Zadar to welcome the New Year with major electronic music showcase at City Market

(Photo credit: Matija Lipar)

Zadar is preparing for a New Year’s Eve celebration unlike anything the city has seen before, as leading local electronic music collectives unite for a large-scale open-air spectacle at the historic city market.

Under the name Zadar SLR Showcase, electronic collectives Selected, Loveroom and Ritmika residents will take over the market space beneath the city walls on 31 December, transforming the traditional setting into a modern dancefloor filled with lasers, lighting effects and hypnotic electronic beats.

The programme begins at 9pm on New Year’s Eve, with no fixed end time. As organisers say, it will finish “when it finishes”.

A first for Zadar’s New Year celebrations

While Zadar has hosted electronic music events across various locations in recent years, this marks the first time that a fully-fledged electronic New Year’s Eve programme will take place in the city centre as part of the official festivities.

According to Roko Rančić, one half of the Selected collective, the event reflects the growing demand for electronic music in Zadar.

“Electronic music has become increasingly popular in the city because people are asking for it more and more,” Rančić said. “By bringing Selected, Loveroom and Ritmika together for New Year’s Eve, we are showing how strong the scene has become, and it will only continue to grow.”

(Photo credit: Matija Lipar)

The city market venue, which has gained a new identity during Advent in Zadar, will host DJs for the first time in this format. Lasers, stage lighting and modern production will contrast with the historic surroundings, creating a unique atmosphere.

Three collectives, one shared vision

Each of the three collectives brings its own distinct identity to the event.

Selected, founded by Rančić and Luigi Kotlar, made headlines this summer by organising Zadar’s first open-air electronic music festival. Their focus is on late-night energy and immersive dancefloor experiences.

Ritmika, led by Kristijan Kotlar, has grown into one of Zadar’s most recognisable electronic music brands. Originally created to fill a cultural gap in the city, Ritmika has hosted events in unconventional locations, including a former bauxite mine near Jasenice. New Year’s Eve will mark Ritmika’s first appearance at an official city countdown.

“For the first time, I’ll be playing a New Year’s Eve event in the very centre of Zadar, in front of my own people,” Kotlar said. “That makes this night very special.”

(Photo credit: Matija Lipar)

Ritmika residents will include Kotlar himself and Kruno Matošević, also known as Mr Cab Driver. The collective attracts an audience that sits outside mainstream genres, blending electronic styles without fitting neatly into techno, underground or commercial labels.

Meanwhile, Loveroom represents a younger generation within Zadar’s electronic scene, promoting house music characterised by strong vocal elements and remixes by regional producers. Through innovative marketing and carefully curated events, Loveroom has established itself as a recognisable local brand.

“All three collectives have proven themselves at demanding events and built loyal audiences,” Kotlar added. “Now we are playing not only for Zadar, but for everyone who chooses to welcome the New Year here.”

Bringing electronic music into the heart of the city

For years, many Zadar residents travelled to nearby towns or major European destinations such as Ibiza, Amsterdam or Paris to experience large-scale electronic events. This New Year’s Eve, that experience comes to the city itself.

“Electronic music has finally entered the centre of Zadar,” Kotlar said. “A different type of audience now has the chance to celebrate in their own city. It will be a crazy night.”

Interest in the event has been high, with table reservations filling quickly. Organisers expect the market space to be packed, continuing the strong attendance seen throughout Advent at the popular “Božićni gramofon” programme.

Part of a wider New Year’s programme

The Zadar SLR Showcase is organised by the City of Zadar and the Zadar Tourist Board as part of the official New Year’s celebrations.

In addition to the electronic showcase at the market, New Year’s Eve will also be celebrated at Petar Zoranić Square.

The daytime programme will feature Italian Art Pop, a tribute to Lady Gaga, while the evening will bring a Rockstar Show, with around 20 Italian performers paying tribute to rock and pop legends from the 1980s and 1990s, including Queen, Tina Turner and Kiss, complete with costumes and stage performances.

With electronic beats, rock anthems and pop tributes across the city, Zadar is set for a vibrant, multi-generational welcome to the New Year, but it is the market’s transformation into a pulsating electronic stage that promises to be the night’s standout moment.