New Year's Eve in Montenegro, with concerts by the sea

Montenegro isn’t the first place that springs to mind for seeing in the New Year, which is exactly why it can be a good shout. The coast doesn’t get properly cold, and the two towns that go all out, Tivat and Herceg Novi, put on outdoor concerts several nights running. Here’s what’s been published for the switch from 2026 to 2027.

Tivat, four nights on the Pine waterfront

The Tivat tourist board takes the party to its Pine waterfront, right by the sea, with four nights of concerts in a row. It kicks off on 30 December with Peđa Jovanović and Priganitze, New Year’s Eve itself brings Ceca Ražnatović and Danijel Alibabić, Jakov Jozinović and Akademia Band play on 1 January, and Mirza Selimović and Kira Bend close on the 2nd. They’re stars from the region; if none of the names rings a bell, don’t worry, you’re there for the atmosphere. Away from the stage, the event page sells the rest of a winter stay, seaside walks, the smell of the sea in cold air and plenty of good food.

Herceg Novi, three nights by the clock tower

In Herceg Novi the heart of the party is Nikola Đurković Square, beside the clock tower. The National Tourism Organisation announces a double bill from Saša Matić and Dženan Lončarević for New Year’s Eve, with the countdown in the square; Nataša Bekvalac and Adi Šoše on 1 January; and on the 2nd a finale from Aleksandar Sofronijević and his orchestra with a surprise guest. There’s also a children’s New Year celebration. To me the old-town square, with its steps and fortresses around it, makes a better stage than Tivat’s waterfront.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Herceg Novi before prices climb.

Holidays and dates worth knowing

New Year’s Day is a two-day holiday by law, so 2 January is a day off too. The National Tourism Organisation also lists 6 and 7 January, Orthodox Christmas, as holidays, and points out that Montenegrin holidays last two days. In Kotor, the 2025-26 Kotor Winter Fest ran from 29 November to 31 January; the next edition’s dates were still unannounced when I checked. For Budva and Kotor I found no official 2026 New Year’s Eve programme; check their tourist boards’ websites in December.

The weather at New Year

Mild on the coast, with rain likely. In Herceg Novi, December averages 9.6°C and January 8.2°C on the 1961-1990 normals, with rain on 14 or 15 days a month. It doesn’t snow on the coast, but pack a waterproof. Your accommodation will register you within 24 hours and add the municipal tourist tax, which in Herceg Novi and Tivat is €1 per adult per night. There’s more detail in Montenegro weather in December and Montenegro weather in January, and the rest of the country’s calendar is in events in Montenegro.

If you would rather have a local show you round, book a guided tour in Herceg Novi and choose by the reviews.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Herceg Novi before prices climb.