A metropolis of contemporary ballet and theatre
Edward Clug and Valentina Turcu were entrusted with their first choreographies by Tomaž Pandur, the visionary of magical theatre, more than 30 years ago. Today, both are internationally acclaimed choreographers and directors, creating works across the globe while continuing their artistic journey at home in Maribor, where Clug serves as the Artistic Director of the Maribor Ballet.
“My flat on Slomšek Square overlooks the theatre. This part of Maribor means a lot to me. I truly recharge here,” says Edward Clug in the video. Come and see for yourself! After your stroll, experience a ballet, opera or theatre performance at SNG Maribor.
Each year, Maribor lives and breathes theatre – at The Ballet Under the Stars, when the Main Square transforms into an open-air stage, and at the Maribor Theatre Festival, which celebrates Slovenian theatrical creativity while embracing an international outlook. This year’s 60th awards ceremony was directed by Valentina Turcu.
The Slovene National Theatre (SNG) Maribor is the largest performing arts institution in Slovenia and the only one to unite drama, opera, ballet and symphony under a single roof. The Maribor Puppet Theatre, with more than 50 years of tradition, enriches the city’s cultural life with its outstanding programme and a lively summer festival.
Maribor’s must-sees for theatre lovers
SNG Maribor, in collaboration with its partners, opens the season of culture in early September with an unforgettable performance of the contemporary Ballet Under the Stars on the Main Square.
The artistic teams and ballet, drama, opera and symphony ensembles at the SNG Maribor create stage magic that is renowned throughout Europe and the world.
Explore the Maribor Festival programme and listen to concerts by Slovenian and international masters of classical music from 11 to 21 September 2025.
Discover the rich wine heritage of Maribor, the Štajerska region, and Slovenia. Taste the tradition written by the oldest grapevine in the world for almost half a millennium.
For 122 years, the Maribor Regional Museum has been housed in Maribor Castle and keeps more than 120,000 artefacts, including the 700-year-old seal of the city, Rudolf Maister's cap and Josip Broz Tito's uniform.
Stroll through the Main Square, past the Plague Column with the statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by 6 saints dating from the 17th-century, and the even older late-Gothic City Hall – Rotovž, soon to be Maribor's largest cultural centre.
Visit Narodni dom Maribor, an event centre that organises more than 1,800 events a year, from concerts, performances and exhibitions to the Lent Festival, the largest open-air festival in South-East Europe.
A popular promenade and playground where you can listen to concerts in the pavilion on Sundays. The beginning of summer is marked by the SNG Maribor Opera Night, one of the largest open-air artistic events of the highest quality.