Spotlight on: Full Moon Festival, Zadar
If you’re holidaying in Zadar this summer, one of the calendar highlights of this charming North Dalmatian town is the Full Moon Festival. (Noć punog miseca in Croatian, and it is also known as the Night of the Full Moon.) This year, the festival will take place daily from 6th to 8th August 2026 at its usual home, the seaside promenade in Zadar, the Riva.
About the Full Moon Festival
Each August, this festival is timed to coincide with a full moon (hence the name of the event!) and held so attendees can experience the beauty of this delight in the night sky. The promenade sees streetlights and other lights turned off, with light only provided by candles and torches – and the full moon too, of course.
The festival also serves as an expression of the customs and culture of the coastal town of Zadar and this part of North Dalmatia. Much of the food that can be bought is typical fishermen’s style or simple (but oh so tasty) food items – sardines, mussels, Dalmatian cheeses, fig cake and similar.
Likewise, the stalls selling their wares offer many handmade or locally produced products – jams and honeys, olive oil, jewellery, Dalmatian liqueur and the like. It’s a good opportunity to pick up some local souvenirs.
Getting There
As mentioned, the Full Moon Festival takes place right on the main seaside promenade in the Old Town of Zadar. The general festival area is adjacent to the Greeting to the Sun and Sea Organ installations, and the spots where people gather to watch those famous Zadar sunsets. The festival is certainly a good time to experience all of these Zadar classics!
If you need help with reaching the town of Zadar, take a look at Visit Croatia’s guides to Getting to North Dalmatia and Getting to Zadar.
Experiencing the Full Moon Festival
Really – you just need to be there! Early August is a fabulous and joyful time of year to be in lovely Zadar, so plan your travels so you can be in this town at that time. And then merely head down to the Riva on any of the evenings to join in with the merriment!
Although the festival starts from the early evening onwards, it is when the moon rises and shows its full self that’s the main point of the festival. But, on the other hand, it’s hard not to be on the Riva when an epic Zadar sunset is taking place! Why not come down to the Riva for early evening, delight in the sunset and sample the food offerings from the stalls. Then, with a local beverage, watch and wait for the full moon to work its magic in the night sky so you can get the full effect of this low-tech event.
You can get a feel for the festival with our IG reel:
Opening Hours and Price
The festival will take place every evening from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th August. It is free to attend! You can stroll through the festival area, taking in the general good vibes and merriment, not least the live music!
Of course, there is plenty to buy at the festival, from food and drinks to trinkets from the many market stalls.
More info
You can find out more about this year’s Full Moon Festival on the Zadar Tourist Board website or the website of the Zadar Region Tourist Board.
