Galija closes 2026 in Skopje. On Monday, December 28, from 8 p.m., the rock band from Niš plays the Macedonian Philharmonic, in a concert the organisers bill as exclusive, under the slogan "50 Years With You".

The story begins in Niš in 1977, when singer Nenad Milosavljević joined forces with the members of the group "Dva lustera". The real breakthrough came with the trilogy "Daleko je sunce" (1988), "Korak do slobode" (1989) and "Istorija, ti i ja" (1991), three albums that made Galija one of the most popular Serbian bands at the start of the nineties. Among their biggest hits are the ballad "Da li si spavala", "Mi znamo sudbu", "Na tvojim usnama", "Kopaonik" and "Skadarska".

The band has already celebrated the jubilee at home. On May 30, at a packed Summer Stage in Niš, Galija played for more than two hours, in their first show in their hometown in ten years. Today's line-up is led by Nenad Milosavljević, with Predrag Milosavljević on vocals, Boban Pavlović on drums, Dragutin Jakovljević on guitar and Slaviša Pavlović on bass.

The choice of hall is what makes this concert special. A rock band with half a century behind it, in a hall built for a symphony orchestra, isn't a combination Skopje sees every month. Whether that means different arrangements, the organiser isn't saying for now.

Tickets are sold via kupikarta.com, priced at 1,050 denars. Given the Philharmonic's capacity, those who wait until the last week of December may end up outside the door.