Zrće beach near Novalja, one of Europe's best-known summer party destinations, closes out summer with the Balkan Wave: Zrće Closing festival from August 26 to 30. This is the festival's second 2026 edition, conceived as a final celebration of the season, with a new home base - Kalypso, the oldest club on Zrće, fully renovated this year.

In its sixth year Balkan Wave has grown into one of the recognisable brands of the regional party scene. The festival focuses on the Balkan sound and on crowds from across the region, combining daytime beach parties with major night events. The edition's structure includes three main events and three afterbeach parties, a pre-party, two boat parties and a string of daytime activities right on Zrće beach.

Novalja, the second-largest town on the island of Pag, multiplies its population several times over during festival season and becomes one of the liveliest summer spots on the Adriatic. Kalypso, with its renovated capacity, is set up as the ideal space for epic main nights, while the new Nomad arena takes over the biggest afterbeach parties.

Tickets sell through official channels, with three-day passes from around 59 euros and four-day passes from around 69 euros. For young crowds from Macedonia and the region wanting to close out summer with a few days of partying by the sea, Balkan Wave on Zrće is one of the most popular August destinations.