Young Croatians are changing the way they party

Dubrovnik

By Paulo Simić

ZAGREB, 2 August 2026 (Hina) – Younger generations have changed the way they socialise and seek entertainment in the post pandemic period, affecting the nightclub scene in Croatia and across Europe. However, Croatia’s clubs continue to maintain a strong position when it comes to electronic music and club culture.

Alongside the continued development of modern technology and digital forms of social interaction, the early 2020s were marked by the global coronavirus pandemic, which temporarily closed venues where young people gathered, from schools and universities to nightclubs and hospitality venues. People were forced to move many aspects of their social lives online.

European research shows that the clubbing scene experienced a significant setback during and after the COVID 19 pandemic, both in Croatia and globally, according to Krešimir Krolo, a professor at the University of Zadar’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

However, Krolo believes the pandemic was not the only factor behind the declining relevance of club culture in young people’s everyday lives, with several other social changes also playing a role.

Clubbing has become too expensive

“Going to clubs has generally become too expensive, at least compared with the generation of parents for whom clubbing was financially more accessible and represented something culturally new,” Krolo told Hina.

He also pointed to growing concerns about safety in nightlife environments.

“This includes the experiences of women in clubs, ranging from verbal harassment and violations of personal space to fears of having substances added to drinks,” he said.

Other factors include the increased use of digital platforms for consuming cultural content and socialising, the loss of anonymity due to smartphones, and the fact that younger generations are placing greater emphasis on healthier lifestyles.

“In some countries, there is a clear connection between the noticeable decline in alcohol consumption among young people and reduced interest in the club scene,” Krolo added.

Younger generations embracing different forms of entertainment

Goran Tomašević, editor in chief and founder of portal Klubskascena.hr, agrees that younger generations changed their entertainment habits during and after the pandemic.

He said young people are increasingly gathering at specific venues, private parties and smaller events, while also adopting healthier lifestyles with less alcohol consumption.

“In recent years, there have been attempts in Zagreb and Split to organise daytime or morning parties with coffee and croissants. It is easy to fill a café with 50 people, but that cannot really be called clubbing, rather it is a trend,” Tomašević said.

However, he stressed that it would be wrong to conclude that young people no longer visit clubs.

“If there is a quality DJ performance, those who love clubbing will still pay for a ticket. Such artists will not come to a private party or a café selling croissants,” he said.

Tomašević believes Croatian clubs remain strong when it comes to electronic music and club culture.

“They remain the backbone of the clubbing scene and an important mechanism supporting a wide range of creative professionals throughout the year, from DJs, live performers and bands to sound engineers, lighting technicians, photographers, PR specialists, VJs, graphic designers and videographers,” he said.

He added that this wider ecosystem of more than 15 professions would not exist without clubs, with many of these professionals later working at summer festivals.

Krolo said alternative and electronic club scenes have managed to maintain their appeal through more intimate events and creative formats.

“This is often referred to as ‘soft clubbing’. Such spaces experience fewer financial and security issues due to close networks among visitors and a stronger awareness of the challenges connected with nightlife,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the mainstream club scene linked to folk entertainment venues appears to have remained more resilient.

Krolo said these venues often attract young people with greater financial means or those aspiring to a certain lifestyle.

“Alcohol consumption takes place in large groups and private booths, where drinks worth an average monthly salary can be ordered in a single night. Presenting oneself in such a venue can also represent a signal of higher social status,” he said.

He believes the current crisis is most visible in the decline of the traditional mainstream club scene, with highly hedonistic venues moving in one direction and smaller alternative events moving in another.

However, he stressed that more detailed research is needed to confirm these trends.

Zagreb’s strongest club scene outside summer months

Despite changing habits, Zagreb continues to have a large number of active clubs, either permanently or through occasional events, Tomašević said.

“Zagreb has its strongest scene during autumn, winter and spring, when clubs can attract between 1,500 and 2,000 people depending on the guest performer. During summer, everything moves to the coast, where smaller towns, and even Split, can have only 100 to 150 people attending parties during the winter months,” he said.

One of Zagreb’s best known nightclubs, Gallery at Jarun, has been looking for a new owner for several years. Current owners say the club is not profitable and are willing to sell it.

Similar challenges have affected clubs abroad, including in London and Berlin. Famous Berlin venues such as Berghain and Watergate have closed in recent years, with rising rental costs and changing attitudes among younger generations towards club culture cited among the reasons.

Tomašević, however, believes Gallery faces a different challenge. Jarun has increasingly become a destination for open air concerts and festivals, while new traffic regulations and limited parking have also affected the venue.