From 9 to 13 September 2026, the city of Celje will host the first ALMA Festival, a new urban festival for the curious, dedicated to the life, work, and legacy of Alma M. Karlin. Developed as a pilot project within the MAG-NET Alliance and the City Atmosphere initiative, the festival is being created as a platform for revitalising the city centre, strengthening Celje’s cultural vibrancy, and connecting local organisations, creators, and residents.
The festival will bring together culture, history, tourism, gastronomy, and public space, inviting visitors to discover Celje through stories inspired by the life and travels of one of the city’s most renowned women. The main festival venue will be the Savinja Riverside area, including the Lapidarium and the City Beach, while festival activities will also extend to other locations associated with Alma and the city’s cultural life.
Through film, music, literature, visual and photographic arts, storytelling, gastronomy, guided experiences, and children’s programmes, the festival will present Alma’s legacy in a contemporary, accessible, and immersive way. Programme highlights will include Cinema Under the Stars, a concert by the band Generator, a travel-talk evening with Arne Hodalič, a discussion with Ilina Arsova, a light installation along the Savinja River, creative workshops, and the premiere of the documentary film Photographer.
A significant part of the festival will also be dedicated to experiences for visitors of all generations. Attendees will be able to explore Alma’s city, discover her works in a reading corner, participate in workshops, sample dishes from around the world, and take part in family and children’s activities. The festival will conclude with the Sunday programmes ALMA Tastes Japan and ALMA World Table, which will highlight Alma’s openness to the world and her curiosity about different cultures through gastronomy.
Festival organisers and partners: City Municipality of Celje, Institute for Culture, Tourism and Events Celeia Celje, MAG-NET, Celje Central Library, Celje Youth Centre, Tehnopark Celje, DZU Filter, KUD 567, Celje Historical Society, Provincial Museum of Celje – Gallery of Contemporary Art, Celje Centre Grammar School, First Grammar School in Celje, Museum of Recent History Celje.
Participating organisations: Glinoteka Institute, Dom ob Savinji, Anica Černejeva Kindergarten, From Celje to Žalec Festival, Komot Association, JSKD (Public Fund for Cultural Activities of the Republic of Slovenia), Celje Dance Forum, Igen Dance Theatre, DF Svit, Savinja Region Business Incubator, Hiša Barbara, Stari pisker Inn & Pub, Oštirka Restaurant, Koper Pub, Prešernova 15 Café, CANKAR-jeva Restaurant, LALU Bistro, Petra Zlatoper, DEGA d.o.o.
Media partners: Celjan City Newspaper and Radio Rogla.