This year’s Tourism Expo brings together exhibitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, and Indonesia, confirming the international character of the event and its ambition to make Sarajevo a recognizable meeting point for the tourism industry.

The partner city of this year’s fair is Ulcinj, one of the most famous tourist destinations on the Montenegrin coast, which is presenting its tourist offer, natural beauty, and cultural heritage to visitors.

Sarajevo Deserves a Serious International Tourism Fair

At the official opening ceremony, attendees were addressed by Azra Džigal, President of the Sarajevo Tourism Expo 2026 Organizing Committee; Dino Selimović, Acting Director of Sarajevo International Airport; Mirsad Jašarspahić, President of the Chamber of Economy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Ćazim Hodžić, Director of the Ulcinj Tourism Organization.

They highlighted the importance of connecting the tourism sector, public institutions, and private companies, as well as the need for Sarajevo to establish a strong, internationally recognized tourism fair that will contribute to the development of the tourism offer, new business partnerships, and the promotion of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Three Days of Tourism, New Experiences, and Business Opportunities

Tourism Expo is not only a venue for presenting tourist destinations, but also an opportunity for meetings, new acquaintances, business deals, and exchanging experiences. Over the course of three days, visitors can expect a diverse program connecting tourism, culture, tradition, and modern travel trends.

A special atmosphere will be added by the “Sevdah Through Time” project, allowing visitors to experience a portion of the rich cultural heritage of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the “Old Crafts” project, which presents the heritage and spirit of traditional artisans from across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Alongside the presentation of attractive destinations, expert discussions, and practical workshops, the fair brings numerous networking opportunities and engaging content for all generations.

More Than 50 Valuable Prizes, with the Grand Prize Leading to Spain!

A special surprise for visitors comes in the form of more than 50 valuable prizes provided by the exhibitors and partners of the fair. These include tourist trips and other attractive awards, while travel agencies will also offer tour packages at special fair prices at their stands.

The grand prize was provided by the Sol Azur travel agency—a trip to Spain for two people, which includes Girona, Costa Brava, and Barcelona.

This serves as an additional reason for citizens and tourists to visit the fair, meet exhibitors, gain new insights, explore destination offers, and perhaps win their next trip right at Tourism Expo 2026.

Invitation to Citizens: Visit Tourism Expo!

The organizers invite the citizens of Sarajevo and BiH, tourists, families, students, travel enthusiasts, and everyone interested in the tourism industry to visit the fair, meet the exhibitors, discover new destinations, enjoy the prepared activities, and take the opportunity to win valuable prizes, which will be drawn on Saturday.

The fair is open to visitors:

• Thursday, October 22: from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

• Friday, October 23: from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

• Saturday, October 24: from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Admission to the fair, as well as participation in professional and educational programs, is free of charge.

The Tourism Board of Sarajevo Canton continues to improve conditions for its members and accommodation providers. The Prijava.ba mobile application (https://app.prijava.ba), featuring an integrated document scanner, is available to all users and enables faster and simpler guest registration.

The application is available for iOS and Android, and for users of the system from the Sarajevo Canton area, an annual license with an unlimited number of registrations has been activated – at no additional cost.

The introduction of this digital solution is part of the continuous efforts to modernize and improve the tourism sector.

Record 80% of Obligated Parties Pay Membership Fees Regularly: Together We Strengthen Tourism

At the same time, we are pleased with the responsibility demonstrated by our members. As many as 80% of obligated parties regularly fulfill their legal obligation to pay membership fees, representing significant progress – 50% more than in the previous three years.

This result confirms a developed awareness of the importance of complying with legal obligations and represents an important contribution to strengthening the tourism sector.

Goal – Increasing Tourist Tax Collection

In the coming period, the Tourism Board of Sarajevo Canton will also place particular focus on improving the system for increasing tourist tax collection, through activities aimed at greater compliance with legal obligations and a more efficient guest registration system.

Our goal is development, digitalization, responsibility and working together – for an even stronger and higher-quality tourism sector of Sarajevo Canton.

Particular emphasis was placed on sustainable tourism as one of the key directions for future cooperation, as well as on the possibilities of jointly applying for projects financed through European Union funds.

Ambassador Molina emphasized that Spain, as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, possesses extensive experience that could be beneficial to Bosnia and Herzegovina. She particularly highlighted the importance of establishing a national tourism board, which would contribute to stronger and more coordinated promotion of the country’s tourism potential on the international market.

One of the key topics discussed was the possibility of introducing a direct Madrid–Sarajevo flight, which would improve connectivity between the two countries, increase tourist traffic, and foster business cooperation.

The participants also discussed the exchange of tourism professionals, strengthening cooperation between tourism agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Spain, as well as organizing study visits and knowledge exchange programs aimed at promoting Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Spanish tourism market.

During the meeting, they also discussed organizing cycling tours on the Olympic mountains as a way of promoting active and sustainable tourism, as well as strengthening tourism ties between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Spain.

Both sides expressed their readiness to intensify cooperation through concrete projects that will contribute to the development of sustainable tourism, the exchange of knowledge, and the stronger international promotion of Sarajevo as an attractive tourist destination.

Sarajevo is currently hosting a group of renowned travel influencers from the region, who arrived in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the initiative of one of the region’s most well-known travel authors and content creators, Robert Dacešin.

The group includes influencers whose content on social media and digital platforms reaches hundreds of thousands of travel enthusiasts. The purpose of their visit is to experience Sarajevo through authentic experiences, its cultural and historical heritage, gastronomy, and the unique atmosphere for which the city is well known.

One of the hosts of the visit is the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board, which organized a tour of Sarajevo’s most significant landmarks for the guests, guided by professional tour guide Damir Muminagić.

During the tour, the influencers visited the City Hall, walked through Baščaršija, toured Gazi Husrev-beg’s Mosque, and enjoyed traditional Bosnian coffee in Kovači, from where one of the most beautiful views of Sarajevo can be seen. Through stories about the city’s rich history, culture, and traditions, they discovered a city that has represented a meeting point of different civilizations and religions for centuries.

The diversity of Bosnia and Herzegovina made a particularly strong impression on the guests. One of the influencers pointed out that what fascinated him most was the blend of different cultures, traditions, and customs, emphasizing that this unique diversity makes Bosnia and Herzegovina an exceptionally interesting and authentic tourist destination.

Robert Dacešin, who has been promoting travel and lesser-known destinations through his content for years, emphasized that he always enjoys returning to Sarajevo, describing it as a city of rich culture, history, sports, and a special energy that captivates every visitor.

Visits of this kind represent a significant contribution to the promotion of Sarajevo on the regional tourism market. The photos, videos, and impressions that the influencers will share with their followers will further promote Sarajevo as an attractive city break and year-round tourist destination, recognized for its hospitality, authentic experiences, and unique blend of cultures that sets it apart in this part of Europe.

Representatives of Poslovne novine (Business Newspapers) from Sarajevo, the organizers of the project, announced that the 39th edition will be the largest to date, with a strong focus on connecting businesses, strengthening regional cooperation, facilitating B2B meetings, attracting investments, and promoting Bosnia and Herzegovina as a business destination.

One of the most significant announcements made during the conference was that Poslovne novine has become a member of the Central European Fair Alliance (CEFA), an organization that brings together leading trade fair organizers from Central and Southeast Europe.

The President of the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board, Haris Fazlagić, emphasized that international business events are among the key drivers of congress and business tourism development.

“Business events, conferences, and international trade fairs today represent one of the most important drivers of MICE tourism, a segment that generates high added value for every destination. This is precisely why events that bring together the most successful companies, business leaders, investors, and institutional representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region are of exceptional importance for Sarajevo Canton. They contribute to strengthening business ties, exchanging experiences, and creating new investment opportunities, while at the same time confirming Sarajevo’s position as a leading destination for business meetings, congresses, and international gatherings,” said Fazlagić.

This year’s 100 EXPO – Sarajevo International Business Fair will feature companies, institutions, and national chambers of commerce from several countries in the region. Particular highlights will include the “Women 100” Women’s Entrepreneurship Pavilion, as well as a pavilion dedicated to fast-growing companies.

The program will include international conferences, panel discussions, business meetings, presentations of investment projects, and new technologies. Meanwhile, the “100 Largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Region” project will once again showcase the most successful companies according to key business performance indicators through a months-long campaign, culminating in a traditional gala ceremony that will gather more than 500 leading business executives.

The organizers expect this year’s edition to further strengthen Sarajevo’s position as a regional hub for business networking, investment, and international economic cooperation.

The play “The Last Piano Lesson,” written by Adnan Lugonić and directed by Nina Nikolikj, will have its world premiere on Friday, April 17, starting at 8:00 PM, at Teatar 071, located at Sime Milutinovića 2/II.

The apartment at Sime Milutinovića Sarajlije 2 will become an apartment in Biesenthal, a quiet East German town, where a meeting will take place between Jasmina, a refugee from BiH, and Frau Gut, a piano teacher. Although they come from different worlds, the two of them have developed a deep friendly relationship. While Jasmina’s daughter practices the piano in the adjacent room, Jasmina and Frau Gut spend the lesson time in their usual socializing. It will turn out to be the last one.

The play stars: Selma Alispahić and Džana Džanić.

“This play is a special challenge for me because it speaks about the universal theme of the refugee struggle in an intimate way, through a personal story. It is a theme that strongly corresponds with today’s state of the world, but also with the general principle of non-acceptance and lack of solidarity – which inevitably lead to divisions, conflicts, and prejudices. At the same time, the play is deeply rooted in the feeling of loneliness of every individual, which arises precisely as a result of the absence of that same tolerance.” – stated the director, Nina Nikolikj.

The dramaturg is Adnan Lugonić, set and costume designer Adisa Vatreš Selimović, composer Oliver Josifovski, photographer Velija Hasanbegović, while the poster design is by Almir Kurt Kugla.

Rerun performances are scheduled for April 18 and 19 starting at 8:00 PM. We note that, after the premiere of the drama “Sniper,” this will be the second premiere title of the newly founded Teatar 071.

The play was produced in co-production with Peripetija Production.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton and the Municipality of Stari Grad in cooperation with the Multimedia Cultural Center CZK.

Tickets can be purchased exclusively online, via the platform karter.ba.

To mark World Theatre Day, the newly established Teatar071 (located at Sime Milutinovića 2/II) is proud to present the play “Sniper”, written by the prominent Croatian author Damir Karakaš and directed by Dino Mustafić. The performance will take place on Friday, March 27, at 8:00 PM.

About the Play

“Sniper” is a drama of intense emotional and political charge, following two young people faced with a lack of prospects, deep-seated anger, and a sense of total societal collapse. Their search for meaning and change leads them toward radical decisions, questioning the thin line between genuine frustration and destructive extremism. Karakaš’s text captures the atmosphere of our modern era with brutal precision—a time where “lost generations” struggle to find their own voice.

“Sniper is a production that opens a space for public dialogue; it is theatrically unsettling and invites the audience to face reality without the makeup.” — Dino Mustafić, Director

The Team

• Cast: Vedad Čano, Anastasija Dunjić, and Senad Alihodžić.

• Dramaturgy: Adnan Lugonić.

• Scenography & Costume Design: Adisa Vatreš Selimović.

• Visuals: Poster design by Almir Kurt Kugla; Photography by Velija Hasanbegović.

Production & Support

The play is a co-production between Scena MESS and the Multimedia Cultural Center CZK. The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton and the Municipality of Stari Grad.

🎟️ Tickets

Tickets are available exclusively online via the karter.ba platform.

Sports Ambassadors on the Global Stage

Through this call, approximately 50 individual athletes have been selected for their outstanding results and international presence. These competitors serve as vital ambassadors, carrying the “Visit Sarajevo” brand to the world’s most prestigious sporting arenas.

Among those supported is Damir Stroil, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most successful strongman competitors. A finalist in the Strongman Champions League, Stroil goes head-to-head with the world’s most elite power athletes. His remarkable achievements have firmly placed Sarajevo on the map of this demanding global sport.

The Synergy of Sport and Tourism

By investing in our top talents, the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board continues to strengthen the bond between athletic excellence and global tourism. We recognize our athletes as more than just competitors—they are the faces of our city, enhancing Sarajevo’s visibility and charm with every international appearance.

A Night of Legend: José Carreras Bids Farewell to Sarajevo

The legendary Spanish tenor José Carreras graced the Mirza Delibašić Hall in Sarajevo for a spectacular gala concert as part of his global Farewell Tour. This landmark performance stands as one of the most significant musical highlights of the year in the Bosnian capital.

An Evening of World-Class Artistry

The evening was a masterclass in operatic excellence:

• The Baton: The concert was led by David Giménez, Carreras’s longtime collaborator and a conductor with a distinguished international career.

• Special Guest: Soprano Diana Togui, renowned for her acclaimed performances across Europe’s premier opera houses, joined the tenor on stage.

• Local Excellence: In a powerful display of cultural synergy, the stars were accompanied by the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, adding a profound layer of local pride to the event.

A Decades-Long Connection

Carreras’s relationship with Sarajevo is deeply emotional and storied. His history with the city includes two other pivotal performances:

1. 1994: During the height of the conflict, he performed Mozart’s Requiem in D minor (d-moll) within the ruins of the Vijećnica (City Hall)—a moment that remains etched in the city’s memory.

2. 2006: He returned to enchant the Sarajevo audience once more at the Zetra Olympic Hall.

“This final performance serves as a poignant closing chapter to a musical bond that has spanned decades.”

This historic farewell gala was proudly supported by the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board, celebrating the city’s enduring status as a vibrant hub for world-class culture.

According to preliminary tourism data, Sarajevo Canton has recorded a steady rise in tourism traffic during the first two months of 2026, highlighted by a significant jump in the number of overnight stays.

In the period of January–February 2026, the number of arrivals grew by 0.6%, while the number of overnight stays skyrocketed by 21.4% compared to the same period last year. These indicators clearly point to a growing trend: visitors are choosing to stay in Sarajevo longer, directly boosting the local economy and maximizing the impact of tourist spending.

“These results confirm the enduring appeal of Sarajevo Canton as one of the most visited destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They show that the 2026 tourism season is starting with very encouraging indicators,” emphasized Haris Fazlagić, President of the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board.

This positive momentum at the start of the year reflects a growing international interest in Sarajevo and reinforces its strengthening position within both the regional and global travel markets.