After two decades of its existence, the Herceg Novi Comic Book Festival (HSF) has been awarded the October Award, the Municipality of Herceg Novi’s highest recognition for 2026. This year, the jury also selected Prof. Dr Milan Milanović and musician Vlado Georgiev as recipients of the October Award. The City Charter was awarded posthumously to Duško Vujošević.

The jury responsible for the October Award and the City Charter decided to present three October Awards and one City Charter. The nine-member jury was chaired by Mirko Mustur, with Nikolina Tomašević, Jovo Mijatović, Gordana Krunić, Darko Klasić, Mira Vujović, Jasna Maslan, Dr Radoje Radojević and Almir Tahiri as members. It was emphasised that the voting process had been conducted in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

“The vote was secret, and all nine jury members were present. The entire process was conducted in the fairest and most democratic manner. Three laureates were selected to receive the October Award.”

The Herceg Novi Primary Music School and the Đenovići Brass Band nominated the Herceg Novi Comic Book Festival for the October Award, citing “the exceptional quality of the cultural content it brings to the city, its love for Herceg Novi, its outstanding contribution to promoting the destination as a tourist attraction, its 20 years of existence and 30 events, its continuous presence on the regional cultural scene, and the festival’s educational and cultural value.”

The October Award of Herceg Novi has been presented since 1964 in recognition of outstanding achievements in professional work and creative endeavours, as well as excellence in the fields of the economy, science, education, healthcare, culture, sport and other areas of social activity. Its purpose is to honour individuals and organisations whose work and achievements have made a significant contribution to the development of Herceg Novi.

The awards will be presented at a formal session on 28 October.