The traditional event “Podgoričko kulturno ljeto” (Podgorica Cultural Summer) will take place from June 2nd to September 22nd. Through a carefully curated program, the audience will be able to follow numerous events across various artistic fields over the coming months, from literature and music to film, theater, visual arts, and opera.

The 27th “Podgorica Cultural Summer” will open on Tuesday, June 2nd, at 9:00 PM on the plateau in front of the “Banja” facility with a concert by the Belgrade-based band “Stereo Deficit – Tribute to Arctic Monkeys”. Through years of active work, the band has built a reputation as one of the most faithful and energetic Arctic Monkeys tribute acts in the region, performing in numerous clubs and festivals across Serbia and neighboring countries. The rich music program will continue on Friday, June 5th, when the Hungarian band “Piknik Park – Tribute to Linkin Park” performs at Independence Square at 9:00 PM. Founded with the idea of faithfully conveying the recognizable sound and energy of the legendary American group Linkin Park, the band has been recognized from the very beginning for its authentic expression and dedicated approach to performing their greatest hits.

Fans of classical and contemporary instrumental music can look forward to a special event on Friday, June 12th, when the talented Belgian pianist, composer, singer-songwriter, and photographer James Malikey performs on the plateau in front of the Petrović Castle at 9:00 PM. His work is characterized by original piano compositions that combine tranquility and strong emotionality, while his artistic opus also includes orchestral and ambient music.

Ahead of World Music Day, a film music concert will take place on Saturday, June 20th, at 9:00 PM on the plateau in front of the Music Center of Montenegro. A day later, on Sunday, June 21st (World Music Day), the popular Montenegrin rappers Who See & Random will perform in the Great Hall of KIC „Budo Tomović“ at 8:00 PM.

The finale of the June program will be marked by the premiere edition of a new program segment of the Podgorica Cultural Summer titled “Summer in the Hills” (Ljeto u brdima). On Sunday, June 28th, in the unique natural setting of Bukumirsko Lake, the audience will have the opportunity to enjoy a concert by the renowned Montenegrin guitar duo Srđan Bulatović and Darko Nikčević, as well as the Zagreb-based tribute band Vaya con Dios.

The traditionally successful cooperation with the “Andre Navarra” Art School of Primary and Secondary Music Education for Talents will continue this year through the realization of three concerts scheduled for June 7th, 15th, and 16th.

The June program will also feature traditional festivals: From June 3rd to 5th, the Regional Literary Festival “LiTeritorija” will take place, gathering prominent authors and lovers of the written word from the country and the region. On June 6th, the first edition of the High School Band Festival “Prvi rif” will follow, organized by the public institution “Dječji savez”, providing young, unestablished musicians the chance to present their talent and creativity to the audience. Documentary film enthusiasts can expect the International Feature Documentary Film Festival “Underhill” from June 9th to 17th, featuring a carefully selected selection of domestic and European productions. Continuing the program, on June 19th and 20th, the electronic music “Festival of Equals” will be organized by Higher Sense, known for promoting contemporary music trends and the values of inclusivity through art.

An indispensable part of the Podgorica Cultural Summer program is the “Made In New York Jazz Festival”, which will be held from June 26th to 28th. This renowned event has been giving audiences the chance to enjoy performances by prominent jazz artists for years, affirming top artistic standards and enriching Podgorica’s cultural offer.

A special place in the June program is reserved for the event “Day of the Best” (Dan najboljih), dedicated to promoting the success and exceptional achievements of primary and secondary school students from Podgorica. The event will take place on June 9th and 10th at Independence Square.

During June, four content-wise and thematically diverse exhibitions will be organized: on Thursday, June 4th, the exhibition “55 Years of the ‘Risto Stijović’ Gallery / Architecture – Projects and Realizations” will open. A day later, an exhibition by academic painter Đorđe Rašović will open in Njegoš Park. On Monday, June 22nd, the works of architect Nađa Stamatović will be presented. The “BazarArt” event, which gathers a large number of renowned Montenegrin visual artists year after year, will take place on June 9th, providing a unique opportunity for artists and the audience to meet in an open and direct environment.

Within the theater segment of the Podgorica Cultural Summer, the audience will have the opportunity to watch two plays produced by the City Theater (Gradsko pozorište), as well as one choreo-fairy tale performed by the “Allegro” ballet troupe. The play “Bollywood” will be performed on June 2nd, while the performance of the play “Class Schedule” (Raspored časova) is planned for June 4th. The choreo-fairy tale “Alice in Wonderland” will be presented on June 11th at KIC “Budo Tomović”.

Cooperation between the Secretariat for Culture and the French Institute has resulted in the organization of two screenings of famous operas by Giacomo Puccini in the ambiance of King’s Park (Kraljev park). The audience will have the chance to watch the opera “Madame Butterfly” on June 24th, while the screening of the opera “La Bohème” (Boemi) is planned for June 25th.

The event program will be published on a monthly basis, and all current information and event announcements will be available on the Capital City’s website, as well as on the social media profiles of the Secretariat for Culture.

The traditional event “Podgorica Cultural Summer”, as in previous years, is organized by the Secretariat for Culture of the Capital City, in cooperation with city cultural institutions, as well as numerous domestic and international partners.

Design: Aleksandar Ostojić