workshop – MAIN STREET and ARMOURY

4:30–5:00 p.m. Baking workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

5:00–5:30 p.m. Leatherworking workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

5:30–6:00 p.m. Printing workshop – ARMOURY

6:00–6:30 p.m. Children’s medieval hairstyling workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

6:30–7:00 p.m. Weaving workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

7:00–7:30 p.m. Rope-making workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

7:30–8:00 p.m. Executioner’s workshop – MAIN STREET

8:00–8:30 p.m. Grape-must making workshop – UPPER RAMPART (MARKET)

News

Renesansni festival Koprivnica - Renaissance festival

Anno domini 19. – 22. kolovoza 2021.

Renaissance Festival August 2026.

Program

News

Renaissance festival Program 2026.

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