The search for Croatia’s Tree of the Year 2026 has officially begun – and two of the four finalists come from Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

Public voting opened on September 1 and will continue until September 30, with four remarkable trees from across Croatia competing for the national title.

Among them are the “Olive Tree of Wishes” from Opuzen, an olive tree estimated to be around 40 years old, and the impressive holm oak from Račišće on the island of Korčula, which is believed to be approximately 200 years old.

They face competition from Domjanić’s Mulberry in Adamovec, Zagreb, a white mulberry more than 150 years old, and the “Plane Tree That Connects” in Rijeka, a hybrid plane tree approximately 70 years old.

The competition is coordinated nationally by the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Areas of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

More Than Just a Beautiful Tree

The Tree of the Year competition is becoming increasingly popular at both national and European level, with organisers hoping to draw attention not simply to impressive individual trees but also to the stories and heritage surrounding them.

The initiative aims to promote biodiversity and the preservation of individual trees as part of Croatia’s natural and cultural heritage, while raising awareness of the importance of protecting nature in an era of climate change.

And there is considerably more than local bragging rights at stake.

The winner of the Croatian competition will become the country’s nominee for European Tree of the Year 2027, with the European winner traditionally announced in Brussels on March 21, World Forest Day.

Voting Open Throughout September

Members of the public can cast one vote for one candidate, with voting remaining open until 11:59 p.m. on September 30.

From September 23 until the winner is announced, the running results will no longer be publicly visible, adding a little suspense to the final week of voting.

Once voting closes and the results have been processed, the winner will be announced online.

Organisers are encouraging people across Croatia to discover the stories behind this year’s four candidates and support the tree they believe best represents the country’s natural and cultural heritage.

For Dubrovnik-Neretva County, however, the odds already look rather good – half of this year’s finalists are growing right here in Croatia’s southernmost county.

@dubrovnik_times Is this the best view of Dubrovnik? #dubrovnik #croatia ♬ Sunlit Breeze – Guitar Guru Whisper Night