Ring in the New Year in Jelačić Square
As midnight passes, the fireworks over Zagreb mark the arrival of 2027, and the city's central square becomes the natural place to stand among the crowd. New Year's Eve fireworks are a fixture in Zagreb, and Jelačić Square is the city's main gathering point for public celebration. Arrive before midnight to find your spot, dress for the cold, and let the first minutes of the new year unfold above the rooftops.
What's Open — and What Isn't — on January 1
New Year's Day, January 1, 2027, is a national holiday in Croatia. Sights and banks may close, so plan your day around the streets and squares rather than museum interiors or errands. A few days later, January 6, 2027 brings Epiphany, another national holiday with closures. Build your itinerary with these two dates in mind, and check opening hours with individual venues or the local tourist office before you set out.
- January 1, 2027: New Year's Day — national holiday, possible closures of sights and banks
- January 6, 2027: Epiphany — national holiday, closures
- Verify locally: Croatia's official tourism site (us.croatia.hr) and Zagreb tourist offices can confirm what is open
Walk the City While It Sleeps
With many indoor sights shut for the holiday, January 1 is a day for the open air. Zagreb's streets belong to you and the city's early risers: take a slow circuit through the centre, and let the quiet of a holiday morning set the pace. If you want to know what else the city has planned, the tourist office is the place to ask — but the reliable pleasure of the day is simply being out in it.
Look Ahead to Zagreb's Festival Year
New Year's Day is the first page of a busy calendar. If your trip stretches beyond the holiday, Zagreb's year fills out with events worth planning around: the Dance Week Festival in late April (possibly extending into May, shared with Rijeka), Statehood Day on May 30 with a military parade in Jelačić Square, the INmusic Festival from June 27–29, and the International Folklore Festival in mid-July. Use the quiet of January 1 to sketch the rest of your year in the city.
Start Planning Your Zagreb New Year
Book your stay near the centre so you can walk to Jelačić Square for the fireworks and back without relying on holiday transport. Check the official Croatian tourism site and Zagreb's tourist offices for confirmed opening hours and any programme announcements as 2027 approaches, and treat January 1 and January 6 as days for streets, squares and long lunches rather than museum queues. With the dates fixed and the city's rhythm understood, the rest is yours to arrange.