On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Croatia at EXPO 2025 Osaka on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 2 to 3 P.M., the National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia LADO will perform on the Festial Station stage with free admission for all visitors.
Founded 76 years ago, LADO is a professional folklore ensemble dedicated to researching, collecting, artistically interpreting, and showcasing the finest examples of Croatia’s rich musical and dance traditions. Its exceptional dancers, who are also accomplished singers, can seamlessly transform from a dance ensemble into a distinguished folk choir. The musicians of the LADO Ensemble Orchestra are masterful multi-instrumentalists, performing on more than eighty traditional and classical instruments.
LADO also preserves a unique collection of original folk costumes of exceptional cultural and artistic value. Each performance is not only a celebration of music and dance but also a dazzling showcase of authentic Croatian traditional attire. By presenting the magnificent richness and diversity of folk expression from a country as small as Croatia, LADO is a truly singular presence on the world stage.
Wherever it performs, the ensemble earns both resounding ovations from audiences and glowing praise from critics, consistently ranking among the world’s leading folklore groups.
At World Expo 2025, LADO will proudly present the finest of Croatia’s cultural heritage through two dance concerts, an official parade, and a presentation of traditional instruments. The program will encompass nearly all folkloric regions of Croatia, with special emphasis on elements of intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO: bećarac, klapa singing, the ojkanje vocal style, the distinctive narrow intervals of Istria and the Croatian Littoral, and the međimurska popevka.