Omiš will hold the title of European Village of Christmas in 2027. The decision was announced on 10 November by the international jury of the "Best Christmas Lights in Europe 2026" platform.
At the heart of the candidacy is the Lučić family's Christmas village in Narta, a hamlet of Gornji Dolac near Omiš. The village has 11 permanent residents and spans almost four hectares. The jury noted that the Lučić family has integrated existing paths, dry stone walls and trees into a two-kilometre illuminated walkway.
During Advent, the Christmas village attracts around 70,000 visitors, according to data from the Omiš candidacy. A large portion of the decorations is handmade from natural or recycled materials, and live nativity scenes are part of the village's Advent tradition.
The programme is complemented by a dozen local family farms preparing Dalmatian dishes. Klapa choirs, folklore associations and theatre groups gather for the musical and stage programme.
The award ceremony will be held on 3 December in Barcelona. Alongside Omiš, Swiss Basel, chosen as European Capital of Christmas, and Romanian Baia Mare, winner of the European City of Christmas title, will receive their awards.
The "Best Christmas Lights in Europe 2026" platform operates within "European Best Destination". Voters on the platform have chosen Zagreb Advent as Europe's best Christmas market for three consecutive years. Gornji Dolac was presented in the selection dedicated to Christmas lighting and received its own guide recommending an evening walk through light installations, encounters with animals and a family programme to travellers.
