Ljubljana Lights Up for the Holiday Season

Ljubljana's festive lights switch-on event

The holiday lights will traditionally be switched on the Friday before the first Advent Sunday, this year on 28 November at 5 p.m. After an introductory cultural programme featuring a performance by the Waldorf Primary School’s children’s choir, visitors will gather at Prešeren Square to count down the seconds until Ljubljana shines in its festive attire.

Festive Decorations

This year’s festive decoration theme is In Relationship with Proportion. As its creator Urban Modic explains, it illustrates the relationships between beings, atoms, constellations, and other aspects of earthly existence. Special emphasis is placed on the golden ratio - an ideal proportion often found in nature, art, and architecture. Just as the two sides of the golden ratio form a perfect proportion, different beings can coexist in harmony. The main message of the decoration is that we can enjoy excellent relationships even when we are different.

A large part of the decorative elements has been newly designed, while some of the most recognisable pieces are restored originals from Zmago Modic’s “Cosmic Ljubljana”. Many new sculptures are made from recycled elements from previous installations, parts of decommissioned public lights, and other components. During December in Ljubljana, the Urban tourist train and Kavalir vehicles will also be adorned with festive motifs.

A total of EUR 265,000 (including VAT) has been allocated this year for the installation of festive decorations and city lighting, carried out by the company Javna razsvetljava.

Guided Tours and Boat Rides Through Festively Decorated Ljubljana

Between 29 November and 6 January, visitors can explore Ljubljana’s festive decorations and holiday market offerings on a guided tour including mulled wine or tea and a special sweet surprise. From 5 December to 6 January, the decorations can also be admired on a panoramic boat ride along the Ljubljanica.

Festive Spruce Trees, Green Trees, Wall of Wishes

Ljubljana will be adorned with ten festive spruce trees. The central one at Prešeren Square arrived from Medvode, stands 18 metres tall, weighs four tonnes, and is decorated with approximately eight kilometres of lights.

The festive backdrop will also include 89 green trees that will be returned to nature after the holidays. They will be decorated with handcrafted ornaments made mostly from waste materials by pupils from Ljubljana’s primary schools, members of day centres for older adults, and residents receiving care through the Home Care Institute. Residents are also invited to help decorate the trees on Stritarjeva and Čopova streets with ornaments they no longer need. Those wishing to contribute further to the festive spirit are invited to write their New Year’s wishes on the Wall of Wishes at the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) on Adamič–Lundrovo Nabrežje 2.

To further encourage the reuse of festive decorations, a holiday light repair workshop will be held at the Misija 100 Info Point on 10 and 16 December. It will also serve as a gift swap for items still suitable for gifting but no longer needed by their owners.

Holiday Market

The holiday market, traditionally the social hub of the city at year’s end, will open on 28 November. Gift stalls will line Breg, while food and drink stalls will be located on Breg, Cankarjevo nabrežje, Gallusovo nabrežje, at Kongresni Trg Square and Prešernv Trg Square, on Stritarjeva Ulica Street, and at the intersection of Wolfova Ulica Street and Kongresni Trg Square. Additional gift and culinary offerings will be available at Pogačarjev Trg Square and in the courtyard of Ljubljana Castle as part of Castle December. The Castle Chapel will also host a display of life-size wooden nativity figures by artist Miro Rismondo until 2 February.

Rich Festive Programme

Traditional highlights of the December programme include the Magic Forest with creative children’s workshops, St. Nicholas’ procession, the Ice Queen processions featuring juggling, magic, and acrobatics, performances by barrel-organ players, Grandpa Frost processions, and street theatre shows within the Ana Mraz and Friends festival. This year, the festival moves to a new venue at Krekov Trg Square in front of the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre, complemented by additional creative activities for the youngest visitors. A rich creative programme for children will also be available in Grandpa Frost’s cabin in Zvezda Park, where he will greet children at the end of the month.

Music Programme

A diverse concert programme featuring local and international musicians will take place across five venues. At Pogačarjev Trg Square, various popular and folk musicians will perform from 28 November to 31 December.

The music programme at Novi trg will run from 15 to 25 December (except on Christmas Eve):

• 15 Dec – Ljubljana primary school pupils, concert of the winners of the Hit betona competition by Young Dragons
• 16 Dec – Big Band Vrhnika presents Woodstock ’25
• 17 Dec – Avtomobili
• 18 Dec – ViaEntropia
• 19 Dec – Zala Smolnikar
• 20 Dec – Stanislav Vrbek & Stenbend
• 21 Dec – Dixie Shock Band
• 22 Dec – Eva Boto
• 23 Dec – Rudolf Gas & the Family Soul
• 25 Dec – Anja Strajnar & Apostoli

At Mestni Trg Square, the programme includes performances by Ljubljana primary school choirs, the traditional Christmas concert, and New Year’s Eve celebrations:

• 15–17 Dec – primary school choir performances
• 24 Dec – traditional Christmas concert with Uroš Perić
• 31 Dec – Big Band Krško featuring Alenka Godec

At Kongresni Trg Square, which also hosts the central New Year’s Eve celebration, the music programme starts on 26 December:

• 26 Dec – Žan Serčič, Jelena Rozga
• 27 Dec – Helena Blagne, Jan Plestenjak
• 28 Dec – Mrfy, Joker Out
• 29 Dec – Agropop, Fehtarji
• 30 Dec – Šank Rock, Alen Islamović
• 31 Dec – Miki Vlahovič, Vlado Kreslin & Mali bogovi, Učiteljice
• 1 Jan – KrisTina’s Show

The year-end music programme will also run at French Revolution Square:

• 30 Dec – Moving as a Giant, Leele, Masayah, Kokosy
• 31 Dec – The Canyon Observer, Niet, IDEM

New Year’s Eve Celebrations and Fireworks

Children will traditionally celebrate the New Year first. From 4 p.m., their favourite fairy-tale characters and performances by their peers will entertain them at Kongresni Trg Square, and Grandpa Frost will also make an appearance. They will symbolically welcome the New Year at 5 p.m.

New Year’s Eve celebrations at foure venues will begin at 9 p.m. The countdown to midnight will be accompanied by a timer projected from the Ljubljana Castle tower, visible from several city streets and squares. At midnight, a five-minute fireworks display from Castle Hill will illuminate the city. The fireworks will use biodegradable materials. The net cost of the fireworks display is EUR 7,800.

A total of EUR 150,000 from the municipal budget has been allocated for co-financing this year’s event programme. Part of the costs is covered by sponsors and part by the rental fees for the holiday market stalls.

A free brochure with the full programme of events for December 2025 in Ljubljana is available at TIC. The programme is also accessible on the websites of Ljubljana Tourism and the City of Ljubljana.