The 5 Best Festivals In Kosovo

When the summer comes, most Kosovars leave their homes to head to the beaches of Albania and Montenegro. However, during the warmer months of the year, there are several reasons to stay in Kosovo. From July to September, there are several interesting festivals taking place in the youngest country of Europe. Read our list of the five best festivals in Kosovo.

PriFest, Pristina

PriFest, or Prishtina International Film Festival, is a film festival that has been held every July since 2009 – the year after the country’s declaration of independence from Serbia – in the capital city of Kosovo. The festival screens international and local cinema productions and draws particular attention to the Kosovar film industry. PriFest features four competition categories, including mid-length films, European feature films, documentaries and Balkan movies. Outside of the competitions, there are special screenings, including a program dedicated to the LGBT community, a focus on Turkish cinema and many Kosovar premieres of Albanian movies.

PriFest screens international and local cinema productions in the capital city of Kosovo

Kosovo Architecture Festival

Sunny Hill Festival, Pristina

In the heart of Gemia Park, also known as the lung of Pristina, the Sunny Hill Festival is held every August. This is a musical event organized by the Sunny Hill Foundation, a charity organization set up in Pristina, under the patronage of the great Kosovar-Albanian artist Dua Lipa, who works to reduce poverty and injustice in the country. Famous singers perform at the festival, as well as local and international artists.

Sunny Hill Festival takes place in August in Germia National Park, Pristina

DokuFest, Prizren

The largest film festival in Kosovo, and the most famous, is DokuFest, a cinematographic event dedicated to documentaries and short films. The festival is held in the historical town of Prizren, which is one of the prettiest towns in the Balkan Peninsula. DokuFest features workshops, exhibitions, discussions, masterclasses and live music.

The old fortress of Prizren is home to the DokuFest, Kosovo’s biggest festival.

Hardh Fest

At the end of summer, when the grapes are ready for harvesting, there are fewer activities more enjoyable than heading to Rahovec, a small village near Prizren, and taking part in Hardh Fest. The festival aims to promote the regional products of Rahovec, such as wine and raki. This is a great opportunity to taste excellent local products and have fun in one of the least visited Balkan regions.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.