Among the seven candidates competing this year for the title of Queen of the Rijeka Carnival is Iva Špegar from the Mesopustari of Kraljevica Association.
As Iva herself says, she grew up surrounded by carnival traditions, with carnival being an integral part of her life from the very beginning. Even before she was born, she was part of carnival events, as her mother regularly took part in carnivals while pregnant with Iva. In this way, a love for customs, masks and togetherness has been passed down from generation to generation.
Iva believes she would be a good Carnival Queen because she deeply respects carnival tradition and is fully aware of its importance and value.
“It is a great tradition, and tradition must not be forgotten”, she emphasized, highlighting how important it is to cherish customs and pass them on to future generations.
Guided by the desire to ensure that tradition does not fade away, Iva proudly continues to promote the spirit of carnival, preserving the authenticity and identity of the region with the recognizable carnival cheer.
The event will take place on Friday, January 23, 2026, starting at 8:00 PM at the Dvorana Mladosti Hall in Rijeka. Tickets priced at €5.00 can be purchased online at shop.visitrijeka.hr, at the Tourist Information Centre on Korzo, and on the day of the event at the same locations and in front of the hall for €7.50.
In addition to the queen selection, awards will be given for the best stage performances by carnival groups, and the entire event plays an important symbolic role in announcing the main carnival festivities. This is an ideal opportunity to experience the carnival tradition in one place, and we wish our Iva the best of luck!