PM Plenković to open the inaugural “Week of Croats Abroad”

The Croatian Prime Minister will participate in the opening ceremony of the inaugural “Week of Croats Abroad” and the opening of the Virgilija Nevjestić (1935-2009) “Art of Graphics” exhibit on Monday May 25th, at 1 PM, at the Croatian Heritage Foundation on Trg Stjepana Radića 3 in Zagreb.

The first edition of the Week of Croats Abroad will be held from 25 to 31 May 2026 in Zagreb and Zagreb County, as a new national and permanent celebration that will be held every year in the last week of May.

The event was established by a decision of the Croatian Parliament, at the proposal of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, with the aim of strengthening the connection and unity of the Croatian people, as well as increasing the visibility of Croats outside the Republic of Croatia in the Croatian public. The week brings together Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of the Croatian minority, the diaspora, their descendants, returnees and immigrants to the Republic of Croatia. Through cultural, scientific and public programs, the contribution of Croats abroad to the creation, development and identity of the Republic of Croatia will be highlighted.

The Week of Croats Abroad is held during the celebration of Statehood Day, as well as other important dates in contemporary Croatian history, which gives it an additional symbolic and integrative dimension. In an exclusive interview for the Voice of Croatia on Friday, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that the "Week of Croats Abroad" is an excellent initiative that will help brings Croats from around the world together.

“I think this is a great initiative, we expect a large number of people to visit a series of cultural events that will take place next week. We also expect strong messages at the council itself. Everyone from the Croatian diaspora is invited to a concert at the Croatian National Theatre on Statehood Day. I think these are all opportunities to make these ties, this mutual respect and appreciation more visible and even stronger. So this is a great initiative that will now become an annual event. It should also help sensibilize Croats in Croatia a little for Croats outside Croatia. That is what is very important, for us to understand that we are one people, that there are not many of us - whether we are abroad, or here, and that we must help and strengthen each other. This is truly just common sense,” Plenković said in the interview with the acting Editor-in-Chief of the Voice of Croatia, Vladimir Brnardić.

The "Week of Croats Abroad" was formally presented to the public last week by the State Secretary at the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, Zvonko Milas.

Source: HRT