Taksirat Festival: A Underground Pulse of Skopje

Taksirat is the largest festival in Macedonia and the sole winter music festival in Southeastern Europe. Over the years, it has hosted a plethora of renowned domestic and international artists.

Fans of alternative music in Macedonia eagerly anticipate late November and early December, when the annual Taksirat Festival’s schedule is announced. The first edition of Taksirat took place in 1999, and since then, this unique festival has been held annually. This multi-day music event draws an audience of roughly 15,000 visitors each year, with the number of attendees consistently exceeding the venue’s capacity.

Over the years, it has hosted a plethora of renowned domestic and international artists, including Manu Chao, Kaiser Chiefs, Parov Stelar, Juliete Lewis, Guano Apes, Laibach, The Stranglers, Wailers, Kreator, Iggy Pop & the Stooges, Neville Staple (from The Specials), Buzzcocks, Marky Ramone from The Ramones, and many others.

Notably, Taksirat is the only festival in Macedonia to have received the Green’N’Clean award in 2011 from the European Festival Association YOUROPE. It has also been nominated for the best small festival and best indoor festival categories by the European Festival Awards for five consecutive years. The festival atmosphere is electric, with performances that leave a lasting impression and elevate adrenaline levels. Expect a mix of punk, metal, rock, hip-hop, reggae, and indie music, all set against a backdrop of joyous and playful energy.