If you are an art enthusiast, add Slovenia to your travel bucket list
This art lovers’ hidden gem in the heart of Europe offers a world of experiences for the culturally curious. Slovenia is a country where art, culture, and nature intertwine to create a vibrant tapestry for those seeking fresh inspiration.
As we begin the countdown to 2025, Nova Gorica, Slovenia’s youngest city, and its neighbouring counterpart Gorizia, in Italy, are preparing to take on the role of the European capital of culture 2025. This represents a unique fusion of two interconnected cities, which will showcase world-class art, vibrant creativity and the region’s rich cultural and artistic diversity to a global audience.
Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, is promoting its local and international art scene by revitalising old, abandoned buildings along the Ljubljanica River and transforming them into spaces devoted to art. The Cukrarna gallery, once a sugar factory enriched with the stories of eminent Slovenian writers, now stands as a testament to the city’s ability to breathe new life into its historical landmarks. It was transformed into a dynamic gallery with world-renowned artists. One of the most prominent ones is a major exhibition featuring the collaborative works of famous performance artists Marina Abramović and Ulay, scheduled to open on November 30, 2025. The Art Vital exhibition offers a multilayered insight into the unique and uncompromising collaborative work and life of the artist couple Abramović and Ulay over a period of 12 years between 1976 and 1988. Close to the Cukrarna gallery, the revamped Rog factory has been transformed into a buzzing creative centre, offering workshops and production spaces for budding artists and makers. These hubs provide fertile ground for artistic collaboration, making Ljubljana an ever-evolving canvas for contemporary art.
The art scene has also flourished in other Slovenian cities and towns, not just Ljubljana. In 2025, Maribor plans to open the new Center Rotovž, a shared urban space intertwining diverse cultural content. They will revitalise Rotovški trg square, which will house the renovated Maribor Public Library and the Maribor Art Gallery and Art-kino programmes. Nearby, Maribor’s Minoriti Cultural Quarter is home to performances, music, film, puppetry and other events, as well as exhibitions, talks and creative collaborations. In summer, during the Lent festival, it becomes a concert venue for local and international performers. On the other side of the country, not far from picturesque Lake Bled, a new contemporary art museum is already under construction. The Lah Contemporary Museum will house a private Slovenian and international art collection.
From modern art to rich, cultural tradition and treasures of global significance, Slovenia might be small, but its cultural contributions are anything but. It boasts some of the world’s most extraordinary artefacts, from the 60,000-year-old flute (the oldest musical instrument ever discovered!) to the oldest wooden wheel in the world, dating to 5,200 years ago, which was found in the Ljubljana Marshes, a Unesco world heritage site. Architecturally, Slovenia shines as well. Ljubljana is an urban masterpiece crafted by architect Jože Plečnik, whose innovative designs shaped the city’s unique character. Plečnik also designed the National and University Library, or NUK, as the locals call it. It is also protected by Unesco and has more than 1.4m books, 8,700 manuscripts, and other resources.
Are you a fan of festivals? Slovenia is home to a vibrant festival scene that offers something for everyone, no matter your artistic preferences. Whether your heart beats to punk rhythms, reggae, hard metal or electronic dance music, Slovenia has a music festival for you. Every summer, Tolmin, a small town where the Soča River and Tolminka River merge, becomes a picturesque venue that attracts festivalgoers worldwide. The visitors keep returning, enchanted by the festivals’ breathtaking natural backdrop and a quality programme. We already mentioned Festival Lent, one of the biggest international cultural festival in Slovenia. The festival is held in Maribor on the banks of the River Drava and in other venues around the city centre. It offers theatre, opera, ballet and music performances, as well as mimes, magicians and acrobats. If you stroll around the streets of Ljubljana at the beginning of summer, you will likely bump into jaw-dropping street performances. Ana Desetnica festival, Slovenia’s biggest street theatre and improvisation arts festival, is held annually in over 10 cities nationwide.
Yes, there is a lot to choose from, and the choice is entirely yours. Experience the art scene in Slovenia – your way.
You can learn more about Slovenia’s art and culture at slovenia.info