Festival of Dalmatian Klapa

The Festival of Dalmatian Klapa takes place in Omis every August, turning the town's squares and streets into performance venues for traditional a cappella singing groups. Klapa is a form of harmony singing peculiar to Dalmatia — five to twelve voices, no instruments, singing in tight thirds and fifths about the sea, love, and village life. When performed in the stone-walled lanes of the old town, the acoustics amplify it to something remarkable.

Groups come from across Croatia and from Croatian communities abroad. The festival runs for most of August, with performances most evenings. Entry to the outdoor concerts is free; indoor performances and competitions require tickets. It is the most significant cultural event in Omis and worth timing a visit around if you are in the region.

things to do sight
A story
Klapa singing — unaccompanied male harmony singing in Dalmatian dialect — was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2012. The genre evolved from church music in the 16th and 17th centuries and became distinctly secular over time, with songs covering themes of love, the sea, and local life. The Omis festival, founded in 1967, is the principal annual gathering for klapa groups from across Croatia and the diaspora.