As part of the Banja Luka Spring 2026 event, and on the occasion of the City Day, on April 22, a concert of national minority choirs and folklore ensembles entitled Spring with National Minorities was held at the Youth Center in Banja Luka.
The event was held on Saturday, April 18, 2026, organized by the Czech Association Češka Beseda, which this year played the role of host, under the patronage of the City of Banja Luka.
Representatives of numerous communities gathered on one stage - Czechs, Slovenians, Italians, Ukrainians, Jews, Russians, Montenegrins, Hungarians, Macedonians and Croats - and presented a part of their rich cultural heritage to the audience. Through song, dance and folklore performances, the participants revived the tradition that they have proudly cherished for decades.
Among others, the program featured: Mixed Choir of Banja Luka Citizens of the Association of Czechs Češka Beseda, Mixed Choir Davorin Jenko of the Association of Slovenians of the Republika Srpska Triglav, which recently celebrated a significant jubilee - 25 years of work, as well as a children's folklore group of the same Association. The audience also enjoyed the performances of the Pjetro Maskanji Mixed Choir of the Association of Italians, and representatives of the Cultural Association of Macedonians Vardar, the Association of Hungarians Magyar Szo, the Association of Russians Romanovi, the Cultural and Educational Association of Ukrainians Taras Shevchenko, the Association of Montenegrins Lovćen and the Croatian Singing Society Nada.
All these associations operate within the framework of the Union of National Minorities, with which the City of Banja Luka achieves long-term and substantial cooperation, contributing to the preservation of multiculturalism and common identity. Through a varied program, filled with dance, song and warm words from their home countries, national minorities made their special contribution to celebrating the City Day, emphasizing their gratitude to Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina as their common homeland.
The evening ended in a solemn and emotional tone, when all participants sang the song "Otkako je Banja Luka postala" together, rewarded with long and heartfelt applause from the audience.
Mladen Prodan
