KotorArt International Music Festival 2025

July 13 – August 13, 2025

KotorArt International Festival, a festival of national importance for the culture of Montenegro, is one of the greatest and most important festivals in the country and region. Every summer KotorArt gathers an impressive number of international artists and with over 200 programs at numerous venues in Kotor and throughout the Bay, attracts tens of thousands of visitors, which makes it one of the most visited festivals of this type in the region. Since its founding in 2002, KotorArt has been developing the brand of the city of Kotor, Montenegro making it recognized in the country and region for its exclusivity and high artistic level of its programs.

Ratimir Martinović, founder and director of KotorArt Don Branko’s Music Days International Music Festival, extends a special invitation to visit Montenegro and attend the KotorArt International Festival, July 13 – August 13, 2025.

Visit KotorArt Festival Website

Santa Barbara Symphony Conductor and Symphony Principal Stringperform at KotorArt 2024 International Music Festival!

One of our most exciting exchanges to date was having members of the Santa Barbara Symphony travel to our Sister City Kotor, Montenegro to perform at the KotorArt 2024 International Music Festival. Santa Barbara Symphony conductor, Nir Kabaretti, along with the Symphony’s principal strings: Jessica Guideri (violin), Ina Vel (violin), Eric Rynearson (viola), and Trevor Handy (cello) were joined by featured violinist and former Symphony concertmaster, Gilles Apap.

Thank you to Divino Restaurant!

Divino Restaurant steps in and offers Community Support for Los Angeles First Responders.

No electricity did not stop our own Goran Milić, owner of Divino Restaurant in Brentwood, to answer the call to help feed Los Angeles First Responders during the Pacific Palisades and Los Angeles fires. Goran, along with a team of volunteers, cooked and packed breakfast and lunch to help feed area Police and Fire departments and the National Guard stationed and protecting the area. The photos say it all. Thank you to Goran and his team!

Milutin Radulović applies to the Music Academy of the West’s Fellow’s Program for 2024!

For those that attended our ME&US Cultural Intertwining Concert in October 2022, at the Music Academy of the West, may remember Milutin Radulović, a talented young violinist from Montenegro who performed with five other young musicians from Santa Barbara and Montenegro.

His musical journey has further developed. He performed as soloist in front of the orchestra in Sarajevo. He passed the entrance exam in Hochschule für Musik Saar. He moved to Saarbrücken and is studying under the direction of professor Gordan Nikolić.

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The programs we have built together that make a difference.

The success of our Sister City program has been exchanges that bring people with common interests together. The exchanges in music, culinary, and sports have allowed young people from both cities to experience international travel and participate in programs that develop their skills and creates long term relationships within our two cities.

Classical Music

Music exchanges with KotorArt, the Music Academy of the West and UCSBs Music Department.

Goran Milić Culinary Academy

Culinary exchanges with the Resource Center in Kotor , SBCC’s Culinary School and internships in Santa Barbara and Kotor.

Water Polo

Water Polo exchanges with UCSB Water Polo, Premier Water Polo Club and Kotor’s Primorac Water Polo Club.

Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor, Montenegro was established as Santa Barbara’s Sister City in the Fall of 2009. The town of Kotor is located on the Adriatic coast in Montenegro. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical monuments, Kotor is located on a natural harbor within the Bay of Kotor. Like Santa Barbara, Kotor offers various year-round activities including sailing, diving, fishing, hiking, water polo, and festivals encompassing everything from theatre to musical arts.