Weekend.18 in Rovinj from September 18-21st
Weekend.18 presented as many as six festivals
Zagreb, July 2, 2025 – Six festivals, nine halls, three days, and a lot of fun – that is how the program of this year’s Weekend.18 was presented last night in Zagreb’s Peti kupe.
In a relaxed atmosphere, with music and summer rhythm, partners, lecturers, and friends of the festival socialized, and it was also spiced up by well-known faces of the domestic scene, such as Zoran Šprajc, Andrea Andrassy, Ida Prester, Mirna Zidarić, Hrvoje Krešić.
New program segments, key speakers and surprises were presented that make Weekend.18 an indispensable event for the end of summer.
“The Weekend has long ceased to be just a festival. Today, it is a platform that grows year after year because the audience, the industry, and the times we live in demand more and more knowledge, more inspiration, and more opportunities to connect. That is why this year we are bringing six festival programs that follow the needs and interests of our participants: from communications and media, to AI, HR, finance and investments, and energy topics. We are celebrating our coming of age, but what really makes us happy is that Rovinj is once again becoming a place where ideas that drive change meet, and where we always have a good time,” said Tomo Ricov, director of Weekend.18.
Big names on all Weekend stages
This year’s Weekend.18 edition brings a host of topics, conversations, and speakers that inspire, push boundaries, and raise new questions. Some of the world’s most famous names take to the stage – those who shape today’s world and boldly step where others dare not.
In addition to those already introduced, Lara Boro, CEO of The Economist Group, will speak in Rovinj about how one of the world’s most respected media outlets transformed into an industry leader during a time of global crisis, and James Taylor, who will bring us closer to the world of business creativity and innovation driven by AI.
Weekend.18 will also feature Mariana van Zeller, Emmy-winning journalist and host and executive producer of the acclaimed series Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller on National Geographic, who will take the audience on a journey through the darkest corners of the world’s black markets — from arms smuggling to illegal trade — and discover why it’s worth taking risks to tell stories that can change the world. Mariana’s fearless journalism and the tireless work of her team brought the series Trafficked 29 Emmy nominations and four wins at the 2025 News and Documentary Emmy Awards.
Federico Paderni, executive director for emerging markets in the EMEA region, responsible for the development of the X platform, brings a lot of experience from leading global companies such as LinkedIn and Microsoft. At Weekend.18, he will talk about the vision and future of the X platform and how companies that advertise on it can make the most of its opportunities to grow and connect with audiences.
HR.Weekend , the first independent festival within Weekend, is entering its third edition this year, confirming the growing importance of topics related to organizational culture and leadership in the region. Daniel Ackermann, CEO of Degordian and Director of HR Weekend , pointed out: “In the first year, we approached the festival as a space for experimentation and learning, which allowed us to build a quality foundation for further development. In the second year, we significantly expanded the content by adding a second hall, and this year we are taking a step forward with two awards: for the best HR professionals in collaboration with HR Center and for the best workplaces in collaboration with Lupp.”
Global names shaping the future are taking to the stage at the second edition of AI.Weekend. Among them is Sheel Mohnot, co-founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures from Silicon Valley – an investor who recognizes the next big thing in fintech before it becomes a trend. He is joined by Łukasz Gabler, the expert behind TikTok’s digital strategy for Central and Eastern Europe, with over 15 years of experience in diplomacy, public administration, and sustainable technology leadership. AI.Weekend Program Director, Nikola Pavešić, says: “Forget the myths about artificial intelligence! We are here to discover how industry leaders are really using it. AI.Weekend brings together technology and business, bringing you the opportunity to hear from world-renowned leaders and catch up with the innovations that are coming. Artificial intelligence is not the future. It is the present that we are all shaping together.”
Finance.Weekend brings leading domestic and international experts to its second edition, and Matija Nakić, program director and CEO of Farseer, emphasized: “Last year, finance was one of the program units, and this year it is becoming a special festival because the audience clearly asked for it. The financial audience is tired of boring conferences about numbers; we want to open up real topics and show how finance can be accessible, innovative, and important for everyone. I am pleased that Rovinj is becoming a place where finance is discussed differently.”
One of the key speakers is Michael Boyd, ex Payments & Treasury at Apple, who will share his experiences of what it was like to build a company worth 2 trillion dollars.
New faces of Weekend: a meeting place for smart capital and green energy
This year’s edition of Weekend.18 brings a new level of relevance and influence through two new program formats that answer the key questions of today and tomorrow.
Thus, on Friday, September 19, Investment. Weekend will bring together investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators in search of the next big stories that will change the world. Mato Njavro, Dean of the Zagreb School of Economics and Management and Program Director of Investment.Weekend, says: “For the first time, we are opening a space for everyone who believes in the power of smart investments. Our mission is to connect people with ideas, capital, and partners who can turn visions into reality.” Among the speakers are prominent leaders of the global and regional financial scene, with George Yeo, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, and a globally recognized strategist at the intersection of geopolitics, business, and finance, standing out in particular. Today, as a member of the advisory boards of institutions such as Peking University and the Vatican Economic Council, Yeo brings unique insight into the role of Asia in the future of global markets.
Energy.Weekend Powered UP by E.ON, which will also be held on September 19 at the Grand Park Hotel, is not another green PR event; it is a space for open conversations, concrete figures, and real answers about the energy transition and the green future. Vladimir Sabo, director of E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions for Croatia and Slovenia, pointed out: “Energy transformation should not only be a topic, but a common goal to which we all contribute with concrete solutions and open dialogue. That’s why we launched Energy.Weekend powered up by E.ON , a new platform where experts, leaders, and enthusiasts gather to build a sustainable energy future together. We believe that real progress occurs when knowledge, experience, and vision are translated into action.”
“Weekend has been bringing together the media and marketing industry for 18 years, and for the last few years, also various other industries, and all this in a market that is extremely dynamic, with changes that happen almost every day. These changes are mainly driven by digitization and the increasing expectations of users, who today are looking for personalized, fast, and relevant solutions. These are the values and characteristics that we at Mastercard recognize and live as a fintech brand by listening to the needs of users, developing innovations, and building technologies that improve everyday experiences. Our partnership with The weekend is an opportunity to be part of the changes that shape the future of the market. We see the weekend as a platform where ideas turn into concrete developments, and this is precisely what corresponds to our approach – to create partnerships that have an impact,” concluded Ema Huskić, Marketing Manager of Mastercard in Croatia.
For 18 years, Weekend has been transforming Rovinj into the epicentre of meetings of leaders, creatives, and visionaries in September. In a relaxed atmosphere, with relevant and provocative topics, it brings panels and keynote speeches that shape trends and the future of the industry. If you want to be where new partnerships and game-changing ideas are created, Weekend.18 is the place for you.
Book the third weekend of September for Rovinj and join the Weekend of all Weekends!
