Throughout May 2026, Montenegro didn’t just mark Europe Day; it lived it.
Across towns, schools, city squares and cultural landmarks, citizens of all ages came together to celebrate the values, diversity and spirit of Europe in a month-long journey filled with music and movement.
The celebrations began in Podgorica on 7 May, at the Europe Day reception, where Ambassador Sattler delivered a powerful message to the citizens of Montenegro:
“Montenegro, as an old European country, is not ‘joining’ Europe, nor are we ‘bringing’ Europe here. It would be more accurate to say that our mission here is to organise a kind of family gathering – to help Montenegro return home and take its rightful place within the European family,”
Opera diva Olivera Tičević, accompanied by the ensemble Tree Cellos, performed the anthems of the European Union and Montenegro. During the performance, parachutists from the Špiro Mugoša Aero Club made a spectacular jump from a helicopter, unfurling the flags of the European Union and Montenegro across the sky, symbolically reaffirming the partnership and shared European future.
The Europe Day reception was further enriched by performances from the children’s choir Ljute Kamilice and the Đenović Local Brass Band.
The energy reached its peak on 9 May in Podgorica, where visitors gathered for the EU Fair at University Park. Representatives of EU Member States and local producers, each with their own stories, flavours and visions, showcased their work to the public.
Several themed zones were organised, while performances by the O.M. Band / the band of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, and Petar Wagner’s Fantom Band created a vibrant atmosphere. As the sun set, the city swayed to the rhythm and music of Nina Badrić at Independence Square, packed with people.
But the story did not end there.
Throughout the month, Montenegrin municipalities, from Pljevlja to Ulcinj, Herceg Novi to Rožaje, joined the celebrations in their own unique ways. Whether through clean-up campaigns, art exhibitions, concerts or theatre performances, Europe Month became a truly national celebration, carried by citizens and shaped by local spirit.
A charity bazaar featuring handmade crafts, including unique artworks, paintings and a variety of creative products, was organised in Bar. All funds raised and donations collected were directed towards supporting the beneficiaries of the NGO Women of Bar.
Danilovgrad hosted its first Family Day event at Glava Zete. Visitors enjoyed creative workshops for children, educational activities, local products and crafts, while the event also had a humanitarian dimension through its support for the NGO Growing Together.
Ulcinj celebrated Europe Day by bringing together history, nature and contemporary art. In addition, this coastal town organised a local environmental initiative focused on planting native seedlings.
Environmental protection was also an important aspect of the Europe Day celebrations in Plužine, where a clean-up action highlighted the importance of preserving the natural beauty of the Piva region.
In Nikšić, a cultural programme was organised, while representatives of the Delegation of the EU to Montenegro also visited the animal shelter in Brestice. During the visit, local initiatives in animal welfare and the improvement of municipal services were presented.
Cultural programmes were also held in Kolašin, Berane, Žabljak, Herceg Novi, Andrijevica, Mojkovac and Cetinje.
In Pljevlja, the event titled “The European Future of Young People in Pljevlja” brought together representatives of institutions, the education sector and the municipality’s youth. Meanwhile, Zeta marked Europe Day with the international sports and educational event Žogarija, celebrating sport and unity.
Between Lake Plav and the Prokletije mountains, in a region rich in cultural heritage, the municipalities of Plav and Gusinje commemorated Europe Day with a programme that combined culture, tradition and European values.
Kotor demonstrated that Europe lives in the hands of women weaving lace, in the steps of graduating students dancing the quadrille, and in the voices of young people asking what it means to be free.
Youth from Tuzi marked Europe Day with the performance Bridges, Not Walls, sending an important message: society is built on understanding, dialogue and the courage to extend a hand to one another – not on division and prejudice.
Budva celebrated Europe Day in its distinctive style – energetic and urban. A striking blue illumination transformed the Mogren Fortress, while the Old Town became a meeting place for citizens and European ideas through an information and educational stand. The evening culminated in a performance by the DJ duo ARTBAT, transforming the atmosphere into a celebration to remember.
Students from the „School of Basic Music Education” held their annual concert at Europe House in Bijelo Polje.
Through music, recitations, folklore, and a theatrical sketch, secondary school students in Petnjica promoted the ideas of European unity, tolerance, cooperation, and the preservation of cultural identity, while students from Tivat Music School used the universal language of music to share messages of unity, diversity, and European spirit.
Exhibitions of children’s artwork were organised in Rožaje and Šavnik.
With thousands of participants, hundreds of schoolchildren, dozens of partner municipalities, and wide media coverage, Europe Month 2025 demonstrated that the people of Montenegro are eager to connect with Europe, especially when Europe meets them where they are: in their towns, their schools, and their everyday lives.
The Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro remains proud of this shared achievement, and committed to taking the next steps together, hand in hand with communities, young people and institutions across the country.