In the summer of 2026, one of Europe’s most dramatic open-air theatres once again becomes the setting for Shakespeare. Lovrjenac Fortress, the medieval stronghold that rises 37 metres above the Adriatic just outside Dubrovnik’s city walls, will host a new production of Richard III as part of the 77th Dubrovnik Summer Festival. The production forms part of a wider programme that places classical and contemporary performance against the backdrop of a UNESCO-listed historic city.
Shakespeare’s year in Dubrovnik
The timing carries particular resonance. 2026 marks the 462nd anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth in 1564 and the 410th anniversary of his death in 1616. Cities and cultural institutions around the world are marking these dual anniversaries with performances, exhibitions and scholarly events. In Dubrovnik, the connection is made physical: Shakespeare’s text will be spoken on a fortress that has staged open-air theatre for decades and that many international audiences already recognise from another cultural phenomenon.
Lovrjenac Fortress and Its Dual Identity
Lovrjenac Fortress sits on a sheer cliff facing the open sea. Built to defend the western approach to the city, it has long been regarded as one of the most striking theatrical settings in Europe. For millions of viewers, the fortress is also familiar as the Red Keep from the television series Game of Thrones. The dual identity—medieval military architecture and contemporary screen landmark—gives the fortress a layered cultural presence that few other European venues can match.
The 77th Dubrovnik Summer Festival
The Dubrovnik Summer Festival is one of Europe’s oldest continuously running arts festivals. The 2026 edition opened on 10th July and runs until 25th August, spanning 47 days. More than 2,000 artists are scheduled to present over 70 performances of theatre, music, dance and folklore across historic venues in the Old Town, including the Rector’s Palace Atrium, Lokrum Island and Lovrjenac Fortress itself. Richard III, directed by Vito Taufer, is presented as a centrepiece of the theatrical programme at Lovrjenac, and takes place on 27th July at 9.30 pm.
British Artists on the 2026 Programme
The festival’s 2026 season also features several prominent British and British-linked ensembles and soloists. Joshua Bell appeared with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields on 14 July in a programme of works by Mendelssohn and Beethoven. The British cellist Steven Isserlis performs music by Charles Avison and John Tavener. The choir Tenebrae brings its European tour to Dubrovnik as part of the festival programme.These appearances sit alongside a broader international line-up, reflecting the festival’s long-standing role as a meeting point for European classical and contemporary performance.
Cultural Tourism and the Screen Legacy
The combination of classical theatre and a site already known through screen culture illustrates a wider pattern in contemporary travel. Destinations that appear in film and television series often experience sustained visitor interest, a phenomenon sometimes described as set-jetting. Lovrjenac occupies an unusual position in this landscape because it simultaneously functions as a genuine historic monument and a recognisable screen location.
Experiential Travel Preferences
Recent surveys of British holidaymakers indicate a continued preference for experience-led travel. Research by Titan Travel found that 58 per cent of respondents preferred holidays centred on experiences rather than traditional beach or sightseeing packages. ABTA’s Holiday Habits reporting has similarly noted that a substantial majority of British travellers continue to prioritise holidays within their annual spending. These broader patterns form the background against which cultural programming such as the Dubrovnik Summer Festival takes place.
Practical Context for Visitors
The official Dubrovnik Pass provides combined entry to major sites including the City Walls, museums and Lovrjenac Fortress. Festival ticket discounts are available when the pass is presented at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival Box Office: 10 per cent with the one-day pass, 30 per cent with the three-day pass, and 50 per cent with the seven-day pass. Details of pass options and pricing are published at www.dubrovnikpass.com.Visitor management in the Old Town continues under the city’s long-running Respect the City programme, which includes measures such as limits on simultaneous cruise-ship arrivals and research into carrying capacity conducted with the University of Dubrovnik.
A Shared Cultural Stage
The decision to stage Richard III at Lovrjenac in a year of major Shakespeare anniversaries places a classical English text in a Mediterranean fortress that has become internationally known through both history and screen culture. The 77th Dubrovnik Summer Festival frames that encounter within a larger programme of music, theatre and performance that has defined the city’s summer calendar for more than seven decades.For audiences interested in the intersection of place, performance and cultural memory, the combination of Shakespeare, a clifftop fortress and an established open-air festival offers a distinctive proposition. The stones of Lovrjenac have witnessed military defence, film production and decades of live theatre.
References
Dubrovnik Summer Festival official programme: www.dubrovnik-festival.hr
Dubrovnik Pass details: www.dubrovnikpass.com
ABTA Holiday Habits reports (2025–26)
Titan Travel destination research (2026)
Expedia travel trends forecasts (2026)
YouGov summer travel survey (May 2026)
European Commission European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2026 announcement
