Sea Star Festival Umag 2026 – Electronic Music on the Adriatic | Croatia
Sea Star Festival 2026 brings world-class DJs to Stella Maris, Umag for a 4-day electronic music event on Istria's northern coast. Line-up, tickets and travel guide.
Sea Star Festival is Istria's premier electronic music event — a four-day gathering at Stella Maris resort on the northern tip of the peninsula near Poreč that kicks off Croatia's summer festival season each May bank holiday weekend. Run by the same team behind the acclaimed EXIT Festival in Serbia, Sea Star brings a festival curation philosophy honed over decades: serious artistic programming, a beautiful waterfront setting, and an audience that mixes international electronic music fans with Croatian and Slovenian regulars who drive or catch a bus from Ljubljana and Zagreb for the weekend.
Setting & Stages
Stella Maris sits on a small wooded peninsula jutting into the Adriatic near Umag, with stages built across the campsite, beach, and indoor arena. The Main Stage faces the sea, offering a visual combination of electronic music and Adriatic sunsets that is difficult to replicate at landlocked festivals. The Stella stage provides a clubbier indoor experience for late-night techno and house sets. A beach stage and several smaller areas complete the infrastructure, giving the event a layered, exploratory feel.
Programme & Music
Sea Star's programming spans house, techno, drum & bass, and leftfield electronic music — credentialed enough to attract world-class headliners while maintaining underground credibility. Past editions have featured Four Tet, Peggy Gou, DJ Shadow, Bicep, and Floating Points. The festival also gives significant stage time to regional artists and emerging talent, making it a discovery event as much as a headliner showcase. The four-day format gives time to actually explore the music rather than rushing from one headliner to the next.
Timing & Pairing
The late May dates make Sea Star an excellent anchor for a longer Istria trip. The region is at its most pleasant — warm but not oppressively hot, the sea just reaching swimmable temperatures, and the crowds of July and August still weeks away. Poreč is 30 minutes south, Rovinj an hour, and the inland truffle country of Motovun about 45 minutes. A pre or post-festival day trip to Rovinj makes for a near-perfect Istrian weekend combining natural beauty, history, food, and music. Later in the summer, the Lighthouse Festival provides another Istrian electronic music option near Poreč.
Dates 2026: May 28–31 at Stella Maris resort, near Umag.
Tickets: 4-day passes typically €90–140 general admission; camping packages available from €120. VIP options from €200. Book early — past editions sell out.
Getting There: Umag is on Istria's northwest coast. Fly to Pula (80km south) or Trieste/Venice and rent a car. Festival shuttles run from Pula and Ljubljana. Driving gives flexibility for day trips. Poreč is 30km south.
Camping & Accommodation: On-site camping is part of the festival experience. Alternatively, stay in Poreč or Umag (30 min drive). Book accommodation months in advance.
Tips: Bring sunscreen — the beach stages offer limited shade. Waterproof jacket for evening sets. Ear protection recommended for indoor stages.
