VaClaF 2026
Programme Presentation & Gala Concert
ORIGINS
Dear friends of the Vareš Classic Festival,
It is our great pleasure to invite you to the presentation of the 14th edition of the VaClaF – Vareš Classic Festival, which this year takes place under the theme ORIGINS.
The highlight of the evening will be an exclusive concert by two of the most internationally distinguished young Bosnian and Herzegovinian musicians – violinist Andrea Nikolić and guitarist Sanel Redžić – who will present selected works from their new international project and upcoming album, FROM THE SAME SEA.
This special gathering will also introduce this year's festival programme, including artistic residencies, the VaClaF Academy, the concert series in Vareš, performances throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad as part of VaClaF On Tour, as well as the many collaborations, partners and supporters who will help connect Vareš with artists and audiences from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe and beyond over the coming months.
Rooted in its own heritage, the festival continues to create a space for encounters and dialogue, where music becomes a shared language among people of different cultures and a source of new inspiration and ideas.
The evening is organised in collaboration with our long-standing friend of the Festival and host in Mir, Zdravko Radoš, to whom we extend our heartfelt thanks for his generous hospitality and support.
Following the concert, we warmly invite you to join us for a reception with the artists and to discover everything that awaits you during VaClaF 2026.
Admission is free.
We look forward to welcoming you!
TIMELINE | DOGAĐANJA 2026
TIMELINE | DOGAĐANJA 2026
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Dom kulture Mir, Općina Vareš | Municipality of Vareš
Set amidst one of the beautiful yet still largely undiscovered landscapes of the Municipality of Vareš, this year's Festival Opening invites audiences to experience a truly special place. Our Opening Gala will take place at the Cultural Centre in the village of Mir ("Peace"), graciously hosted by our dear friend Zdravko Radoš. The event also offers an opportunity to discover the village, its newly developed infrastructure, and the remarkable natural surroundings that make this part of Vareš so unique.
Smješten u jednom od najljepših, a još uvijek nedovoljno otkrivenih krajolika općine Vareš, ovogodišnji festivalski početak poziva publiku na jedinstven umjetnički i prirodni doživljaj. Svečano otvorenje Festivala održat će se u Domu kulture na Miru, uz domaćinstvo našeg dragog prijatelja Zdravka Radoša. Ova će večer biti i prilika za upoznavanje sela Mir, njegove novoizgrađene infrastrukture te iznimnih prirodnih ljepota koje ovaj kraj čine posebnim.
Festival Announcement | Svečana najava Festivala
Programme Presentation & Opening Gala Concert
Predstavljanje programa i svečani koncert
VaClaF 2026: ORIGINS | KORIJENI
FROM THE SAME SEA | IZ ISTOGA MORA
Andrea Nikolić, violin | violina
Sanel Redžić, guitar | gitaraTime & Place | Vrijeme i mjesto
Tuesday, 28 July 2026 | 8:00 pm
Utorak, 28. srpnja 2026. | 20:00 satiDom kulture Mir
Village of Mir, Municipality of Vareš, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Selo Mir, Općina Vareš, Bosna i Hercegovina -
Centar za kulturu i edukaciju | Centar za mlade
Različite lokacije | Additional venues
Općina Vareš - Grad Vareš, BiHAt VaClaF, we foster musical excellence through human connection, cultural exchange, and visionary thinking. Our VaClaF Academy is more than a masterclass – it’s a space where young musicians grow artistically and personally through mentorship, collaboration, and creative exploration. Set in the inspiring mountain landscape of Vareš Municipality, at the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this year's Academy offers a unique blend of instrumental training, career development, and community experience through different concerts and events.
U sklopu VaClaF-a promoviramo glazbenu izvrsnost gradeći veze među ljudima kroz kulturnu razmjenu i vizionarsko razmišljanje.VaClaF Akademija nije samo majstorska radionica – to je prostor u kojem mladi glazbenici rastu umjetnički i osobno, uz mentorstvo, suradnju i kreativno istraživanje. Smještena u inspirativnom planinskom krajoliku općine Vareš, u srcu Bosne i Hercegovine, ovogodišnja Akademija nudi jedinstveni spoj instrumentalne edukacije, razvoja karijere i zajedništva kroz raznolike koncerte i događaje.
Ponedjeljak | Monday 17.08., Velika dvorana Centra za kulturu i edukaciju | Large Hall of the Cultural Centre Vares, 19.00h
Koncert otvorenja | Opening Concert
VaClaF Rising Stars
Marko Maric, viola (nagrada | award VaClaF Academy & Rising Stars 2024
Duo Amoroso: Senka Slipac, violina | violin & Vehbija Hodžić, harmonika | accordion (nagrada | award 2025)
18.-20.08. Radionice, predavanja i koncerti | Workshops, lectures & concerts - cjelodnevno i prema najavi | all day long and upon announcement
21.08.2026. “Vivat Academia!” - svečani koncert profesora i studenata | Gala Concert of professors and students: Velika dvorana Centra za kulturu i edukaciju | Large Hall of the Cultural Centre Vares, 19.00h
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Vareš, Sarajevo, Zenica, Kraljeva Sutjeska
WienWith CIPRA Quartet—Andrea Nikolić (violin I), Dominika Witowicz (violin II), Weronika Izert (viola), Dorottya Standi (cello), together with Ivana Nikolić (oboe), Markus Deuter (oboe & heckelphone), Evan Hulbert (double bass), and resident composers Gabriele Proy and Meinhard Rüdenauer (plus a special guest to be announced), this year's central festival events will take place throughout September.
Following the festival in Vareš, the artists will embark on a concert tour across Bosnia and Herzegovina before concluding this year's journey with the Festival Finale in Vienna, Austria.
Uz CIPRA Quartet – Andreu Nikolić (violina I), Dominiku Witowicz (violina II), Weroniku Izert (viola) i Dorottyu Standi (violončelo) – te Ivanu Nikolić (oboa), Markusa Deutera (oboa i heckelfon), Evana Hulberta (kontrabas) i rezidentne skladatelje Gabriele Proy i Meinharda Rüdenauera (uz posebnog gosta čije će ime uskoro biti objavljeno), tijekom rujna održat će se središnji festivalski program VaClaF-a 2026.
Nakon festivalskih događanja u Varešu, umjetnici će krenuti na koncertnu turneju diljem Bosne i Hercegovine, a ovogodišnje festivalsko putovanje zaključit će završnim koncertom u Beču.
OBJAVA KOMPLETNOG PROGRAMA | FULL PROGRAMME ANNOUNCEMENT: 28.07.
Stay tuned!
Echoes of Vareš | Odjeci Vareša
05.10.2026.
Bank Austria Salon im Alten Rathaus
Wipplingerstrasse 8, 1010 Wien
19.30h
Vienna, Austria
With the festive concert Echoes of Vareš, in the Heart of Vienna, we are concluding this year’s festival journey. Through a specially selected program, throughout 2026 we are recording a live album featuring works composed for the Vareš Classic Festival in the last 14 years. For all of you who are able to join us—the ticket price can also include a CD. You are warmly welcome!
Svečanim koncertom Odjeci Vareša u srcu Beča završavamo ovogodišnje festivalsko putovanje. Odabranim programom tokom godine snimamo uživo nosač zvuka s djelima napisanim za Vareš Classic Festival tokom proteklih 14 godina. Za sve koji su u mogućnosti pridružiti nam se - u cijenu ulaznice može biti uključen i CD. Dobrodošli!
VaClaF: Vareš Classic Festival
Founded in 2013 and growing ever since VaClaF has developed into an engaging interdisciplinary artistic movement. Located in the beautiful mountainous landscape of Central Bosnia and Herzegovina, this unique festival embodies the essence of the region’s rich cultural legacy. It fosters artistic excellence through the finest art accessible to all, connecting the local community with cultural centers of the world. Embrace the beauty of tradition and innovation harmoniously entwined in the heart of Vareš. Join us in celebrating creativity and diversity at its finest.
Osnovan 2013. godine i od tada u stalnom razvoju, VaClaF je prerastao u živ i interdisciplinarni umjetnički pokret. Smješten u očaravajućem planinskom krajoliku središnje Bosne i Hercegovine, ovaj poseban festival utjelovljuje bogatstvo kulturne baštine našeg kraja. Kroz vrhunske umjetničke programe dostupne svima, VaClaF povezuje lokalnu zajednicu s kulturnim središtima diljem svijeta. Ovdje se ljepota tradicije i inovacije susreću i isprepliću na jedinstven način. Pozivamo vas da nam se pridružite i zajedno s nama proslavite kreativnost i raznolikost u njihovom najljepšem obliku.
Programme “Music Building Bridges” 2025
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Selakovo Zarudje | Bijambare | Vareš
At the beautiful and yet unexplored locations of the Vareš Municipality we are preparing unique exeriences for the Festival Opening! We will have our Opening Gala at Selakovo Zarudje, under the stars of the magical landscape, then we will be exploring the sound of caves in Bijambare, all to bring and spread music all around Vareš! Stay tuned!
Na prekrasnim lokacijama diljem Općine Vareš, na kojima još nismo imali festivalske programe, očekuju vas jedinstveni događaji povodom svečanog otvorenja ovogodišnjeg VaClaF-a. Svečano otvorenje na Selakovom Zarudju pod zvijezdama, zvuk špilje na Bijambarama i glazba diljem Vareša!
20.08., 17.30h, FMKS Sarajevo: Vareš na šetnici kulture
22.08., 20.00h, Selakovo Zaruđe: “U Zvijezdi pod zvijezdama” - Svečano otvorenje VaClaF 2025
23.08., 12-18h, Wigwam, jezero Nula, tunel-špilja Vareš: Cipra kvartet & digitalni dnevnik Vareša
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Centar za kulturu i edukaciju | Centar za mlade
Različite lokacije | Additional venues
Općina Vareš - Grad Vareš, BiHAt VaClaF, we foster musical excellence through human connection, cultural exchange, and visionary thinking. Our VaClaF Academy is more than a masterclass – it’s a space where young musicians grow artistically and personally through mentorship, collaboration, and creative exploration. Set in the inspiring mountain landscape of Vareš Municipality, at the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this year's Academy offers a unique blend of instrumental training, career development, and community experience through different concerts and events.
U sklopu VaClaF-a promoviramo glazbenu izvrsnost gradeći veze među ljudima kroz kulturnu razmjenu i vizionarsko razmišljanje.VaClaF Akademija nije samo majstorska radionica – to je prostor u kojem mladi glazbenici rastu umjetnički i osobno, uz mentorstvo, suradnju i kreativno istraživanje. Smještena u inspirativnom planinskom krajoliku općine Vareš, u srcu Bosne i Hercegovine, ovogodišnja Akademija nudi jedinstveni spoj instrumentalne edukacije, razvoja karijere i zajedništva kroz raznolike koncerte i događaje.
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Vareš
Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla, Zenica, Bijeljina
WienWith CIPRA Quartet, Markus Deuter and Evan Hulbert being this year´s resident artists we will have our traditional central festival events in September. Just to embark on tour throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and finalise this year´s journey in vienna, Austria.
S našim tradicionalnim terminima u rujnu i rezidentnim umjetnicima ovogodišnjeg izdanja (Cipra kvartet, Markus Deuter, Evan Hulbert) zatvorit ćemo festival u Varešu – da bismo potom krenuli na turneju diljem Bosne i Hercegovine, predstavili najbolje od ovogodišnjeg programa i zaključili festival svečanim koncertom u Beču.
22.09., TBA, Open Lecture & Masterclass / Predavanje i masterclass - Markus Deuter, Evan Hulbert & Andrea Nikolić
23.09., 19.00h, Crkva sv. Ivana Krstitelja Kraljeva sutjeska: “Anima Aeterna” - svečani koncert
Solisti ansambla Klangforum Wien i gosti
Markus Deuter & Ivana Nikolić, oboe; Evan Hulbert, kontrabas; Andrea Nikolić, violina; Miron Konjević, čembalo
Bach, Bacewicz, Cerha, Doderer, Henze, Kurtag, Telemann, Yun, Zelenka
26.9., 19.00h, Centar za kulturu i edukaciju: “VaClaF Rising Stars & Next Generation”
15.-19.10. VaClaF on Tour: Zenica, Sarajevo, Bijeljina & more! TBA
21.10., 19.30h, Bank Austria Salon im Alten Rathaus, Wien: “Echos aus Vareš”
Highlights “Dreams to Come True” 2024
Highlights 2022 & 2023:
