Ultra Europe

Ultra Europe is the European edition of Ultra Music Festival, one of the world’s most prominent electronic music events. Held each July at Poljud Stadium in Split, Croatia, the festival draws approximately 150,000 attendees across three days of continuous electronic music programming. Ultra Europe launched in 2013 and has made Split - already one of the busiest tourist destinations on the Adriatic coast - the European capital of electronic music for a long weekend each summer.

Programme and stages

The main stage at Poljud Stadium is the centrepiece of the festival, hosting the world’s biggest electronic music artists across three evenings. The lineup consistently includes headline names from across the spectrum of electronic music: trance, EDM, house, and progressive subgenres all feature, with the programme designed around a combination of peak-time headliners and peak-crowd production. A second stage and additional areas operate within the stadium complex, running parallel programming and allowing the audience to move between sets.

Ultra Europe’s positioning as a premium production festival means substantial stage design, pyrotechnics, and production value at the headline stage. Tickets sell in tiered pricing waves beginning in autumn of the preceding year, with the earliest waves offering the best prices. Three-day general admission passes are the standard format, though VIP and elevated-experience passes are available.

Practical information

Split has its own international airport (Split Airport, Kaštela) with direct connections from numerous European cities, particularly throughout the summer season. The airport is approximately 25 kilometres from the city centre, with regular bus and shuttle connections. Accommodation in Split during Ultra Europe weekend books out many months in advance; search hotels in Split well before the festival dates - many visitors also stay in nearby Trogir, Omiš, or on the islands and commute in by ferry or bus.

The stadium is in the northern part of Split, accessible by taxi, Uber, or local bus from the city centre and the waterfront. The Old Town and Diocletian’s Palace are a 10-15 minute drive from Poljud. Exact 2027 dates are to be confirmed - the festival typically occupies the second week of July. Book tours and activities in Split for sightseeing, island day trips, and sea kayaking around the festival.

Tips for Ultra Europe

The Dalmatian summer in July means consistently high temperatures - daytime heat of 35°C or more is common in Split. The stadium festival format provides limited shade during day sessions. Hydration is critical; the festival operates water stations throughout the venue. Most of the serious programming runs from early evening onwards when the temperature has dropped.

Split’s location makes it easy to combine the festival with wider Dalmatian travel. Day trips to the islands of Hvar, Brač, and Vis are straightforward by ferry from Split harbour. The Plitvice Lakes National Park and Krka waterfalls are popular excursions for those with a day or two before or after the festival. The Diocletian’s Palace old town is one of the best-preserved Roman structures in Europe and easily fills half a day.

Accommodation prices in Split during festival weekend are significantly elevated compared to the surrounding dates - consider arriving a day or two early when rates are lower.