On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Croatia at EXPO 2025 Osaka on Saturday, 20 and Sunday, 21 September 2025, the National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia “LADO” performed on the Festial Station stage, at the official ceremony marking the National Day in the National Day Hall “Ray Garden”, and in the Ceremonial Parade under the Expo Ring.
LADO presented the most beautiful cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia through two dance concerts, a ceremonial procession, and a presentation of traditional musical instruments. The programs of the Performance covered almost all folklore areas of Croatia, with special emphasis on the protected intangible cultural heritage included in the UNESCO list: bećarac, klapa singing, the musical expression ojkanje, tight intervals of Istria and the Littoral and Međimurje popevka.
LADO performed a dance concert on September 20 at the EXPO Festival Station, after which they presented traditional instruments in which the Ensemble Orchestra participated. The presentation of traditional instruments, through a selected selection of musical numbers, presented the rich opus of the LADO Ensemble's Croatian musical treasury.
At the opening ceremony of the National Day of the Republic of Croatia, on September 21, LADO performed a dance concert that brought visitors the most beautiful choreographies and musical works, such as the Valpovo and Primošten kolo and the Prigorje dances.
In addition to the dance concert, visitors also enjoyed the ceremonial parade of Lado's dancers, singers and musicians, who presented the wealth of Croatian musical and dance tradition and the diversity of folk costumes with exceptional vocal and instrumental numbers. In Japan, the LADO Ensemble once again showed how relevant it is as a unique public institution in culture and an exceptional Croatian cultural brand on the global stage.
LADO marks its sixth participation in this international event, where as a unique folklore ensemble and an immense cultural ambassador since its founding in 1949. The LADO ensemble has had the honor of being part of the World Exhibition EXPO several times in its long history. With its last performance at the Dubai EXPO 2020 in March 2022, LADO first performed at the EXPO in 1967 in Montreal, then in 1986 in Vancouver, in 2005 in Aichi, Japan, and in 2010 in Shanghai.