Bela Nedeja 2026 in Kastav – A guide to Kvarner’s fall festival

This weekend, Kastav has only one thing on its mind. From Saturday (3.10.) to Monday (5.10.), the old hilltop town above Rijeka and Opatija once again becomes the meeting point for everyone who loves wine, music and good company. Bela Nedeja celebrates the young wine of the season, above all the local Belica. For the people of Kastav, it is the most important day of the year, and they look forward to it from one autumn to the next.

If you are planning to go, we have collected everything you need in one place: where the tradition comes from, what’s the programme like and how to avoid the parking chaos.

What is Bela Nedeja and where does it come from?

Kastav sits on a hill above the Kvarner Bay. Locals simply say their town is “na brege”, meaning “on the hill”. For centuries, a fair has been held here on the first Sunday of October, and over time it grew into the biggest festival in the area. It takes its name from Belica, an indigenous white grape variety grown around Kastav. In the local dialect, “bela” means white and “nedeja” means Sunday, so the name translates as “White Sunday”.

In the past, the fair had a very practical purpose. It marked the end of one business year and the start of the next. Work in the fields and forests was done, debts were settled and new deals were made. Traders came from all over the Kastav area, from the islands, from Istria and even from Carniola in today’s Slovenia. Kastav’s craftsmen were especially respected: coopers, coppersmiths, shoemakers and carpenters.

Traces of that time remain to this day. The Monday after the festival is called Beli Pundejak (“White Monday”) and is traditionally the day when local businesspeople and officials gather. People in Kastav have a special word for customs like this: užanca. It means something that has always been done and that simply is not skipped. The town is now working to have Bela Nedeja added to Croatia’s register of intangible cultural heritage.

What is the atmosphere like?

Bela Nedeja is not an event staged for tourists, and that is exactly why it is worth seeing. The narrow stone streets fill with people from Rijeka, Opatija, the islands and the surrounding villages. Many of them only see each other once a year. The smell of roast meat mixes with the scent of young wine, and music comes from every corner. The celebrations easily carry on late into the night.

If you want to experience the real Kvarner outside the summer season, you will hardly find a better opportunity. Two tips: wear comfortable shoes, as the streets are steep and cobbled, and bring a jacket. Kastav sits higher up, so evenings are noticeably cooler than on the coast.

Bela Nedeja 2026 programme

Opening on Saturday

The festival officially opens on Saturday 3 October at 2 pm. As every year, it begins with a toast to the young Belica wine, which kicks off three days of celebration.

Music for every taste

The music programme covers all generations. Performers include Koktelsi, Grooversi, Night Express, Supercover Band and Mauro Staraj & La Banda. Klapa Kastav brings klapa, the traditional Croatian a cappella singing, while DJs take over the later hours.

Wine and food

The heart of the festival for wine lovers is Crekvina. Winemakers, distilleries and producers from Kvarner and the rest of Croatia gather here. You can taste Belica as well as wines from other regions. The main food offer is located at Fortica.

Traditional fair

The spirit of the old fair lives on through 26 exhibitors, including family farms. You will find traditional Kastav handicrafts, jewellery, toys and clothing. Look out for the petešić, a small terracotta rooster that has become the symbol of Kastav. Blow into its tail and it whistles like a crowing rooster. It is hard to find a better souvenir from this region.

Culture

Alongside the festivities, there is also something quieter to see. The Holy Trinity Gallery (Galerija Sv. Trojice) hosts the exhibition “Vladimir Nazor in Kastav”, dedicated to one of Croatia’s best-known writers. There is also an exhibition on the return of archaeological treasures. Kuća belice, the house dedicated to Kastav’s wine, is open on all three days.

For children

Families have plenty of choice. A funfair runs at three locations: Šporova jama, the sports zone and Belveder Square. There is also a creative painting workshop and a balloon show. Children can even learn the steps of the potresujka, a traditional dance from this area.

Getting there and parking

Plan to arrive early, as large crowds are expected. From 8 am on Saturday until midnight on Monday, the road from Šporova jama to the Belići junction is closed to all traffic. All streets in the town centre are closed as well.

If you are coming from Rijeka or Matulji, park in Rešetari or along the access road to the sports zone. If you are coming from Viškovo, use the parking area in the Žegoti business zone. From there, you walk to the centre. If you plan to taste the wine, taking a taxi is the smartest choice.

Visiting Bela Nedeja from Opatija

Kastav is about a 15-minute drive from Opatija. That makes this weekend ideal for a short autumn getaway: the sea and the seafront promenade in Opatija by day, the festival in Kastav in the evening. October on the Opatija Riviera is calm and mild, without the summer crowds. If you are looking for accommodation for this or another autumn weekend, take a look at our apartments and villas in Opatija.