ArrayThis year: an ice rink at two locations, more than 40 vendors and new festive experiences.
At a press conference at Brežice Town Hall, representatives of the Brežice Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth Institute and the Municipality of Brežice presented the December programme, this year’s new features, tourism results and plans to continue bringing the old town centre to life.
Katja Čanžar, Director of the Brežice Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth Institute, said: “Our excellent tourism results encourage us and give us a responsibility to invest in projects that require greater content development and funding, such as Advent Brežice. We want to offer residents and visitors quality experiences, bring the old town centre to life, strengthen the local offer and build connections with rural providers, including through the Brežice Izbrano collective brand.”
Advent Brežice 2026 is organised by the Brežice Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth Institute in cooperation with the Municipality of Brežice, Brežice Sports Institute, Komunala Brežice and the Posavje Museum Brežice. The event is supported by sponsors GEN energija, HESS and Terme Čatež.
From the first Advent candle to Santa’s mailbox
The festive season will begin on Saturday, 28 November, at 5 pm with the lighting of the first Advent candle by St Lawrence’s Church. On Tuesday, 1 December, children from the Mavrica Brežice Kindergarten will set off on the traditional lantern parade. At 6 pm, the festive lights will be switched on, accompanied by performances from children’s choirs from Brežice Primary School. Santa’s mailbox will also open, giving children the chance to send their letters all the way to Lapland. Santa’s helpers Krkica and Špiček will once again lead families along the illuminated Elf Trail on 6 and 13 December.
This year, the ice rink will be at two locations
On Saturday, 12 December, the festive market and ice rink will open in the old town centre at 4 pm. After exceeding all expectations in its first year, the market will welcome more than forty vendors offering unique products by local creators and homemade delicacies. The Kranjci ensemble will provide the music. On opening day, skating will be free for all ages (free skating is provided by GEN energija).
This year’s new feature is an ice rink at two locations. It will remain in the town centre until 3 January, then move to Brežice Sports Hall from 8 January to 21 February 2027. There will be plenty happening on the ice, from skating with Santa’s helpers and Mini Planica for young ski jumpers to lively disco skating with a DJ. The Festive Street of Flavours, serving hot drinks and seasonal snacks, will be open beside the rink throughout its operating period.
Anja Avšič, Head of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Tourism, explained what makes this year’s ice rink different: “This year’s rink is made of synthetic material. It is an innovative type of rink that has been used successfully for several years in Bled and other tourist destinations across Slovenia. As a destination holding the Green Destinations Platinum award, and committed to responsible event management, we have also decided to rent this type of rink. It requires neither water nor electricity to operate.” She added that this year the Municipality of Brežice will provide every primary school pupil in the municipality with one free skating ticket, giving all local schoolchildren the chance to take to the ice.
Concerts under the stars and new festive experiences
Music lovers will have plenty to enjoy in December, with free open-air concerts in the old town centre. Following Kranjci on 12 December, performers will include Flirrt (18 December), Tajči (19 December), Čuki (26 December), and Vlado Kreslin and Mali bogovi (29 December). After the concerts on 12, 18 and 19 December, the celebrations will continue at the Advent after-party at Klub MC Brežice. On 31 December, visitors can see out the old year and welcome the new one at an open-air celebration with the band Vzrock, starting at 10 pm. The morning will be dedicated to children, who will welcome Father Frost with Alenka Kolman and Rudolph the reindeer.
The programme will also include festive guided experiences led by instructors and guides: a children’s painting workshop, Hot Chocolate and Paint; Sparkling Wine and Paint featuring local sparkling wines; Hot Gin and Clay; and the Brežice Wine Tour, a guided walk through the old town with a tasting of local wines. On Wednesdays, After Work Wednesdays will invite people to meet up in town after the working day.
There will also be festive events at the Posavje Museum Brežice, which will host two concerts. On Saturday, 19 December, the Music under Fortuna concert will feature violin duo Jerica Kozole and Verena Rojc. The 12th Gala New Year’s Concert will take place on Wednesday, 30 December, at 7 pm. The Terme Čatež resort is also preparing a rich Advent programme. An ice rink will open in front of Urška Pastry Shop from 4 December. The multi-purpose hall at Hotel Toplice will host a concert by the Loče Wind Orchestra (6 December), a concert by the Brežice Music School (11 December) and a Christmas concert by the Kapele Wind Orchestra (20 December). On 19 December, the Mokriške vrane Cultural and Arts Association will organise a Christmas market at Mokrice Castle. On New Year’s Eve, Terme Čatež will host a DJ party at Cabana Lounge & Play, a swimsuit party at the Winter Thermal Riviera—with a children’s New Year’s celebration and entertainment starting at 9 pm—and a New Year’s celebration in the Wellness Riviera sauna oasis.
A year of growth and a clear goal: one million overnight stays
The festive December programme in Brežice rounds off another successful year for tourism. In the first ten months of 2026, the municipality recorded 647,506 overnight stays, up 4.5 per cent on the same period last year, and 205,209 tourist arrivals, a seven per cent increase. International visitors accounted for 62 per cent of overnight stays, with the largest numbers coming from Croatia, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany. Terme Čatež remains the municipality’s largest tourism provider. If the current trend continues, Brežice could end 2026 with approximately 745,000 overnight stays and reach its strategic target of one million as early as 2033, two years ahead of schedule.
Ivan Molan, Mayor of the Municipality of Brežice, emphasised that events such as Mestna promenada and Advent Brežice bring life back to the old town centre and are strategically important for its continued development: “Brežice will remain an important tourist municipality. We must continue implementing the strategy we are developing across all areas: our offer should be green, sustainable and five-star. I believe we will reach one million overnight stays.”
The full Advent Brežice 2026 programme is available on the website. You are also invited to follow Advent Brežice on social media.
