News

Building on the achievements of the past four years – from notable artistic accomplishments and growing international recognition to a strong and lasting relationship with audiences – the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb enters the new season with an ambitious and balanced programme that brings together Croatian and international heritage through contemporary artistic interpretations.

At the heart of the programme remain the Drama, Opera and Ballet companies, alongside collaborations with distinguished Croatian and international artists, as well as the continued development of audiences, international partnerships and new production models.

“The season ahead marks the beginning of my second term at the helm of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, guided by a clear vision of further artistic development of our ensembles, strengthening production capacities across both stages, deepening internationalisation, and continuing the growth of audiences and artistic excellence. The past four years have been defined by dedicated work, a consistent artistic vision and a strong sense of unity between the ensembles and the management, reflected in higher performance standards and the opening of space for new aesthetics and contemporary interpretations, while maintaining a balance between theatrical heritage and modernity. The artists of Drama, Opera and Ballet have achieved remarkable results recognised by both audiences and professionals, attracting significant media attention.

International collaboration remains one of the Theatre’s key strategic objectives. The results of the 2025/2026 season confirm a major step forward, strengthened by new partnerships, co-productions and guest performances, as well as an increasingly visible presence on the European stage. Membership in organisations such as Opera Europa, FEDORA and the European Theatre Convention has further reinforced our international profile. We enter this second term having also achieved important institutional advances – from improved working conditions and salary increases to the development of organisational and production capacities – strengthening the Theatre from within so that it may respond ambitiously and responsibly to the challenges of our time,” stated General Manager Iva Hraste Sočo.

She also emphasised the historic milestone represented by the opening of the new HNK 2 stage, a long-awaited project realised with the support of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Culture and Media. During the 2026/2027 season, the new venue will host Drama, Opera and Ballet programmes, as well as numerous interdisciplinary and audience-development projects. Twenty performances of Cabaret are also planned.

Drama: Identity, Belonging, Power and Home

Artistic Director of Drama Tena Štivičić highlighted that the Drama programme will explore questions of identity, belonging, power and home in a time marked by uncertainty and division.

“At a time when truth is increasingly shaped through the manipulation of information and the sense of belonging is becoming ever more fragile, theatre remains a place where we attempt to understand who we are and what kind of world we are building,” said Štivičić.

The Drama season opens with Shakespeare’s Richard III, directed by Vito Taufer with music by Mate Matišić, in co-production with the Dubrovnik Summer Festival and the Croatian National Theatre in Varaždin. It will be followed by the Croatian premiere of Tena Štivičić’s The Scattered, directed by Nina Rajić Kranjac, a new exploration of home and return.

The programme also includes Miroslav Krleža’s The Glembays directed by Paolo Magelli, the devised production Marie Antoinette Has No Time for This by Sanja Milardović, Pičman by Dora Šustić, and Christopher Hampton’s Les Liaisons Dangereuses directed by Janusz Kica.

The season will also feature the international co-production Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day, based on Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s television series and directed by Sebastijan Horvat, produced in collaboration with Prešeren Theatre Kranj, the Slovene Youth Theatre, Ptuj City Theatre and the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.

Alongside new productions, the Drama company will continue performing a number of acclaimed productions from previous seasons, including An Ideal Husband, Mary Stuart, One Song a Day Takes Mischief Away, Flags and others.

Opera: Major Titles and Growing International Recognition

Artistic Director of Opera Željka Barišić Pulig stressed that Zagreb Opera is entering a new phase, built upon continuous artistic development and growing international recognition.

The Opera season opens with the fourth edition of the Zagreb Opera Festival, featuring the Theatre’s production of Verdi’s Aida alongside guest companies from Slovenia, Poland, Spain and France.

The Festival will conclude on 20 September 2026 with a gala concert featuring the soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, accompanied by a live outdoor broadcast in front of the Theatre.

The first opera premiere of the season will be Bizet’s Carmen, conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi and directed by Pier Francesco Maestrini. It will be followed by Richard Strauss’s Salome, conducted by Ville Matvejeff and directed by Marin Blažević. The season will conclude with Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann, directed by Krešimir Dolenčić and conducted by Ayrton Desimpelaere.

Alongside these premieres, the repertoire will include revivals of Rigoletto, Tannhäuser, La Bohème, Die Fledermaus and other productions, as well as Croatian operatic classics including Ero the Joker, Nikola Šubić Zrinjski and Stanac.

Ballet: Denis Matvienko Takes Over a Company in Outstanding Artistic Form

From 1 July 2026, the position of Artistic Director of Ballet will be assumed by Denis Matvienko, one of the most distinguished ballet artists of his generation, an internationally acclaimed principal dancer, teacher and artistic leader.

The Ballet season opens with an evening dedicated to Mauro Bigonzetti, featuring the one-act ballets Rossini Cards and Kazimir’s Colours, presented for the first time in Zagreb. This will be followed by Minkus’s La Bayadère in Natalia Makarova’s celebrated version.

The season will conclude with a ballet evening featuring Krešimir Baranović’s The Gingerbread Heart and Tena Novak Vincek’s Nonice, choreographed by Maša Kolar, bringing Croatian ballet heritage back to the national stage through a contemporary artistic lens.

Successful productions from previous seasons, including The Nutcracker, Othello, The Sleeping Beauty, Peer Gynt and the ballets of Roland Petit, will remain in the repertoire, alongside a Ballet Gala featuring international ballet stars.

Supporting the Next Generation of Artists

Investing in young talent remains a key strategic objective of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. Scholarship programmes in Drama, Opera and Ballet, as well as the Opera Studio and Ballet Studio, will continue to provide young Croatian artists with professional opportunities, artistic development and a platform for launching their careers.

Special Programmes and International Partnerships

Alongside its artistic programme, the Theatre continues to develop projects that position it as a space for dialogue, participation and audience engagement. Special emphasis is placed on younger generations, audience development, inclusive programmes and cooperation with educational institutions and partners throughout Croatia.

The Theatre also announced HNK2EU – a new European Theatre Cycle in Zagreb. During the 2026/2027 season, productions from Berliner Ensemble, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre of Bulgaria, the Slovene Youth Theatre, the Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica and other European companies will be presented in Zagreb.

Audience-development initiatives will continue, including the Train to the Theatre programme, collaborations with the University of Zagreb, educational programmes for pupils and students, Theatre Breakfast events and the Pop-Up Museum.

The current season has achieved a record attendance rate of 98 per cent and attracted more than 5,800 subscribers, confirming strong public interest and confidence in the artistic direction of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.

Season subscriptions are available from 15 June 2026 via the Theatre box office and website. The summer subscription period runs until 3 July 2026, while the autumn subscription period will run from 1 to 30 September 2026.