About us

Die Geschichte des Festival Lent ist die Geschichte von Abenden, die nach Sommer duften und dazu einladen, unter den Sternenhimmel zu gehen, inmitten von bunten Lichtern, Klängen und Rhythmen. Zu den Plätzen, die zu Veranstaltungsorten werden, zu den Straßen, die von einem bunten Strom von Besuchern aus aller Welt durchflutet werden, zu der Stadt, in der man seine Freunde trifft. Jeden Juni werden der mittelalterliche Lentbezirk an der Drau, die historischen Marktplätze, die malerischen Gassen der Altstadt und sogar der mächtige Stadtpark zu Festivalorten voller Kunst, Kultur und Kreativität.

With thirty years of tradition, Festival Lent is one of the oldest and largest open-air festivals in central Europe. Every year it welcomes about two hundred thousand visitors, almost every fourth Slovene has visited it at least once. It is a celebration of art, culture and creativity of all genres for all generations, and a space for discovering, learning, meeting and coexisting in a variety of cultures. It is a festival that, for the thirtieth time, will transform the city into a giant stage and a vibrant meeting point for artistic expressions.

The Lent Festival is also a festival of festivals, bringing together as many as five. It hosts the world-renowned international CIOFF festival Folkart, the international jazz music festival JazzLent, the Ana Desetnica street theatre festival, the Art Kamp festival of creativity and the Stand up Lent festival.

More than twenty festival venues, stretching from the banks of the river Drava to the City park, are only a few minutes' walk away. The genre-diverse and varied program allows everyone to find something for themselves - from the youngest to the oldest. Opera and ballet, theater and dance performances, jazz concerts, classical music concerts, world music, singer-songwriter concerts, chanson and ethno music concerts, folklore evenings, street theater performances, film screenings, sports activities and events and activities for children.

When visiting Lent, the thing to do is - lentanje! It means to stroll the streets of old town checking-up different venues - to mingle, grab a bite, enjoy a drink and have fun! Join more than two hundred thousand visitors claiming there’s no better way to enjoy the balmy evenings of early summer!

Music giants and legends, such as B.B. King, James Brown, Ray Charles and Stephane Grapelli as well as an array of internationally acclaimed artists, such as Macy Gray, Mercedes Sosa, Paquito D'Rivera, Bob Geldof, Dr. John, Jose Feliciano, Lester Bowie, Stephane Grapelli, David Byrne, Maynard Ferguson, Taj Mahal, Alfredo De La Fé, Alfredo Rodriguez, Malia, Eric Burdon & The Animals, Living Colour, Maceo Parker, Femi Anikulapo Kuti, Uriah Heep, Taraf de Haidouks, Omara Portuondo, Sierra Maestra, Buchweat Zydaco, Jimmy Cliff, Keziah Jones, Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra, Esma Redžepova, Šaban Bajramović, The Dubliners, Sara Tavares, Olodum, Matt Bianco, Medeski Martin & Wood, Al Di Meola, Pharoah Sanders, Maria João Ogre, Hugh Masekela, Bill Frisell, Orlando Julius, Brad Mehldau, Mark Guiliana, GoGo Penguin, Les McCann, Chico Freeman, Tania Maria, Reggie Workman, Chucho Valdes, Brad Mehldau, Benny Golson, Ray Brown, Bela Fleck, Joe Zawinul, Esbjörn Svensson, James Morrison, Kenny Wheeler, Jimmy Witherspoon, Enrico Rava, Monty Alexander, Fred Wesley, James Blood Ulmer, Ray Anderson, Cyro Baptista, Marc Ribot, Ebo Taylor, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Trilok Gurtu, Dhafer Youssef, Uwe Kropinski, Erik Truffaz, John Scofield, Tigran Hamasyan, The Skatalites, Manu Katche, Bill Evans, Tony Allen, Maria Joao, Bombino, The souljazz Orchestra, Omar Sosa and many more.

Festival Lent: 24. 6.–2. 7. 2022 • 23. 6.–1. 7. 2023 • (TBA 2024) • 27. 6.–5. 7. 2025 • 26. 6.–4. 7. 2026 • 25. 6.–3. 7. 2027

Folkart: 28. 6.–2. 7. 2022 • 27. 6.–1. 7. 2023 • (TBA 2024) • 1. 7.–5. 7. 2025 • 30. 6.–4. 7. 2026 • 29. 6.–3. 7. 2027