AGP Executive Report

Music & Culture: The Bulgarian National Radio Children’s Choir performed in Zagreb with local choir Zvjezdice; it will also visit Osijek and Đakovo, with a Croatian choir trip to Sofia planned for 2027. Film: Belgrade’s 53rd FEST screened 115 films, and Croatian director Lordan Zafranović received the Milutin Čolić award for The Golden Ratio ’42: The Children of Kozare. Travel: Brač is among six European islands recommended for an autumn escape, with Vidova Gora, historic settlements and Blaca Hermitage offering more than beaches. Tourism: At a Malta summit, Croatia’s tourism minister argued against simply chasing more peak-season visitors, backing a focus on destination capacity and local benefits. Living Costs: Croatian rents rose 22.1% in the second quarter compared with last year’s average—the EU’s second-largest increase. Music: Croatian rock icon Goran Bare has died aged 61.

Tourism: Croatia’s tourism minister argued at a Malta summit that success should be measured by more than visitor numbers, with destinations weighing local impact and their capacity to handle crowds. Innovation: Zagreb will host more than 300 innovations from over 30 countries at exhibitions focused on technology, agriculture and food production, Oct. 15–17. Music: Croatian rock icon Goran Bare has died aged 61. Food Culture: Rijeka hosted the launch of the 31st edition of Restaurant Croatica, its guide to 100 leading Croatian restaurants. Travel: Šibenik has made Lonely Planet’s list of top destinations to visit in 2027. Film: Zagreb Film Festival has announced major film names and international stars for its upcoming edition.

Screen Culture: Serbian-Croatian film Yugo Goes to America has been selected for Cairo International Film Festival’s competition, part of a 12-film lineup for the festival’s November edition. Food & Drink: Croatia’s Restaurant Croatica Awards unveiled the 2026/27 guide to the country’s top restaurants, celebrating culinary talent from the coast and inland. Adriatic Life: Barcolana58 drew 1,858 boats to Trieste, with its Women in Sailing race promoting mixed crews and women’s leadership. Social Issues: Around 2,000 people in Croatia are homeless, and 15,000 more face inadequate or insecure housing; shelters have space for just 450. Croatian Music: Rock musician Goran Bare, longtime frontman of Majke and a defining voice in Croatian rock, has died aged 61. Travel: Šibenik made Lonely Planet’s list of 50 destinations to visit in 2027.

Food & Drink: Croatia’s Restaurant Croatica awards marked 31 years with the launch of its 2026/27 guide to the country’s leading restaurants, celebrating culinary talent from the coast to the interior. Social Issues: New figures show around 2,000 people in Croatia are homeless and 15,000 more face inadequate or insecure housing; shelters have just 450 places. Travel & Heritage: Šibenik has made Lonely Planet’s list of 50 top destinations for 2027. Music: Croatian rock icon Goran Bare, longtime frontman of Majke, has died aged 61 after more than four decades shaping the country’s music scene. Film: Major film names and international stars are set to feature at the upcoming Zagreb Film Festival.

Adriatic Sailing: Barcolana58 has drawn 1,858 boats to Trieste for Sunday’s race. Its women-in-sailing event also put mixed crews in the spotlight. Croatian Travel: Šibenik is among Lonely Planet’s 50 recommended destinations for 2027, earning a place on a global list of places to visit. Music: Croatian rock icon Goran Bare, longtime frontman of Majke, has died aged 61. His four-decade career helped shape the country’s rock scene. Housing and Homelessness: New figures show around 2,000 people in Croatia are homeless and 15,000 more live in inadequate or insecure housing. Shelters nationwide have just 450 places.

Food & Lifestyle: Food writer Nicole Maguire traces her cooking to her Croatian parents and her mother’s generous home cooking, which inspired her practical family meal-planning ideas. Croatian Music: Rock musician Goran Bare, longtime frontman of Majke, has died at 61 after more than four decades shaping Croatia’s rock scene. Zagreb Heritage: The capital’s 66-metre funicular marked 136 years since its first ride; renovated earlier this year, it still carries about 750,000 passengers annually. Adriatic Travel: A new seven-night cruise from Dubrovnik will visit islands including Vis, Lastovo and Mljet, with guided tours, local food and wine experiences, and a stop in Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor. Film: Major film names and international stars are set to feature at the upcoming Zagreb Film Festival.

Music: Croatian rock icon Goran Bare, frontman of Majke, has died aged 61. Across four decades, his raw voice and uncompromising style helped shape the country’s rock scene. Zagreb Heritage: The city’s 66-metre funicular marked 136 years since its first ride. Recently renovated, it remains a landmark linking the Lower and Upper Towns. Travel: Pula is among Skyscanner’s best-value destinations for 2027, with airfares down 20% year on year. Film: International stars and major film names are set to feature at the upcoming Zagreb Film Festival. Environment: An artist from northern Croatia is urging action to protect the Drava, part of the cross-border “Amazon of Europe,” from the spread of factory farms.

Split’s Heritage: French President Emmanuel Macron toured Diocletian’s Palace, the Peristyle and other landmarks during his visit for the MED9 summit, taking in the city’s history and identity. Croatian Cinema: International stars and major film names are set to feature at the Zagreb Film Festival. Drava Under Threat: An eco-artist is raising the alarm over factory farms near the Drava, warning they could damage the river’s UNESCO-listed cross-border biosphere reserve. Architecture: Two new Croatian homes by Njirić+ arhitekti showcase the studio’s approach to residential design. Tourism: Croatia’s season is being described as another success, though last-minute bookings are increasingly the norm.

Split Heritage: French President Emmanuel Macron toured Diocletian’s Palace, including the Peristyle, Cathedral of Saint Domnius and historic Pjaca, during his visit for the MED9 summit. Tourism: Croatia’s season was another success, but last-minute bookings are becoming the norm as travellers watch prices and pay more attention to summer heat. Pula also made a list of 2027’s best-value destinations, with airfares down 20%. River Protection: An eco-artist from northern Croatia is campaigning against factory farms that threaten the Drava-Mura wetlands, part of the cross-border UNESCO Biosphere Reserve known as the “Amazon of Europe.” Screen Culture: Zagreb Film Festival is set to welcome major film names and international stars, while a new Croatian TV series explores Cold War bunkers and abandoned military sites. Local Life: A tourist train has returned to Zagreb’s Maksimir Park after 70 years, offering a fresh way to explore one of the city’s best-known green spaces.

Tourism: Croatia has wrapped up another strong season, but last-minute bookings are becoming the norm. Tourists are watching their budgets more closely, while safety and summer heat increasingly shape destination choices. Film: Zagreb Film Festival is preparing a star-studded programme, with major film names and international guests expected. Heritage: After 70 years, an electric tourist train is returning to Zagreb’s Maksimir Park. Architecture: Two new Croatian homes by Njirić+ arhitekti put a fresh spotlight on contemporary design. Food: A new guide to Split celebrates the city’s culinary scene.

Tourism: Sustainability is now a standard ambition for the travel industry, but many companies still lag on turning climate pledges into action. Film: Major Croatian and international names are expected at the upcoming Zagreb Film Festival. Architecture: Two new Zagreb homes by Njirić+ arhitekti offer contrasting takes on residential design, including a Bukovac project shortlisted for the EU Mies Awards. Zagreb Life: An electric tourist train is returning to Maksimir Park after 70 years. Live Music: Russell Crowe is bringing his Indoor Garden Party to Pula Arena.

Croatia–Spain Football: Spain fought back to beat Croatia 2-1 in Split in the Nations League, with Ivan Perišić scoring early and Mikel Merino turning the game around after the break; Perišić was later sent off, and Spain’s perfect group run keeps them on track for the quarter-finals. Sports & Culture Backdrop: The match comes after Croatia’s 7-0 loss to England in Rijeka, played under a fan-racism ban that left the stadium filled with children—an atmosphere shift now shaping how fans are urged to respond. Zagreb Film Festival Buzz: The 24th Zagreb Film Festival (9–15 Nov) announced major international names and new films, including Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård and Javier Bardem, plus European cinema highlights in its Great 5 and Revenge of the Film programs. Architecture in the Spotlight: Two new Croatian houses by Zagreb firm Njirić+ arhitekti showcase contrasting approaches, including a Double-Villa Bukovac that challenges Zagreb’s suburban planning rules. Community & Heritage: The Croatian American Civic Club’s annual indoor picnic returns in Farrell with ethnic food, music and dancing—another reminder of how diaspora culture stays alive. EU Politics & Israel Flag Row: A spat over an Israeli flag removal at the European Parliament on Oct 7 anniversary escalated into a sanctions debate, while MEP attendance concerns also surfaced.

Nations League Drama (Split): Spain kept their perfect UEFA Nations League run alive with a 2-1 win over Croatia as Mikel Merino scored twice after Ivan Perišić’s opener; Perišić was sent off late, and Croatia now face a tough task to bounce back after England’s 7-0 rout. Football & Fans (Discipline): Luka Modrić said he hopes supporters back the team again, after Croatia played the England match under a racism-related punishment that brought in thousands of children. Film Industry (Zagreb): The 24th Zagreb Film Festival (9–15 Nov) announced major international names and new director line-ups, including Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beloved and Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård in Wicker. Co-production Forums (Thessaloniki/Warsaw): Thessaloniki’s Agora Crossroads revealed 14 selected projects for its 8–12 Nov forum, while Warsaw’s Co-Production Forum picked 16 European projects for Warsaw Industry Days. Culture & Theatre (Zagreb/Belgrade link): A multimedia play, Buried Miracles, based on Monika Herceg, is set to tour with video-projection staging and a message of love and memory. Architecture (Zagreb): Two new Croatian houses by Njirić+ arhitekti showcase contrasting approaches, including a Double-Villa Bukovac shaped as a critique of Zagreb’s suburban planning rules. Public Life & Rights (Bosnia): Bosnia’s election fines and campaigning rules made headlines, while broader coverage highlights how ethnic politics and EU hopes remain tightly linked.

Streaming & Tech: Titan OS-powered Philips and Sharp TVs across 22 European markets, including Croatia, now offer SkyShowtime for direct home-screen streaming of movies, series and kids content. Sports & Culture: Luka Modrić says Croatia’s fans should back the team again after the 7-0 England defeat, as Croatia host Spain in the Nations League in Split. Community & Lifestyle: Zagreb’s Maksimir Park brings back a fully electric family train for a short ride along the main avenue, with seasonal audio learning for kids and visitors. Regional Politics: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s election results point to stronger nationalist momentum and low turnout, with voters moving further along ethnic lines and EU progress still stalled. Education & Mobility: A cross-border student program for Hungarians (“Without Borders!”/Határtalanul) faces a major funding cut, slashing support for educational trips and minority-language media. Sport Sponsorship: Lidl extends its fresh-food partnership with the IHF World Handball Championships through 2030, keeping fan activations and youth awards in the mix.

Croatia–Spain Football: Luka Modrić says Croatia needs a “positive reaction” after the 7-0 Nations League humiliation by England, as the team hosts world champions Spain in Split with qualification hopes on the line. Zagreb Family Culture: An electric tourist train has returned to Maksimir Park, reviving a long-lost railway tradition with a low-emission ride, €3 tickets, and seasonal audio education for kids and families. Film & Documentary Awards: The Netherlands’ Golden Calves at the Netherlands Film Festival crowned Muriel d’Ansembourg’s Truly Naked (six wins) and Maasja Ooms’s My Word Against Mine (documentary prize). Bosnia Election Watch: Preliminary results point to stronger nationalist lines and low turnout in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with pro-Russia Milorad Dodik’s SNSD retaining influence in Republika Srpska and Croat and Bosniak seats going to HDZ BiH and SDP figures. Kids’ Event in Zagreb: The WCF Cat Show arrives Oct 10–11 at Family Mall Zagreb, featuring 100+ cats and an interactive “Cat Detectives” program for ages 5–15. Tech for Learning: Notey closed a €3M seed round and expands across the Balkans via a Telemach distribution partnership, aiming to turn music practice into a game.

Bosnia Election Shockwaves: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Oct. 4 general vote looks set to keep ethnic parties in control, with Milorad Dodik’s SNSD strong in Republika Srpska and new faces emerging in the rotating tripartite presidency—Denis Bećirović (Bosniak seat), Darijana Filipović (Croat seat) and Željka Cvijanović (Serb seat)—as turnout fell to about 41.5%. Geopolitics in the Background: Dodik, barred from office, still framed the campaign around pro-Russian ties and even thanked Trump and Putin after declaring victory. Remembering Biljana Plavšić: The former Bosnian Serb leader and war-crimes convict Biljana Plavšić died at 96, a reminder of how deeply the 1990s still shape Balkan politics and memory. Croatia Sports & Culture: Croatia’s Nations League campaign continues at home with Croatia vs Czechia in Osijek on Nov. 15, while Luka Modrić publicly said the team felt “ashamed” after a 7-0 loss to England. Demography & Education Crisis: An AP report from Greece’s remote islands shows classrooms shrinking fast—Kalamos has just two students—mirroring a wider European population decline. Tourism Pressure Watch: Mallorca introduced cruise limits (max three ships/day, 7,500 passengers total) as cities push back against over-tourism.