Novalja among winners of the Croatian Island Product label: awards for Pag cheese, Novalja jewelry and the May Festival

In Postira on the island of Brač, on June 1, 2026, a session of the Island Council of the Republic of Croatia was held and the award ceremony was held. Croatian island product (HOP) holders who were awarded the label for 2025.

The session was attended by representatives of state institutions, island cities and municipalities, and development stakeholders of the Croatian islands, and the ceremony was graced by the arrival of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia. Andrej PlenkovicAmong the guests were the mayor of the City of Novalja and a member of parliament. Ivan Dabo, who supported Novalja projects and their leaders.

Novalja had a special reason to be proud this year. Croatian island productwas awarded an excellent OPG -u VIDAS for Pag cheese, To the Tourist Board of the City of Novalja za Novalja jewelry - a collection of rings and earrings inspired by ancient Croatian archaeological finds found at the sites shell i Košljun te May Festivals - Novalja Craftsmen Association on whose behalf is the director of the Novalja Tourist Board Marina Šćiran and received the award.

Old Croatian Novalja jewelry was created as a contemporary interpretation of 10th century jewelry, combining Novalja's rich archaeological heritage with modern design and transforming it into an authentic souvenir with a story. Each piece carries a piece of local history and identity, allowing visitors to take home a lasting memory of Novalja. The jewelry is available for purchase at souvenir shops Novalja City Museum.

Label Croatian island product received and Craftsmen's Association Novalja za May Day, a traditional event that has been held in Novalja since 2001 and is today one of the most visited and the most recognizable events in the city. Over the years, the May Festival has grown into an unavoidable spring gathering of locals and guests, recognizable for its rich gastronomic offer, local products, island flavors and warm atmosphere of togetherness. The event is especially lively with concert performances by numerous popular musicians from the Croatian scene, who gather a large number of visitors on Basilica Square every year and further confirm the importance of the May Festival in the social and cultural life of Novalja.

OPG Lives for his Pag cheese In addition to all its awards, it also takes home the HOP label for one of the most famous and most appreciated island products.

The family tradition of producing Pag cheese in the Vidas family goes back a long time. 1887, where the original recipe, carefully selected indigenous sheep breed and traditional method of cheese production and maturation are still cherished today. As a symbol of respect for the family heritage, each wheel of cheese is stamped with the II-94, awarded to the family in 1887 during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. 

Pag cheese from OPG Vidas is made from a unique combination of Pag sheep, stone, salt and the bora wind, and represents one of the most authentic gastronomic stories of the island of Pag. In addition to cheesemaking, the family also cherishes the tradition of producing top-quality virgin olive oil obtained from olives that have withstood the bora wind and harsh island conditions for centuries.

In addition to awarding the labels, the Novalja Tourist Board was also granted funds for co-financing promotional activities of the Croatian Island Product Program, and for events Martian Sheep in the amount of 3.221,00 EUR te Life on Mars Trail running in the amount of 3.789,00 EUR, or in total 7.010,00 EUR support.

The presentation of the comics gives the whole story a special symbolism "Small from Caske" at the Cultural Center Gozdenica, held on June 1st as part of the celebration Anthony - Novalja City DaysThe comic book revives the legend and rich archaeological heritage of the Novalja region and, in a modern way, brings one of the most interesting stories from Novalja's past closer, the jewelry of which received the HOP label for 2025.

"The awards and support received are a strong confirmation of the value of what Novalja has been nurturing and promoting for years - preservation island identity, tradition, gastronomy and cultural heritage"Whether it's Novalja jewelry, the May Festival, Pag cheese from OPG Vidas or the story of Mala from Caska, the common thread of all these projects is respect for heritage and the desire to pass it on to new generations. It is precisely in this connection of heritage, customs and island life that lies the most valuable thing that Novalja proudly represents today." according to the Novalja Tourist Board. 

Photo: Stipe Bošćić, Eugen Rebernišak, Moonsotne Production, Pero Dragičević