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Rijeka is preparing once again to celebrate diversity through music, dance, and food. The ninth edition of Porto Etno Festival – “export-import festival” – will take place on 19th and 20th September 2025, this time at a new location on Adamićev gat.
Organised by the Croatian Cultural Centre on Sušak, the festival brings together international and local artists, minority communities, and audiences in a two-day program where traditions meet contemporary sounds. Admission to all concerts and the culinary program is free.
Friday: Opening Parade, Voices in Etno, and a Humanitarian After Party
The festival opens on Friday at 7 PM with the Opening Parade led by the Glazbeno društvo Spinčići moving from Jelačić Square across Korzo to Jadranski trg and Adamićev gat. Along the way, several folklore groups will perform short showcases before the evening concerts begin.
At 9 PM, the Sicilian ensemble Unavantaluna takes the stage, carrying a deep love for the folk traditions of their homeland while pushing beyond folklore, blending tradition with innovation. Later in the evening, the Voices in Etno program will feature Croatian solo artist Ether together with the female vocal group Čipkice, supported by the Porto Etno Orchestra led by Zoran Majstorović – the festival’s steady musical backbone, supporting numerous guest artists since the first edition in 2017.
Friday closes with a humanitarian after party Lubenice at Klub Manual, where DJ Asimin Asanof will play global sounds fused with electronic elements. The event supports Medical Aid for Palestine, with proceeds from tickets donated to healthcare in Gaza – “Music has always been our language of solidarity, and dance a tool of togetherness.”
Saturday: Melting Pot, Ethno Sounds, and Global Headliners
Saturday begins at 11 AM with Melting Pot, Porto Etno’s signature culinary program. Members of Rijeka’s minority communities will prepare dishes from across the world, including Macedonia, Ukraine, Italy, the Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago, Madagascar, and many more. Food vouchers will be available for €4.50. Alongside the food, cultural associations will present dance and folklore performances.
The music program starts at 9 PM with Melina, a Greek vocalist whose background is rooted in the singing tradition of her family. Trained in singing and oud at the Conservatory of Oriental Music in France and later in Greece, she shapes those influences into a personal sound where tradition meets pop.
Next is the Bulgarian band Oratnitza, premiering their new album STOPAN in Rijeka with their trademark “ethnobass” style – a mix of folk melodies, hip-hop, dubstep, and irregular Balkan rhythms.
The festival finale belongs to 47SOUL, a London- and Palestine-based collective known for Shamstep – a fusion of electronic hip-hop and traditional Dabke. Their performances combine Arabic instruments such as the mijwiz with modern beats and lyrics that speak of freedom and unity.
A Festival of Diversity
Since its first edition in 2017, Porto Etno has positioned itself as one of Rijeka’s most distinctive festivals, building bridges between cultures through sound and taste. “It is an honour to host such an original and brave festival,” said David Kristian Wamberger of GAT, which is hosting the event this year.
Porto Etno Festival 2025 takes place on 19th and 20th September at Adamićev gat in Rijeka. Entry to all concerts and the Melting Pot program is free. Full details and schedules are available at portoetno.hr.
