Summer 2025 already started in Croatia with Sea Star Festival, which attracted 44,000 people from all over Europe to the Umag lagoon in Istria.
Now in its seventh edition, the Sea Star, a group of the Exit International Festival, has been a great success involving people from all over Europe, especially from: Slovenia and Italy. It took place from May 22nd to May 25th. We were present on Friday May 23rd and Saturday May 24th, while on May 22nd there was the welcome party with Lanna and Innēr Sense with free entry and on May 25th there was the Afterparty until 10:00 in the morning.
Four spectacular and emotional days have illuminated the Umag lagoon with positive energy, smiles, hugs and love. In this corner of paradise on the sea, music has united 44,000 participants, overcoming every barrier and demonstrating once again that the Sea Star Festival is not just a kermesse, but a unique experience that speaks to the heart.
Although it is not a very big festival, it boasts 3 stages: The Tesla Stage, which is also the Main Stage, the Nautilus Arena second stage and finally the Electric Waves Stage, the smallest stage.
The lineup was also an accomplice to this success, which included not only DJs but also: singers and bands of the rap, rock genre, etc.
Among the Headliners of this edition where we had the opportunity to listen to during the 2 days of the festival there were: Patrick Mason, Indira Paganotto, Tommy Cash, Loreen and Lost Frequencies. I Hate Models was also supposed to be there but the latter did not perform due to personal problems.
On the first day, as well as the official opening of the event, we had the opportunity, thanks to the press office, to take a tour inside the festival before the opening. During this tour they showed us the stages where the artists would perform during the two days, the points of sale where you could charge money to buy inside and the shops present inside the festival.
Every note, every applause, every song told a story of authentic passion, creating moments that will remain forever etched. The Sea Star reiterated that it is a symbol of freedom, music and community.
A wave of emotions crossed the audience and the artists during a particularly touching edition, dedicated to Ivana Kovačević. The exceptional artists of the festival paid tribute to her memory in a profound way: Indira Paganotto dedicated the last track of her set to Ivana at dawn, Loreen celebrated Ivana with her iconic “Euphoria”, Senidah, visibly moved , performed “Replay” in tears, calling Ivana the “Mother of Sea Star and EXIT”.
Here is the video dedication of the artists of Indira Paganotto and Loreen to Ivana Kovačević.
The opening night of the Sea Star Festival kicked off with the magnetic energy of Marko Louis, an artist capable of transforming every performance into a moment of deep emotional connection. With his intense voice and engaging stage presence, he won over the audience from the first notes. Halfway through the performance, he even left the stage to join the audience in the stalls, singing among the fans and creating an intimate and memorable atmosphere.
The most touching moment of the set came with the performance of “Vatra u mraku”, a song that has become a true anthem for Serbian students, during which he was joined on stage by Marčelo and Nensi. A rare and special meeting, celebrated with great enthusiasm by the audience.
After this emotional moment, the stage was overwhelmed by the sparkling energy of Miach, princess of Balkan pop, who treated the audience to a series of her hits, accompanied by special guests who made the show even richer and more dynamic.
The evening then got into full swing with KUKU$ x Buntai, a duo that is a symbol of the new trap scene, who brought the atmosphere to feverish levels of euphoria, culminating with the arrival on stage of Baby Lasagna, one of the artists most loved by the Croatian public, who was greeted with a standing ovation.
Meanwhile, at the Nautilus Arena, the new generation trap fans went wild with the performances of Baks, Peki, 30zona and Špiro & Teo, between tight beats and explosive bars. Meanwhile, the crowd in front of the Main Stage danced until dawn with the overwhelming sets of Patrick Mason, giant of global techno, and the incredible Indira Paganotto, queen of psytechno, capable of hypnotizing the lagoon with her sonic power and charismatic presence.
The second night of the festival brought some of the most anticipated names from the regional and international music scene to the stage. Thicc Boi once again warmed up the audience with a groove-filled opening set and great vibes on the Tesla Main Stage.
Immediately after, Voyage, a young artist from Belgrade and rising star of urban music, took the stage and literally drove the audience crazy with an explosive performance, consolidating his status as the new prince of the scene.
Next up was the absolute diva of the Balkan music scene, Senidah, who gave an extraordinary performance. With iconic songs such as “Slađana”, “Behute”, “Level”, “Replay” and “Senida”, she lit up the Umag lagoon, bringing the audience to an emotional and musical boiling point.
Then it was the turn of Tommy Cash, third place at Eurovision, also known as “Kanye East” for his irreverent and visionary aesthetic. His performance, accompanied by provocative visuals and impactful choreography, included the controversial hit “Espresso Macchiato”, which caused a sensation in Italy. Tommy thanked the Croatian audience with an emotional message: “Umag, it’s great to be here! Umag, Croatia, thank you so much for voting for us at Eurovision! I will never forget it!”
After him came Loreen, the queen of Eurovision, who literally left the crowd breathless with a pop show with a very high scenic impact, including metallic costumes, breathtaking lights and an intense and vibrant voice. Her concert ended with a simple but powerful: “Thank you! I love you, Croatia!”.
The night then exploded with the DJ set of Lost Frequencies, one of the most popular producers in the world, who was able to combine summer sounds with new productions, remixing his most famous hits in a modern key. The audience went wild with spectacular visuals, confetti and fireworks.
The Main Stage finally relied on the energy of the eccentric duo One People and the tried and tested team Divolly & Markward, who greeted the dawn to the rhythm of afrohouse.
On the Nautilus Arena, however, it was techno that reigned supreme. Paolo Ferrara proposed a devastating technometal set, in which he was able to blend the rough sounds of metal with the power of techno. Juno, Purple Mash and Gumja had warmed up the dance floor, while the closing was entrusted to the ever-beloved DJ Jock, who guided the electronic diehards until the morning.
On the final day of the festival, the Electric Waves Stage came alive with a lineup full of local and regional talent. Just steps from the sea, Minolta, Laseech, Antonio Zuza, Makarun b2b Rilejt, one n and Marcel performed, providing one last, unforgettable night of music under the stars.
In conclusion, we can say that it is a festival for all ages and that it extends to more categories of people as Sea Star includes more genres of music.
Here is a small recap of the event and our highlights.
