Maglaj Spirit Weekend is more than a festival. It is a platform that uses culture to bring together young leaders, artists, activists, representatives of institutions,international organisations and local communities, creating space for new friendships, ideas and regional cooperation.
Maglaj, 27 July 2026 – When the lights went out over Maglaj’s medieval fortress on Friday evening and the first images appeared on the screen, hundreds of visitors sat side by side on stones that were several centuries old. The fifth anniversary edition of Maglaj Spirit Weekend, a regional festival of film, dialogue and music held on 24 and 25 July, once again confirmed what its organisers have said from the very beginning: culture is the shortest path from one person to another.
Organised by the Dictum Factum Youth Association, the festival remained faithful to its mission of creating a space where film and conversation inspire discussions about a shared future, reconciliation, identity and the role of young people in social development. More than 5,000 participants from across the region have attended the festival over the years, helping Maglaj Spirit Weekend grow into one of the most recognisable youth cultural initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“This is not just a festival,” says event organiser Adi Softić. “By holding it at Maglaj Fortress for the fifth consecutive year, we are trying to engage institutions, the public and local residents, while drawing attention to the need to restore important cultural and historical monuments such as this fortress. Stone that is not used deteriorates.We decided to use it in the most beautiful way possible: by bringing young people from across the region here.”
Softić emphasises that the festival’s greatest value lies precisely in what cannot be seen in the official programme.
“Year after year, people meet here who would otherwise never have had the opportunity to meet: someone from Pristina and someone from Doboj,
someone from Belgrade or Tirana and someone from Žepče. What remains after the festival is not the photographs, but exchanged phone numbers, joint project applications and friendships that last for years,” Softić says.
He particularly highlights the importance of the European Union’s support, presented this year through the EU With YOU initiative:
“This support is important to us not only materially, but also in terms of promotion and resources. After all, that is where everything began. Young European Ambassadors from the WeBalkans programme are among the festival’s co-founders. I was also a Young European Ambassador, and I know how many doors this network can open for a young person from a small community.”
The First Evening: A Film Connecting Generations
Following a short documentary about the work of the Dictum Factum Youth Association and the official opening ceremony, the audience watched the iconic regional film Barking at the Stars, which has long brought different generations of viewers together in front of the same screen.
This was followed by the fireside conversation “Connecting Differences, Building the Future,” featuring festival organiser Adi Softić and representatives of the Young European Ambassadors network of the WeBalkans programme. The discussion addressed mutual understanding, regional cooperation, European values and the responsibility of young people in building a shared future for the Western Balkans.
YoungEuropean Ambassadors Ena Hajdarević and Jovana Jaćimović also shared their experiences, stressing the invaluable importance ofsuch encounters.
They noted that networking and engaging with different perspectives create not only friendships, but also concrete opportunities for future joint projects.
The Second Day: A Walk Through the Town and Stories That Endure
Saturday, 25 July, began at a more relaxed pace, with a morning coffee gathering at the Old Town and the Tour de Maglaj, during which festival guests explored the town’s cultural and historical landmarks.
The evening programme opened with a presentation of successful youth stories and the results of regional cooperation achieved through the Young European Ambassadors network and the Association’s projects. This was followed by a screening of The Pavilion, a comedy that uses humour to explore questions of dignity, social roles and human relationships.
The highlight of the evening was the fireside conversation “Bridging the Past, Loving the Future,” featuring Jasna Diklić, Selma Ramović and Adi Softić. The discussion focused on confronting the past, the culture of remembrance, art as a driver of social change and the responsibility of new generations to build a more open and tolerant society.
“Love, friendship, togetherness, work and curiosity – these are the qualities that suit a young person and bring about positive change. Everything else is temporary,” Jasna Diklić said.
More Than a Festival: A Platform Bringing the Region Together
For the organisers,Maglaj Spirit Weekend has long been more than a programme on paper.
It is a platform that brings together young leaders, artists, activists, representatives of institutions, international organisations and local communities.
Every year, the authentic setting of the medieval fortress confirms the same message: Maglaj can be a meeting place for the entire region – a town where culture transcends borders, film opens dialogue and music connects people.
