More than 144 thousand spectators and 271 sold-out performances: Zagreb's HNK concluded one of its most successful seasons

The Zagreb-based Croatian National Theatre (HNK) has concluded its 2025/2026 season as one of its most successful and attended in recent years, drawing over 144,000 spectators across 271 sold-out performances. The season was marked by a rich artistic programme featuring premieres in drama, opera, and ballet, extensive international collaborations, guest appearances at prestigious festivals, and high public interest confirmed by record-breaking attendance figures. Throughout the season, 200 performances were held on the main stage of the HNK, while 32 took place in the foyer and concert hall. Additionally, 77 productions were staged on the newly opened HNK2 venue, which became a key highlight of the season. The total number of visitors reached 144,123, with an average theatre occupancy rate of 97.95 percent. A particularly notable indicator of public interest was the 271 fully booked shows. A major milestone during the 2025/2026 season was the opening of the new HNK2 stage on November 3, 2025. This marked the first time in more than a decade that the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb acquired a second stage, along with renovated rehearsal spaces crucial for further development of production capacities. The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia and funded by the Government of the Republic of Croatia. It represents one of the largest infrastructure and artistic investments in the recent history of the theatre and a significant step toward modernizing the operations of the national theatre house. The new stage enabled the HNK in Zagreb to achieve greater programming flexibility, create new artistic formats, and develop projects. As a contemporary, multifunctional space designed for dramatic, operatic, ballet, and multimedia projects, HNK2 opened up opportunities for experimentation, modern theatrical aesthetics, and stronger integration among the three artistic ensembles, Drama, Opera, and Ballet. "The 2025/2026 season was a year of major projects, intense artistic activity, and exceptional public interest for the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb," said Dr. sc. Iva Hraste Sočo, director of the Zagreb HNK. "With the opening of HNK2, we gained a new opportunity for programme development and a space for projects that connect our ensembles. Through numerous premieres, international collaborations, and guest appearances, we have further solidified the position of the theatre on both domestic and international stages. We are especially pleased with the trust shown by the public, demonstrated through over 144,000 visitors and nearly fully occupied theatres. I thank all artists and staff members of the HNK who contributed to this successful season, and we continue developing programmes that combine top artistic quality, tradition, and new theatrical formats." The drama department's programme featured seven premieres: "Always Be Like a Dragon," "Flags," "Handle with Care," "Cabaret," "The Tragedy of Agamemnon 2.0," "Maria Stuart," and "The Ideal Husband." The Drama ensemble of the HNK continued to intensively develop international and national collaborations. Plays were performed in Osijek, Sofia, Maribor, and Malta. With the play "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor M. Dostoevsky directed by Jure Lorencić, the Drama ensemble visited the National Theatre Ivan Vazov in Sofia, Bulgaria, and participated in the 36th Marulić Days with two plays ("Always Be Like a Dragon" by Espi Tomičić directed by Ole Lozić and co-production "Wooden Birds" by Lidija Deduš directed by Ivan Plaziba) and the 61st Borštnik Meeting with the play "Really" by Tomislav Šoban. Within the European project DoSEL, the play "Always Be Like a Dragon" was performed at the Manoel Theatre in Malta, while the project K-HNK facilitated collaboration with Croatian national theatres and co-produced the play "Richard III" with the Dubrovnik Summer Games and the HNK in Varazdin. An important aspect of the season was the integration of the new HNK2 venue into the overall programme, allowing for diverse artistic expressions and expanding the theatre’s capacity to host innovative productions. The success of the season underscores the HNK's ability to adapt to changing artistic demands while maintaining its traditional roots and enhancing its role as a cultural hub in Croatia and beyond. The theatre plans to build on this momentum in the upcoming season, leveraging the expanded facilities and continued international engagement to further elevate its status as a leading institution in the performing arts.