The Budva Theatre City Festival (Grad Teatar Budva) has been running every summer since 1987 and is one of the more significant cultural events on the Adriatic coast. The festival uses the old town itself as its stage — performances take place in the citadel courtyard, against the town walls, and in the squares between the old stone buildings. The setting alone makes it worth attending even if your knowledge of Montenegrin theatre is limited.
The programming mixes local and regional theatre companies with international productions, and spans drama, dance, and music. Performances run through July and August. Tickets are sold at the festival office and at the door; the most popular productions sell out quickly. Even if you don't catch a performance, the festival sets up public spaces around the old town that are worth exploring.