Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, taking place from 27 to 29 August 2026, will once again offer musicians from Croatia, the region and around the world the opportunity to take part in its programme. Selected musicians will have a unique opportunity to learn from world-renowned jazz artists in the inspiring setting of the island of Lopud, just off Dubrovnik. The programme is intended for professional musicians with a high level of musical education who have at least one professionally released recording or album, including commissioned works.

Through an intensive programme, participants will learn directly from leading international jazz artists and explore new dimensions of their own creativity and artistic expression. At the fourth edition of the festival, the central mentoring duo will be husband and wife Omar Hakim and Rachel Z Hakim, whose biographies speak for themselves: their experience includes Madonna’s world tours, collaborations with Michael Jackson and work on Daft Punk’s Grammy-winning hit “Get Lucky,” linking them to some of the most influential names in popular music from the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The remaining mentors will be announced soon.

“This is a space where young professionals work side by side with the very best, where music is not merely learned, but lived, and where every participant truly receives the mentors’ full attention. You cannot find an experience like this anywhere else,” said Thana Alexa, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the festival.

Selected participants will be provided with accommodation in shared rooms for four nights, three meals a day, participation in masterclasses, evening concerts and jam sessions, as well as excursions and accompanying events. Applications are free of charge, and the remaining conditions are available on the festival website. Interested musicians should complete the application form, enclose the required documentation and submit everything by email no later than midnight on 20 June 2026. The results will be announced in early July.

The application form is available at: bit.ly/PLJF_application

The creative platform Ponta Lopud presents three summer cultural programmes in 2026, bringing together lovers of the arts, primarily film, music and literature. Ponta Lopud Film Festival is the first of the three events and will take place from 25 to 28 June, with a focus on the art of film. The second programme is Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, which will bring music lovers to the island from 27 to 29 August, while Ponta Lopud Book Bridge will transform the island into a literary haven from 17 to 19 September, rounding off the summer festival cycle.