AGP Executive Report

Eurovision: Slovenia is still weighing a return to the 2027 contest in Bulgaria, with broadcaster RTVSLO given until December to decide. Thirty-six countries are currently listed, while Ireland and the Netherlands have confirmed boycotts over Israel’s participation. Climbing: Janja Garnbret claimed her 52nd World Cup and World Climbing Series gold in Santiago, where Slovenia’s Rosa Rekar also earned her first career podium. Regional Cinema: Kosovo’s Shame and Money, a drama about a rural family pushed into poverty and migration, is emerging as a possible Oscar contender. Borderland Stories: A new travel feature explores Gorizia, the multilingual Italian city with deep Slovenian ties, tracing how Europe’s history has played out on its streets.

Biodiversity: Slovenia and five partner countries urged governments at the COP17 nature summit in Yerevan to assess progress honestly and match biodiversity commitments with funding. Climbing: Janja Garnbret won the Lead final in Santiago for her 52nd World Cup and World Climbing Series gold; compatriot Rosa Rekar claimed her first World Cup podium, taking bronze. Volleyball: Slovenia will face Poland, Germany and Cuba in Pool E at the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout rounds.

Eurovision: The Netherlands has reversed course and will skip Eurovision 2027, citing tensions over Israel’s participation. Slovenia, which also boycotted this year’s contest, has yet to confirm whether it will compete in Bulgaria. Climbing: Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret won the women’s Lead final in Santiago, bringing her tally to 52 World Cup and World Climbing Series golds. Public Spaces: European funding will support new and improved green areas in Šmarje pri Jelšah and Cerklje na Gorenjskem, including parks, recreation spaces and greener town centres. Athletics: Slovenian runner Živa Remič was a finalist for European Athletics’ Rising Star award after winning European under-18 and world under-20 titles in the 800 metres.

Green Spaces: EU funding will support public parks and green infrastructure in Šmarje pri Jelšah and Cerklje na Gorenjskem, including upgrades around historic and civic sites. Faith and State: Pope Leo XIV met Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar at the Vatican; talks included relations between the Church and state. Athletics: Slovenia’s Živa Remič was a finalist for European Athletics’ Rising Star award after winning under-18 and under-20 titles in the 800 metres. Bulgarian triple jumper Viktoria Angelova took the prize. Film: Slovenian-Serbian-Croatian co-production Wind, Talk to Me swept the Adriatic Film and TV Awards, winning Best Film, Best Director and Best Debut Film. Slovenian-Croatian short animation Fin People also won the audience award at Luxembourg’s CinEast festival.

Faith & Diplomacy: President Nataša Pirc Musar met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where talks covered Slovenia–Holy See relations and the Western Balkans. Film: Slovenian-Croatian co-production Wind, Talk to Me won Best Film at the Adriatic Film and TV Awards, with director Stefan Đorđević also taking Best Director and Best Debut. Slovenian animator Veronika Hozjan’s Fin People won CinEast’s audience award for best short animation. Young Talent: Slovenian middle-distance runner Živa Remič was a finalist for European Athletics’ Rising Star award after winning European U18 and world U20 titles this season.

Film: Slovenian-Croatian animation Fin People won the audience award for best short animated film at Luxembourg’s CinEast Festival. The regional coproduction Wind, Talk to Me, directed by Stefan Đorđević, took best film, director and debut at the Adriatic Film and TV Awards. Athletics: Slovenia’s Živa Remič, winner of European and world age-group 800m titles, was named a finalist for European Athletics’ Women’s Rising Star award. Roma Communities: Slovenia is planning a pilot census across selected municipalities to develop a clearer picture of Roma communities and assess gaps in existing estimates. Public Broadcasting: A complaint has been filed with the European Court of Human Rights over the early termination of RTV Slovenia officials’ mandates.

Slovenian Cinema: “Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song” won a top prize at the 2026 Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož, spotlighting local filmmaking. Youth Sport: Slovenian runner Živa Remič was among the nominees for European Athletics’ 2026 Women’s Rising Star after winning European and world age-group titles in the 800 metres; Bulgaria’s Viktoria Angelova took the award. Roma Communities: Slovenia is planning a pilot Roma population census across 25 municipalities to gather demographic data on age, gender and settlements. The project could cost up to €90,000. Quality of Life: Eurostat puts Slovenia’s share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion at 16% in 2025, below the EU average of 21%.

Athletics: Slovenia’s Živa Remič was a finalist for European Athletics’ Rising Star award after winning European and world titles in the 800 metres in her age groups. Basketball: Luka Dončić’s strong Lakers season opener has revived scrutiny of claims that Dallas tried to tarnish his reputation after trading him. Slovenian Film: “Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song” won the 2026 Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož. Roma Communities: Slovenia is proposing a pilot census of Roma residents in 25 municipalities to build a demographic database and compare collected figures with existing estimates. Public Media: Former RTV Slovenia council chair Peter Gregorčič has taken his complaint over the early termination of governing-body mandates to the European Court of Human Rights.

Slovenia Abroad: Slovenian-born Melania Trump says she helped secure a local ceasefire to let civilians leave occupied Oleshky and receive aid; Moscow welcomed the plan, but Kyiv had not confirmed it. Roma Communities: Slovenia is considering a pilot census in 25 municipalities to gather demographic data on Roma residents, with Ljubljana and Maribor potentially included. Public Media: Former RTV Slovenia council chair Peter Gregorčič has taken his case over early mandate terminations to the European Court of Human Rights, alleging a lack of effective judicial review. Film: Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song won at the 2026 Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož. Basketball: Cinkarna Celje celebrated a strong EuroCup Women win, underlining its early-season promise.

Roma Communities: Slovenia is considering a pilot census of Roma residents in 25 municipalities, with Ljubljana and Maribor potentially included, to improve demographic data. Public Media: Former RTV Slovenia council chair Peter Gregorčič and lawyer Matej Avbelj have asked the European Court of Human Rights to review the early termination of governing-board mandates. Film: Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song won at the Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož; Glavonja, a story about diversity, opened Kids Fest. Public Spaces: EU-backed plans will add paths, trees, a playground and lakeside viewing decks to the green area at Fiesa.

Slovenian-born Melania Trump: She says she brokered a local ceasefire in Ukraine’s Oleshky to allow aid deliveries and civilian evacuations; Ukraine had not publicly confirmed the arrangement. Roma Communities: Slovenia’s Office for Nationalities has proposed a pilot census covering Roma residents in 25 municipalities, with Ljubljana and Maribor possibly included, to improve demographic data. Public Broadcasting: Former RTV Slovenia council head Peter Gregorčič has taken his complaint over the early termination of council members’ mandates to the European Court of Human Rights. Education: Prime Minister Janez Janša says reform is needed to address Slovenia’s declining international assessment results, while stressing that teachers and experts must help shape it. Culture and Public Space: A €1.19 million project will renew green and recreation areas by Lake Fiesa, including paths, a playground and viewing platforms. At the Portorož Slovenian Film Festival, Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song won the top prize; children’s film Glavonja, about diversity, opened Kids Fest.

Public Broadcasting: Former RTV Slovenia Programme Council president Peter Gregorčič has taken his case to the European Court of Human Rights, challenging the early termination of his mandate and arguing he lacked effective judicial protection. Education: Prime Minister Janez Janša says reform is needed as Slovenia falls behind in international student assessments, while stressing teachers and education experts must help shape changes. Slovenian Film: Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song won the top prize at the Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož. Theatre: Slovenian practitioners joined international peers in Beijing to discuss how theatre can connect with modern audiences and support emerging artists. Basketball: Cinkarna Celje opened its EuroCup Women campaign with a notable win, strengthening its early credentials as a dark horse.

Slovenian Cinema: “Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song” won at the 2026 Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož, while “Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep” took the top prize at KineNova. The children’s film “Glavonja,” which explores diversity, opened Kids Fest. Theatre: Slovenian practitioners joined colleagues from four other countries at Beijing’s 2026 Theater Forum, where participants called for stronger international collaboration and support for emerging artists. Cycling: Tadej Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG finished the season atop the world rankings for a fourth straight year, with 78 team victories.

Education: Prime Minister Janez Janša says reform is needed as Slovenia falls behind in international learning comparisons, but insists teachers and education experts must help shape the changes. Public Media: The debate over Slovenia’s public broadcaster is also in focus, with a referendum campaign challenging its licence-fee funding model and raising questions about RTV Slovenija’s future. Film: “Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song” won at the Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož, while “Glavonja,” a story about diversity, opened Kids Fest.

Theater: Slovenian practitioners joined an international forum in Beijing, where nearly 80 participants discussed preserving theater heritage, reaching new audiences and building cross-border partnerships. Live Music: Punk supergroup Fake Names, featuring members of Bad Religion and Refused, has added Ljubljana’s Kino Šiška to its 2027 tour, with a show set for February 2. Film: Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song won at the 2026 Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož.

Slovenian Cycling: Tadej Pogačar finished the season as the world’s top-ranked rider, with 22 wins, while UAE Team Emirates-XRG secured a fourth consecutive No. 1 team ranking. Film: “Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song” won the top prize at the 2026 Festival of Slovenian Film in Portorož. Public Culture: Slovenia’s October referendums put RTV Slovenija’s funding model in the political spotlight, with voters asked whether to end the broadcaster’s licence fee. Live Music: Punk supergroup Fake Names, featuring members of Bad Religion and Refused, will bring its 2027 tour to Ljubljana’s Kino Šiška on February 2.