The third Women’s Weekend is set to tackle important topics – and follow them up with the best entertainment!
With its most powerful program yet, legendary speakers, and unforgettable evenings, Women’s Weekend returns to Rijeka from March 6-9, bringing together energy, knowledge, and top-tier entertainment! This one-of-a-kind festival blends education, inspiration, and networking with incredible music and entertainment, and this year, it’s taking things to the next level. Days will be dedicated to discussing key societal issues, while the nights will be all about celebrating strength, passion, and unity.
Spectacular Evening Program
Friday, March 7, is reserved for the Burlesque Women’s Weekend & Stilueta Party, featuring a performance by one of the most powerful young vocalists on the scene, Ena Jurišić. The following evening, Saturday, March 8, will be all about pop icon Tatjana Cameron – Tajči. Her hits, including “Hajde da ludujemo” and “Moj mali je opasan”, left an indelible mark on generations, and now she’s back to celebrate International Women’s Day in a truly special way. Her performance will be both a musical retrospective and a tribute to female strength, freedom, and unity.
Beyond performing her timeless hits, Tajči will also share her personal story—a journey of life and career-defining moments. In an exclusive conversation with writer and columnist Milana Vlaović Kovaček, she will speak candidly about the challenges of fame, leaving Croatia at the peak of her career, and the courage it took to rebuild her life in the U.S.
Big conversations that open important topics
One of the most highly anticipated 1:1 talks will be “Being a Prime Minister: Power, Politics, and Two Perspectives”, featuring Borut Pahor, former Slovenian Prime Minister and President, and Jadranka Kosor, former Croatian Prime Minister. They will share their experiences on leadership, political power, and life after public office.
Women’s Weekend also brings an exclusive interview with Janica Kostelić, Croatia’s greatest athlete of all time and the only woman to have won four Olympic gold medals in alpine skiing. A true icon of Croatian sports and a symbol of unbreakable mental strength, Janica stepped away from the public eye at the height of her career—making her participation in Women’s Weekend a truly special moment.
At the panel discussion “The Second Act: Life After Skiing”, she will be joined by former NBA player and Sunset Sports Festival director Damjan Rudež to discuss what it’s like to transition from elite sports, the psychological and physical challenges top athletes face after retirement, and how to redefine oneself in new professional and personal roles. This is a rare opportunity to hear from Janica after years of media silence.
Women who are changing the game
Women’s Weekend will also welcome Nevena Crljenko, Vice President of Public Affairs at Philip Morris International. But Nevena is much more than a top executive—she made waves in 2023 by launching a powerful public debate through a bold billboard campaign in Zagreb, taking a stand against a sexist ad and showing she’s unafraid to fight for what she believes in. At Women’s Weekend, she will share insights on how courage, communication, and passion can drive real change.
Joining the lineup is Anita Gerhardter, CEO of the Wings for Life Foundation, under whose leadership the Wings for Life World Run has grown into a global movement, uniting hundreds of thousands of runners with a shared mission: finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. A passionate and unstoppable visionary, Anita refuses to accept the impossible. At Women’s Weekend, she will reveal how an idea can turn into a movement that changes lives—and won’t stop until the goal is reached.
Success isn’t a solo race—it’s built through collaboration, support, and collective growth. Few understand this better than Monya Mandich, Vice President of Marketing at Rome2Rio, a global travel platform. On the Women’s Weekend stage, she will introduce the Flywheel model, demonstrating how women can push each other forward and how success is cultivated through mentorship, encouragement, and creating opportunities for others. Beyond shaping the global travel industry, Monya has also proudly become a Croatian citizen, adding another inspiring chapter to her story!
Women’s Weekend – An experience you can’t miss!
Once again, Women’s Weekend proves itself as a festival that delivers inspirational speakers, powerful messages, open discussions, and an evening program that makes it truly unforgettable. Find all the details about the third Women’s Weekend—as well as tickets—on the festival’s official website, and stay updated via Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn.
See you in Rijeka from March 6-9!
