Boat Carnival | Tourist Calendar of Serbia

The Belgrade Boat Carnival is a recent nautical-touristic event that takes place every year in August in the capital of Serbia, on the Sava River, not far from its confluence with the Danube.

The aim of this event is to promote the rivers and riverbanks of Belgrade, highlighting their significance and beauty, as well as the need for preserving and protecting these natural treasures, which few cities in the world can boast. Additionally, the Carnival promotes water sports activities and affirms Belgrade as an important point on the nautical map of Europe.

First held in 2004, the event has only been canceled twice since then (in 2014 due to floods and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), making it a traditional celebration. Initially, the program was organized at the Sava River Wharf on Karađorđeva Street, but in recent years, the focal point has been relocated to the Sava Promenade, between the Gazela Bridge and the Old Sava Bridge.

The large rivers have been what has made Belgrade attractive for settlement for millennia and have contributed to numerous battles fought for this strategic position. Located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers, where the Pannonian Plain and the hilly Balkans meet, Belgrade has historically been a significant military-geographic stronghold and today it serves as an attractive tourist destination.

The rivers have played a crucial role in the development of trade in the capital, and thus, the Sava River Wharf has always been a meeting place for merchants from various parts of Europe and the world.

Nowadays, numerous European cruise ships dock at the modern international port, some of which even become part of the Carnival. Each year, around 400 ships carrying approximately 50,000 tourists arrive in Belgrade, with most visitors coming from Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The event, which lasts for one day or more precisely an afternoon, usually takes place in late August, when around 150 different vessels gather at the carnival location. They compete for the title of the most beautifully decorated and cheerful vessel. The positive atmosphere spreads along the river and its banks, making the day enjoyable for everyone who happens to be near the river.

The Carnival starts each year with a spectacular parade of participating boats and concludes in the evening with the award ceremony for the best participants, concerts, and fireworks.

As the Carnival has increasingly established itself as a family event, the riverbank hosts not only concerts of various music genres, from rock to classical music but also numerous entertaining and educational workshops, most of which are dedicated to children. So far, the Carnival has featured performances by artists from Serbia and abroad, as well as street theater troupes and acrobats. Despite the event taking place on the Sava River, the river into which it flows is by no means neglected. On the contrary, educational programs often focus on the Danube, the second-largest river in Europe.

This year's 18th edition of the Belgrade Boat Carnival will be held on July 8th.

More details about the upcoming Boat Carnival can be found in local media and on the website of the Tourist Organization of Belgrade, the organizer of this splendid event.