Slovenia in Focus: Ten Highlights Defining 2026

New Accommodations and Renovations

Among the most anticipated openings is NaturHotel Snovik 4* Superior (June 2026), Slovenia’s first Kneipp hotel built entirely from wood, designed around the five pillars of the Kneipp philosophy and featuring an “adults only” wellness centre. Family Hotel at Terme Olimia (May 2026) brings a new level of creativity and warmth to family holidays with themed rooms and indoor play areas, while Hotel Narcisa at Terme Banovci (April 2026) introduces a fresh 4-star experience for thermal and wellness guests in Pomurje.

In Bled, the legendary Grand Hotel Toplice is undergoing a complete renovation, carefully preserving its timeless elegance while introducing modern sustainable features. In Krško, the renovated Kunst Hotel will be renamed into Kunst Nature Hotel (June 2026) and offer a boutique stay inspired by nature.

Additional highlights include Vila Helena in the Šalek Valley – a new accommodation designed for inclusive and family tourism, and Boutique Penzion Paradiso Superior in Brežice – an energy-efficient wooden structure providing intimate luxury for discerning guests.

Sava Hotels & Resorts is also investing in major renovations across several destinations, including Grand Hotel Bernardin, Grand Hotel Primus, Hotel Radin and Hotel Toplice

High in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the new Sabina Chalet on Velika planina (May 2026) will add a touch of refined mountain luxury – a technologically advanced yet traditional herder-style cabin built to the highest ecological standards, offering panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.

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! 

Skip carousel

The Škofja Loka Passion Play

A penitential spectacle that takes you back to the Baroque era every six years.

The Škofja Loka Passion Play

More

Škofja Loka

A historic town of tradition and creativity in the vicinity of Ljubljana and an excellent starting point for exploring the Julian Alps.

Škofja Loka

More

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), Ulay/Marina Abramović – Art Vital at Cukrarna (until May 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.

Muzej Lah – a new home for art in Bled

Opening in summer 2026, Muzej Lah will be a new museum of contemporary art located beneath Bled Castle, in a striking architectural landmark perfectly integrated into the Alpine landscape.

Designed by the internationally acclaimed David Chipperfield Architects, the building takes inspiration from Bled’s natural beauty, following the contours of the terrain and honouring the region’s cultural and architectural heritage.

The museum will house the Lah Fundacija art collection, created over more than three decades by Slovenian philanthropists Igor and Mojca Lah. The collection includes over 800 works by more than 100 Slovenian and international artists.

More than just an exhibition space, the museum will serve as a cultural hub, featuring a library, research area, restaurant, shop and a sculpture garden showcasing selected works from the collection.

With its unique design and vision, Muzej Lah is set to become a new cultural landmark for Bled and Slovenia, enriching the country’s art and architecture scene while fostering creativity, dialogue, and community engagement.

Also worth visiting

Pilon Gallery in Ajdovščina, reopenening in November 2025 – a modernised museum combining art, technology and heritage through new digital experiences, interactive storytelling and VR immersion.

Ljubljana Railway Station – a new passenger hub for the future

Scheduled to open in July 2026, the new Ljubljana Railway Station marks a major milestone in Slovenia’s infrastructure development and sustainable mobility. Designed as a modern, multimodal transport hub, it will significantly enhance both daily commuting and travel experiences for visitors arriving in the capital.

The project features a 110-metre overpass spanning the railway tracks, connecting the existing train station with the new bus terminal and shopping centre. This elevated corridor will form a central urban link, allowing smooth movement between transport modes and creating a welcoming gateway to the city.

Alongside the architectural upgrade, the project includes the complete renewal of track systems, platforms with barrier-free access, signalling, telecommunications and electric traction facilities.

By combining efficiency, accessibility and sustainability, the new Ljubljana Railway Station will stand as a key symbol of Slovenia’s commitment to greener mobility and a better-connected future.

Read more

New Slovenia Unique Experiences

Soon, new Slovenia Unique Experiences will join the collection and expand the portfolio with fresh stories that reflect Slovenia’s evolving identity as a green, boutique and locally inspired destination. This prestigious label marks the country’s most distinctive, boutique and sustainable experiences. Awarded by the Slovenian Tourist Board, it is based on strict criteria of excellence, sustainability and emotional impact. It highlights products that go beyond conventional tourism – those that invite guests to participate, engage and feel.

20th International Wild Flower Festival, Bohinj (22 May – 7 June 2026)

In the heart of Triglav National Park, the 20th International Wild Flower Festival will once again celebrate the extraordinary floral richness of Bohinj – a valley renowned as one of Europe’s true botanical treasures.

Taking place from 22 May to 7 June 2026, the festival offers a vibrant bouquet of guided botanical walks, exhibitions, workshops, and culinary experiences inspired by wild plants and Alpine flowers. The events unfold across 24 villages that make up the Bohinj area, covering more than 300 square kilometres of pristine nature.

Bohinj

An oasis of peace and pristine nature in the Julian Alps and in the Triglav National Park.

Bohinj

More

The Julian Alps

Julian Alps - a paradise for active adventures and relaxation in nature.

The Julian Alps

More

European Road Cycling Championships, Ljubljana (3–7 October 2026)

Slovenia has been chosen to host the 2026 European Road Cycling Championships (UEC Road European Championships) – the first time the country will stage a major international road cycling championship. 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, a period defined by unprecedented international success and deep national pride. The Ljubljana championship 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.

Take a bike trip

Do you love road cycling or do you prefer mountain paths? Do you cycle with your family or do you want to boost your heartbeat with a more adrenaline-filled ride? Biking trails in Slovenia can satisfy any taste.

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.