With a record-breaking more than 80 program segments and over 200 speakers across five stages, 130+ partners and more than 730 competition entries — DK2025 is here. Three days. Three nights. One festival.
After last year’s record-breaking edition, we’ve raised the bar again. The 11th DK is live in Lone, Rovinj and it’s bigger, bolder and more future-focused than ever. We’re diving deep into the most important conversations in creativity, digital innovation, and communications — and we’re doing it with more people, more energy and more ideas than ever before.
The buzz is real. Public interest this year has exploded across every part of the festival. At our press briefing on Friday, Dunja Ivana Ballon — Executive Director of HURA and IAB Croatia and DK Festival and Program Director — and Jelena Fiškuš, Chairwoman of the Board at HURA and IAB Croatia and member of our Organizing Committee, shared the highlights. They were joined by some of our keynote speakers, including world-renowned humanoid AI Sophia and Johan Ronnestam, the global branding expert and creative visionary behind work for Volvo, adidas and IKEA.
Photo: Vana Katančić
With as many as more than 80 program segments and more than 200 speakers across five festival stages, supported by over 130 partner companies, businesses and associations, sponsors and friends of the festival, this kind of turnout is a testament not only to the dedication of the entire organizational and operational team, but also to the exceptional engagement of the communications community, which recognizes the importance of continuous professional development, knowledge exchange and joint shaping of the market. DK once again confirms its role as a central place of dialogue, progress and vision in the marketing communications industry, said Jelena Fiškuš.
This year, for the first time, we’ve opened up four additional stages alongside our main hall — expanding the conversation and bringing even more of the industry into the spotlight.
Photo: Emica Elvedji/PIXSELL
We are proud of the creative and communications industry, which is sending a clear message: it is stronger and higher in quality than ever before. With over 730 entries, 125 jury and committee members, the involvement of the entire community, a record-breaking turnout, and high project standards. Professional competitions are not just about recognition—they are an indicator of the direction our profession is heading. The competition has never been tougher, and the quality of the projects proves that we have something to say—and something to show the world, said Dunja Ivana Ballon.
One of the big themes this year is how innovation and creative courage can reshape brands in the era of AI, consumer privacy and sustainability.
Photo: Vana Katančić
All brands are black holes until someone starts filling them with content, said Johan Ronnestam, one of this year’s speakers, and added: The true goal of marketing is – winning over the minds and hearts of consumers.
He was joined on the main stage on the very first day of the festival by Sophia the Robot, developed by Hanson Robotics. Proving that communication between humans and robots is no longer science fiction, she stated: Our interaction will never be boring again.
Throughout the three days, our stages are packed with insights from global, regional and local leaders — and each evening, we shine a light on the best work in the business.
Featured photo: Vana Katančić
