The sixth edition of the Polja festival will be held from August 28 to 30, 2026 in the village of Šutci, in central Serbia. This year the festival returns to its recognizable landscape: sunset concerts, forest camp, food cooked on fire, meetings between artists and audience and music that connects contemporary experimental practices, traditional forms, ritual, dance and listening in nature.
Since its founding in 2021, Polja Festival has been developing as a rural music colony and festival platform dedicated to experimental, traditional and contemporary sound.
"The festival arose out of the need to move cultural programs of high artistic scope outside of large urban centers and place them in a different relationship to space, community, landscape and time. In this sense, Polje is not only a festival event, but also an attempt to build a more permanent cultural infrastructure in the village: space for concerts, residencies, workshops, meetings and knowledge exchange." - says Branislav Jovančević, founder of the festival.
The first confirmed performers are Piotr Kurek, Rabih Beaini, Tresque, also known as a member of the Swiss-French band La Tène, Stefan Fraunberger, Medard Zeman, Ensemble Taman Merak, Matej Rusmir, Miyandi, André Pahl, Matale and Mangulica FM, while the rest of the program will be presented soon.
This year's program continues to explore the places where acoustic and electronic sound meet, contemporary composition and folk music traditions, club culture and ritual, dance pulse and devoted music listening.
Festival POLJA, Šutci, Srbija, foto: Branislav Jovančević
As in previous years, the public can expect outdoor concerts, free camping, food from local gastronomic organizations, wine, socializing and a program that takes place in direct relationship with the landscape. Camping equipment rental packages will also be available for visitors who come without equipment, which can be added when purchasing a ticket, with a limited number available on site.
Polja festival is this year an associate partner of the European UPBEAT platform, which connects festivals, artists and organizations dedicated to new approaches to traditional music, contemporary sound and cultural exchange. In the previous period, Polja was also a full member of the SHAPE+ platform, one of the most important European networks for innovative music and interdisciplinary artistic practices, which brings together festivals and organizations such as Rewire, CTM, Unsound and other important points of the European contemporary music scene.
This year's edition is supported by the Goethe-Institut, the Czech Center Belgrade, Pro Helvetia, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, the Polish Institute in Belgrade, the Tourism Organization of the Municipality of Ljig, as well as numerous other partners and friends of the festival. Fields are developed through long-term cooperation with local and international cultural institutions, but also through the support of the independent scene, artists, audience and local community.
Tickets will be available through the Resident Advisor platform and physically at the Kula gallery in Belgrade.
The visual identity of this year's edition is signed by audio-visual artist Tadi.
Instagram @poljafestival
