The Festival has developed as a result of the successful Week of Laughter in Istria held in 1992 in ten Istrian cities, with eight Croatian theater companies giving 36 performances for about 20,000 spectators in one week.

The FESTIVAL OF LAUGHTER IN ISTRIA, organized by Mara agency from Pula and artistic organization Prolegomena art, is included in this year's Region of Istria priority program as a unique cultural event because of its concept – dealing with the phenomenon of laughter – as well as its specific organization and the wideness of space where it takes place.

The Festival covers all cities and some municipalities in Istria, so that the program will be held in 17 Istrian cities and towns: Pula, Poreč, Umag, Novigrad, Rovinj, Buzet, Buje, Labin, Pazin, Vodnjan, Fažana, Bale, Kanfanar, Motovun, Savičenat, Kastav and Opatija, incorporated into a very challenging calendar schedule, depending on the possibilities of certain municipalities and cities.

The first edition of the Festival begins on 25th January and lasts until 25th February, merging with the carnivals that are traditionally held in Istria and Kvarner, thus improving the quality and content of culture and tourism of these areas at a period lacking in cultural events. There is yet another reason for organizing the Festival at this time: in does not coincide with any other significant European festival, which facilitates the reservation of popular productions.

The Festival is conceived as an international event and this year guests are arriving from the Italian regions Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Slovakian region Trencin, the city of  Pecuh representing Hungary, Romanian region Hargita, Zenica-Doboj canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Vojvodina. Austria, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovenia have also confirmed their arrival.

The Festival is multidisciplinary and multimedia and covers the following:

1. theater with classical theater comedy,
2. publishing with the presentation of specialized magazines or feuilleton of selected daily papers with humorous-satiric content of all participating countries in exhibition or other forms,
3. visual arts with anthological exhibitions,
4. literature with renowned authors covering comic themes,
5. forums on the phenomenon of laughter at a popular and professional level,
6. music, from popular music to opera,
7. stand-up comedians and club entertainers.

All the abovementioned makes this Festival unique; it provides an ideal connection between culture and tourism, especially because of the period when it is being held, participating regions and countries, and above all the recognizability of Istria as a European region. There will be about 600 participants – artists presenting some 100 programs in 17 Istrian cities and towns.