Decorated boats on the Sava
The Belgrade Boat Carnival
Each summer, decorated boats from Belgrade’s marinas parade down the Sava, with a carnival on the promenade, concerts and fireworks.
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Image courtesy of © Srđan Popović · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsFor one evening a year, Belgrade remembers it is a city of two rivers. Boats of every size, from river barges to small motorboats, are dressed in flags, balloons and costumes and sail down the Sava in a long, noisy parade, while thousands of people line the banks to watch.
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Image courtesy of © Srđan Popović · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsA festival on the water
The Belgrade Boat Carnival was first held in 2004 and is organised by the Tourist Organisation of Belgrade. Its aim is simple: to celebrate Belgrade as a city on the rivers and to bring people back to the water. The 2025 edition was the twentieth, and the 2026 carnival took place on 13 June.
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Image courtesy of © Srđan Popović · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsThe parade of decorated boats
The heart of the day is the water parade, with decorated vessels from all of Belgrade’s marinas. Every boat competes for the title of best-decorated vessel, and the winners receive prizes.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Srđan Popović · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Srđan Popović · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsOn the Sava Promenade
In 2016 the carnival was held for the first time on the Sava Promenade at Belgrade Waterfront, with more than 80 decorated boats from 20 marinas, and the promenade is still its stage. Along it there is a carnival procession with majorettes and entertainers, and music concerts, and the evening ends with fireworks over the river.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Srđan Popović · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsOur advice: arrive early to find a place on the promenade railings, and stay for the fireworks. Dates change from year to year, so check the Tourist Organisation of Belgrade before you plan your trip.
Why it's on our list
- A parade of decorated boats
- Carnival on the Sava Promenade
- Concerts and fireworks
Location
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