After a two-year break, Šoderica Open Air is finally making its long-awaited return, bringing techno back to one of northern Croatia’s most unique outdoor locations.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Aquaterra Lake Resort on the shores of Lake Šoderica, the event returns on June 6, 2026, for its fourteenth edition, promising a night where nature, music and large-scale production come together under the stars.
Over the years, Šoderica Open Air has established itself as one of the most recognizable electronic music events in the Podravina region. Unlike traditional club nights, the event offers a completely different atmosphere, transforming the lakeside setting into an open-air dancefloor surrounded by water, forests and summer energy. It is precisely this combination of natural beauty and powerful electronic music that has helped the event build a loyal following far beyond Koprivnica and the surrounding area.
This year’s edition marks a particularly significant moment in the festival’s history because it welcomes its biggest guest to date.
For the first time ever, UMEK will perform at Šoderica Open Air.
Few artists have had a greater impact on the development of techno in this part of Europe than the Slovenian icon. With a career spanning more than three decades, UMEK is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in global electronic music and one of the pioneers responsible for shaping the modern techno scene.
Emerging in the early 1990s, UMEK became one of the defining names of Eastern European techno long before the genre achieved mainstream festival success. Through relentless touring, groundbreaking productions and an unmistakable dedication to underground culture, he helped establish a bridge between the regional scene and the global electronic music community.
Today, his résumé speaks for itself.
From Awakenings, Tomorrowland and Time Warp to Sónar, Ultra Music Festival and countless major clubs around the world, UMEK has performed on virtually every important stage electronic music has to offer. His productions and remixes have consistently topped international charts, while his reputation as a technically gifted performer remains unmatched.
Perhaps most famously, UMEK became known for his exceptional skill behind four turntables, a technique that helped distinguish him from many of his contemporaries and cemented his reputation as a true master of the craft.
What has always made UMEK special, however, is his ability to balance underground credibility with modern festival appeal. His sets maintain the intensity, groove and raw energy that techno fans expect while remaining accessible enough to captivate audiences on the world’s largest stages.
That combination makes him a perfect headliner for Šoderica Open Air.
Supporting the Slovenian heavyweight is a strong regional lineup featuring Seraphim Codex, Krnya, Shipe, Steel, Bose and Limee, ensuring the energy remains high throughout the entire night. Together, they represent different facets of the contemporary techno landscape while contributing to the event’s distinctly Croatian identity.
The location itself remains one of the event’s biggest attractions.
Lake Šoderica has long been a popular destination for recreation and tourism, but on this particular night it transforms into something entirely different. As darkness falls and the production comes to life, the lakeside becomes a temporary electronic music sanctuary where powerful sound systems, lights and visual effects blend seamlessly with the surrounding natural environment.
That setting is a major reason why the event continues to attract visitors from across northern Croatia and beyond. With Koprivnica just 17 kilometers away, as well as easy access from Varaždin, Čakovec, Križevci, Bjelovar, Virovitica and even Zagreb, Šoderica Open Air has become a destination event for techno fans across the region.
Organizers promise another year of impressive production, immersive atmosphere and a carefully curated experience designed to showcase the best aspects of outdoor electronic music culture.
More importantly, the return of Šoderica Open Air signals the return of a gathering that many local fans have missed. After two years away, the anticipation surrounding the event is already building, and the addition of UMEK only amplifies that excitement.
It is not often that a globally recognized techno legend performs in Podravina. In fact, organizers are confidently calling it one of the biggest electronic music bookings the region has ever seen.
On June 6, under a sky full of stars and beside one of Croatia’s most beautiful lakes, thousands of people will once again come together for a night defined by music, movement and community.
And if history is any indication, Šoderica Open Air 2026 may well become the event’s most memorable chapter yet. 🌞🎶
