Cirilicom Festival

10th Anniversary Festival · Budva, August 2026

The traditional "Cirilicom" festival, which each year brings together the most significant names in literature, theatre, music and the visual arts, marks its 10th, anniversary season with an exceptional and ambitious cultural programme. Throughout August and September, Budva's Old Town once again becomes the epicentre of cultural life on the Montenegrin coast, with a special emphasis on preserving and promoting the Cyrillic heritage through contemporary artistic expression.

The festival's official opening is set for August 24 at the Square Between the Churches, marking the start of this year's events.

As part of the programme on the very first evening, audiences will get to see the premiere of the play "Ćirilo and Metodije WHO ARE YOU", written by Jordan Plevneš and directed by Goran Bjelanović, with a repeat performance also on the programme the following day. The theatre segment of this year's festival is especially strong, with works such as "Jelena Anžujska" (August 30) also on the programme, along with the major theatrical premiere and repeat performance of "Nečista krv" (Impure Blood) (September 2 and 3).

As a major theatrical premiere and repeat performance, the programme also includes stagings of "Nečista krv" (Impure Blood) (September 2 and 3). This production is brought to life by an outstanding creative team: choreography by Miloš Isailović, music by Ana Krstajić, set design by Andreja Rondović, costumes by Velimirka Damjanović, dramaturgy by Igor Koruga, and lighting design by Dragan Đurković. The cast includes: Tamara Pjević, Ivana Savić-Jaćić, Maša Janjušević, Jovana Grujić, Milica Jević-Drndarević, Sanja Ninković, and Lara Iliev.

Another important part of the theatre programme is the play "Vladalac" (The Ruler), written by Jelena Jovanović and directed by Marko Misirača. Set and costume design is by Milica Đurov, the composer is Branislav Pipović, and the lighting design is by Milivoje Buturović. The cast includes: Bojana Ordinačev, Tanja Živković, Milovan Filipović, and Branislav Jerković.

Lovers of music and the performing arts will enjoy the premiere performances of the opera "Il Segreto di Susanna" (Susanna's Secret) on August 26 and 27, also part of the rich programme. As a special highlight and the pinnacle of this year's musical curation, the programme features a performance by the world-renowned Orthodox chanter Nikodimos Kabarnos (August 28), as well as a special concert by Biljana Krstić, further enriching the festival's soundscape.

Literary and spiritual content, a recognisable part of the programme, will take place in the authentic spaces of the Old Town. At the Church of Santa Maria in Punta, the programme includes a morning session and a discussion on theatre titled "Is a Dramatic Text Necessary for Modern Theatre." The programme also includes the presentation of Metropolitan Joanikije's book "The Spirit Breathes Where It Wills" (August 31), as well as a literary programme and conversation with author Dragan Hamović titled "Native Spaces" in front of the Citadel (September 4). Within this segment, a particularly important part of the programme is the presentation of Igor Marojević's new book "Mother, Let Me Go", which is already drawing considerable public attention.

At the Square Between the Churches, as part of the programme on September 5, another major premiere will be staged: the play "Journey Around the World". The text and direction are by Jelena Kajgo, video projections by Sanjin Ćorović, choreography by Vladimir Logunov, Barbara Vlajković and Đurđina Ivanković, with songs composed by Andrej Martinović. The cast includes Jovan Petrović and Isidora Lalović, while the dance ensemble comprises: Darija Bojčin, Barbara Vlajković, Maša Janjušević, Teodora Paunović, Lara Iliev, Jana Gut, Tara Ćirica, Tea Gmitrović, Iva Kostić, Lara Vuković, Mila Jović, and Milica Radovanović.

The visual arts segment and Milivoje Babović's exhibition at the Church of Santa Maria in Punta (August 26) is an essential part of the programme, while the very end of the festival at the Square Between the Churches, as the crowning event of this year's gathering, is reserved for an exclusive conversation with Dušan Kovačević, one of our greatest playwrights.

This year too, the "Cirilicom" festival successfully balances tradition and modernism, confirming its status as one of the most important cultural events in the region — one that celebrates literacy, spirituality and art with dignity.