North Macedonia 35th independence celebrations

In August 2026, North Macedonia marked the 35th anniversary of its independence with a nationwide programme of free public performances. The schedule opened with a large show in Bitola on 2 August and continued with concerts, theatre and a travelling musical caravan that visited 11 cities before concluding in Skopje’s Macedonia Square on 4 September.

Highlights included a concert by electronic‑music icons Paul van Dyk and Paul Oakenfold in Strumica’s city park on 16 August, and back‑to‑back shows by singer‑songwriter Sergej Kjetkovic in Dojran (8 August) and at the ancient theatre in Ohrid (9 August), the latter featuring a guest appearance by the legendary group VIS Biljana.

Additional events reported on 5 August saw the pop‑rock band Duper perform at the Ancient Theatre in Ohrid with guest artists Bojana Arsvoska, Jang Dadi and Nikola Perovski‑Pere. The following day, Trio Interart presented a free chamber‑music programme at the Officer’s House in Bitola as part of BIT FEST. On 15 August, legendary Macedonian groups Memoria, Mizar and Synthesis staged a free concert in Strumica’s City Park, further underscoring the cultural breadth of the celebrations.