Slovenia in Focus: Highlights Defining 2026

New Accommodations and Renovations

NEW:

• NaturHotel Snovik 4* Superior, Kamnik (June 2026)
• Family Hotel at Terme Olimia, Podčetrtek (May 2026) 
• Hotel Narcisa at Terme Banovci, Banovci (April 2026) 
• Sabina Chalet, Velika planina (May 2026)

RENOVATED AND UPDATED:

• Several hotels within the Sava Hotels & Resorts (Grand Hotel Toplice, Grand Hotel Bernardin, Grand Hotel Primus, Hotel Radin)
• Kunst Nature Hotel, Krško (June 2026)
• Boutique Penzion Paradiso Superior (October 2025)

Škofja Loka Passion Play (21 March – 19 April 2026)

Every six years, the medieval town of Škofja Loka transforms into a grand open-air stage for one of Europe’s most extraordinary cultural events – the Škofja Loka Passion Play.

Recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, this centuries-old performance unites more than 1,000 local volunteers who bring biblical stories to life in the town’s cobbled streets and squares. The 2026 edition marks the first staging since its UNESCO inscription, promising a spectacular fusion of tradition, devotion, and community spirit. Tickets are already available! 

Discover other exciting events and festivals

Next to the Škofja Loka Passion Play – a truly major cultural event – many other exciting and internationally recognized festivals take place across Slovenia each year, including LUV, Kurentovanje Ptuj (7–17 February 2026), Lent Festival Maribor (26 June – 4 July 2026), Arsana Festival Ptuj (15–29 July 2026), Idrija Lace Festival (16–18 June 2026), Days of National Costumes and more.

The Green Story of Slovenia

With almost two thirds of its land covered in forests, Slovenia truly lives in harmony with nature — even its cities pulse with green life. To protect this paradise for generations to come, an increasing number of destinations are committing to sustainability. It is therefore no surprise that Slovenia is the first country in the world to be declared a Green Destination in its entirety. Through the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism, sustainable policies are put into practice. The SLOVENIA GREEN label is awarded within this national programme, and its community is steadily growing each month, now counting more than 270 members.

Reflecting Slovenia’s broader vision of green progress, the new Ljubljana Railway Station (July 2026) will become a flagship of green mobility and modern travel in the heart of the capital.

The 2026 UEC Road European Championships, Ljubljana

Slovenia will host the 2026 UEC Road European Championships. The event, to be held in Ljubljana from 3 to 7 October 2026, marks a fitting milestone for a nation that has become a global cycling powerhouse, propelled by generational talents such as Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič, also ambassadors of Slovenian tourism.

For Slovenia, this event comes during a golden era of cycling, which will not only celebrate Slovenia’s world-class athletes but also invite visitors to experience the country’s breathtaking cycling routes, vibrant culture, and green ethos — affirming Slovenia’s title as a nation on two wheels.

Anniversaries and Cultural Milestones in 2026

Begin your journey in the Karst region, where the lyrical landscapes of stone and wind inspired one of Europe’s great avant-garde poets, Srečko Kosovel. Marking the 100th anniversary of his death, the Year of Srečko Kosovel will fill Sežana, Tomaj and nearby Karst villages with poetry readings, exhibitions, and artistic encounters that bring his visionary words to life in the very setting that inspired them.

Continue to Vrhnika and Ljubljana, following in the footsteps of Ivan Cankar, Slovenia’s greatest modernist writer and social thinker, whose 150th birth anniversary will be celebrated through a number of events.

In Ljubljana, the story continues with the 100th anniversary of the death of Zofka Kveder, a pioneering writer and one of the first voices for women’s rights in Central Europe. Her life  will be remembered through exhibitions, readings and creative projects led by the City of Women association, highlighting her lasting contribution to equality and literature.