The Open University of Sarajevo is a non-profit experimental school for interactive education, social activism and public debate. Themes that the school has delt with include Neo-Marxism, Yugoslavism, psychoanalysis, Third wave feminism, Crisis theory, Post-Colonialism, Historical revisionism, Post-fascism, social constructionism, revolutionary democracy, linguistic nationalism and philosophy of existence. The school has a festival format and is organized once a year in December. It nurtures the traditions of the Praxis School - a Yugoslav Marxist humanist philosophical movement, whose members were influenced by Western Marxism and organized the Korčula Summer School. The Open University of Sarajevo was an outspoken advocate of the 2014 Bosnia and Herzegovina social riots and called for the continuation of direct democracy that was established by plenums during and subsequently after the riots. The school runs a Free-to-view platform that streams all of its content online, dubbed in various languages, and archives it on its website and Youtube channel. The organizers negate the term school, preferring to use the term platform.
The MESS International Theatre Festival (MESS) is a theatre festival that takes place annually in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the oldest living theatre festival in the Balkans, programming international experimental performances and emerging artists. MESS was the largest theatre festival in the Former Yugoslavia and was named one of Living Theatre's international showcases in 1974. It surived the Siege of Sarajevo, during which it hosted directors such as Susan Sontag and Peter Schumann. It organized the first edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival in 1993 and still acts as a collective board member today. Today it is the largest theatre festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the largest in South-Eastern Europe. In 2009 it expanded its activities to the city of Zenica, which now hosts parts of the regional program.
Sarajevo Beer Festival is an annual beer festival held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Established in 2012, the festival is held annually over 3 days as a showcase event for various beer producers. In addition to domestic and foreign brews, the festival features live music performances each evening. It has become the largest beer festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina and third largest in the former Yugoslavia, behind the Belgrade Beer Fest and the Macedonia Beer Festival in Prilep. The festival venue is the 17 acre open-air former speed skating ring and encompassing park that makes up part of the Zetra Olympic Center.
FEDU is an annual children's art festival held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is held in May, lasts for six days and showcases extensive performing arts, literary and music programs from around the world. Furthermore, it organizes numerous workshops for children between the ages of 6 and 14. The festival was established in 2015 by a team headed by children's writer Fahrudin Kučuk in cooperation with the government of the Sarajevo Canton. The main festival venue is the Sarajevo National Theatre. The festival has hosted productions from over 20 countries. It is the only international children's art festival in the Balkans.
The VIVA Film Festival is an annual documentary film festival that is based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The festival showcases international films with ecological, religious and touristic themes, as well as youth-made films. It was established by an international team of film professionals, environmentalists, diplomats, religious leaders and scholars that includes former US Vice President Al Gore, Bosnian archeologist Semir Osmanagić, Austrian diplomat currently serving as the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Valentin Inzko and others, with the purpose of promoting inter-religious dialogue, the preservation of the environment and ecotourism.
The Pravo Ljudski Film Festival is an annual human rights documentary film festival held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The name translates to Totally Human. It was established in 2006 with the goal of promoting socially engaged non-fictional audiovisual projects, dedicated to the development of critical spectatorship through socially engaged documentaries and independent art cinema. It is held for two weeks in November. The festival has developed an independent non-profit civic association under the same name. It is the largest festival of its kind in Southeastern Europe.
Sonemus Fest is an international multi-day contemporary classical music festival which annually takes place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was established in 2001 by The Society Of New Music Sarajevo (SONEMUS) in cooperation with the Sarajevo Music Academy and the Pro Helvetia Foundation. Its focus is on the promotion of classical composers from the countries of Southeast Europe who belong to the modernist aesthetic orientation. The festival has hosted numerous international composers such as Beat Furrer, Pierre Boulez, György Ligeti, Tristan Murail, Michael Jarrell, Toshio Hosokawa, Brian Ferneyhough and others.
The Sarajevo Ramadan Festival is an annual religious and cultural festival held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina that celebrates the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The festival was established in 2014 by the Sarajevo Navigator Foundation and the Zone of Improved Business (ZUP) Baščaršija in cooperation with the European Union's PHOENIX – Culture for the Future project. It is endorsed by the Oriental Institute in Sarajevo. The aim of the festival is the creation of inter-religious dialogue and the promotion of peace, reconciliation and solidarity among faith groups through the presentation of Islamic art and culture.
Beton Fest is an international 3D street art festival held annually in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is held in July of every year and lasts for five days, bringing in international street artists from all over the world. It was established in 2012 by the arts association Progres in cooperation with the Academy of Fine Arts, Sarajevo. Apart from showcasing 3D street art, it also organizes the Beton Music Stage which holds concerts and open-air parties for the duration of the festival. It is the only 3D street art festival in Southeastern Europe and has hosted many renowned street artists such as Vera Bugatti, Giovanna la Pietra, Tony Cuboliquido, Manuel Bastante and others.
The Sarajevo International Guitar Festival is an international multi-day classical guitar music festival which annually takes place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was established in 2011 and is the only festival of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 2017 it is a full-member of EuroStrings. The festival has hosted numerous international names such as Margarita Escarpa, Rovshan Mamedkuliev, Sérgio Assad, Juanjo Domínguez, Le Trio Joubran, Roland Dyens, Dušan Bogdanović, Yorgos Foudoulis, Petar Čulić, Hubert Käppel, Pablo Márquez and others.
OPEN Fest Sarajevo is the largest international libertarian festival in Europe. It is held annually in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is dedicated to the promotion of ideas of liberty and human rights. The Festival promotes economic and political freedoms, together with the fundamental rights of the individual. The festival was established by the Multi Group in cooperation with the Atlas Network, Students for Liberty and the Rising Tide Foundation. The first edition of the festival hosted over 10,000 guests, 50 NGO's and 40 international speakers.
The Sarajevo Fashion Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It exclusively showcases fashion films, advertising films, music videos and short documentaries on the fashion industry. It was established in 2015 by the Consortio Civium Invictum Foundation in cooperation with the London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and the Madrid Fashion Film Festival.
Spiritus Progenitum is an international humanitarian arts and literary festival held annually in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It exclusively showcases art and literature from the Former Yugoslavia.
The PitchWise Festival is an annual four-day feminist music, art and activism festival held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was established in 2005 by the CURE Foundation and has steadily grown into an international attraction that now includes major touring acts, art collectives, outdoor industry partners, film screenings, exhibitions, political theatre productions, prominent speakers, and more. The 2017 edition hosted over 70 female artists, collectives, musicians and activists from 36 different countries.
The Ilidža International Children's Folklore Festival is an annual cultural festival held in Ilidža, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The festival was established in 2009 by KUD Gajret with the purpose of promoting friendship and cultural exchange between children from the ages of 10 to 14. It is held in June of every year and lasts for three days, showcasing over 1000 performers per edition. The festival has hosted folklore groups from Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Montenegro, Moldova, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Kosovo, Lithuania, Israel, Belarus and China.
Coffee Fest Sarajevo is an international coffee festival that is held annually in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The festival was established in 2014 by the Profesional Association in cooperation with the Bosnian Ministry of Trade. Festival partners include Robert Bosch GmbH and Tesla, Inc. It is held in numerous venues across the city, which include the Skenderija Center and MyFace.
The InterDance Fest is the largest contemporary dance festival in Southeastern Europe. It is held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The festival was established in 2010 by the Aster Dance Club in cooperation with the Berlin Dance Institute, the World DanceSport Federation and the MTV Dance Europe television network. It is open to contestants from the ages of 6 to 50, but also showcases non-competitive performers above the age of 50. It consists of competitive and non-competitive programmes that include Hip Hop, Jazz Dance, Street dance, Disco, Breakdancing, West Coast Swing, Electric Boogie, Salsa, Argentine tango, Mambo, Cha-cha-cha, Majorette performances, Cheerleading, Zumba, Belly Dance and others. The festival also hosts the European Salsa Championships. The 2017 edition hosted over 4,000 performers representing 84 international dance clubs from 46 different countries.
The SOS Design Festival is an annual graphics and product design festival held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was established by the Academy of Fine Arts in cooperation with the National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Council of Design. It is primarily an educational platform, while also being as an exhibitory event that was originally conceived by the students of the Department of Graphic and Product design of the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo.
The Smile of Sarajevo Theatre Festival is an international comedy theatre festival that is annually held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was established in 2017 by a team of theatre professionals headed by Nedžad Podžić "Poćko". The festival is organized in May and lasts for 9 days. It showcases comedy theatre performances from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Former Yugoslavia.
The Sarajevo StreeAt Food Festival is an annual international street food festival held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is held in July and August of every year and lasts for three weeks. The festival was established in 2018 by Pro Optimus Tours and is the only one of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
