Croatia, with its beautiful Adriatic coast, historic towns and long summer evenings, is a prime destination for unforgettable events during August and September. And while the beaches may be one of the main reasons to visit, some of the best memories are often made once the sun starts to set and the festivals begin.
From open-air cinema in the atmospheric streets of the island of Rab to one of Croatia’s favourite swimming events and a week dedicated to tuna, gastronomy and entertainment in Poreč, events in Croatia in August and early September offer plenty of reasons to extend your summer holiday just a little longer.
Here are three events happening in the coming months that you will not want to miss.
Rab Film Festival: Cinema Under the Stars on Rab
22–26 August 2026 | Island of Rab
There is something particularly magical about watching a film outdoors on a warm August evening. Add the stone streets, historic squares and distinctive skyline of Rab Old Town, and you have a film festival setting that feels almost cinematic in itself.
The Rab Film Festival – RAFF returns from 22 to 26 August, bringing together investigative documentary and feature films that explore contemporary society and encourage audiences to look at the world from different perspectives. The programme extends beyond traditional screenings, with talks, educational events for younger audiences and live music all forming part of the festival atmosphere.
One of the best parts of RAFF is the setting. Film screenings and festival events take over locations around Rab’s historic centre, allowing you to spend the afternoon exploring the Old Town or relaxing on the Rab beaches and swimming in the Adriatic before swapping your beach towel for an evening at the cinema.
And the evening does not necessarily finish with the closing credits. RAFF Beat adds music to the programme, while talks and festival gatherings bring filmmakers, journalists, guests and audiences together. In 2026, the programme also includes RAFF Generation, RAFF Junior, RAFF Residency and Kino Murnau.
Why visit: Come for the films, stay for those balmy Rab evenings when the Old Town becomes one big open-air cultural stage.
Discover the Rab Film Festival
Poreč Dolphin: Take Your Summer Holiday Into the Adriatic
29–30 August 2026 | Poreč
If your ideal summer involves spending as much time as possible in the sea, the Poreč Dolphin may be the event for you.
Held at Pical Beach on 29 and 30 August, this much-loved water sports festival celebrates its 25th edition in 2026. At its heart is a recreational swimming marathon where participants can choose between 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000-metre routes, while a shorter 500-metre distance opens the experience to younger and less experienced swimmers.
And this is definitely not an event reserved only for serious competitive swimmers. Participants can swim in whichever style suits them and can even use equipment such as fins, masks, swimming boards and inflatable mattresses, keeping the atmosphere firmly focused on enjoyment as well as achievement.
The 2026 programme goes beyond the swimming marathon too, with a SUP regatta, an U14 water polo tournament, an aquathlon, demonstrations and free workshops turning the weekend into a celebration of life on and around the water.
For spectators, there is something wonderfully summery about watching hundreds of swimmers make their way through the blue Adriatic with Poreč in the background. For participants, meanwhile, crossing the finish line might just become one of those holiday moments you talk about long after returning home.
Why visit: Because sometimes the best way to experience the Adriatic is not from the beach, but right in the middle of it.
Find out more about Poreč Dolphin
Tunalicious Festival: Where Poreč Celebrates Tuna in Every Form
7–13 September 2026 | Poreč
September arrives in Poreč with warm days, relaxed evenings and one very good reason to arrive hungry.
From 7 to 13 September, Tunalicious Festival transforms the streets and riva of Poreč into a meeting point for gastronomy, sport and entertainment. The 2026 programme is built around four main experiences: Tuna Restaurant Week, the Spinnaker Gourmet Stage, Tunalicious Street Food and TunIstra Big Game Fishing.
For food lovers, Tuna Restaurant Week is a chance to discover how local chefs approach one of the Adriatic’s most prized ingredients, with around twenty restaurants in the Poreč area preparing special tuna menus. Tunalicious Street Food takes things in a more casual direction, serving creative dishes along the riva ranging from Asian-inspired flavours to burgers and tuna steaks.
If you prefer fine dining, the Spinnaker Gourmet Stage puts gastronomy centre stage with a special dinner created in collaboration with a renowned chef.
Then there is the action happening offshore. During TunIstra Big Game Fishing, crews from several countries head out from Poreč in search of big fish, creating an impressive spectacle. Daily catch weigh-ins are another festival highlight, giving visitors the rare chance to see impressive specimens weighing more than 150 kg up close.
Add live music, a buzzing riva and September evenings that still feel wonderfully like summer, and you have one of the most tempting reasons to visit Istria after the peak holiday season.
Why visit: Come hungry. Between restaurant menus, street food, big-game fishing and evening entertainment, Tunalicious turns an ordinary September week into one big celebration by the sea.
Make the Most of Croatia’s Late Summer
August and September are some of the loveliest months to experience the Croatian coast. The Adriatic is still warm, the days remain long, and destinations such as Rab and Poreč offer much more than beautiful beaches.
You can watch thought-provoking films under the stars one week, challenge yourself to a swim through the Adriatic the next, and finish summer tasting tuna dishes on the Poreč waterfront.
So if you are planning a late-summer getaway, keep these dates in your calendar.
