Since 2007, the town of Žilina places more emphasis on development of cultural events held in Žilina. The town founds and supports new cultural activities and festivals, giving priority to festivals with international programs and with a potential to captivate not only domestic attendants, but also visitors from the whole Slovakia as well as foreign tourists. The town directly organizes and financially supports various cultural activities, or acts as a strategic partner thereof. In this respect, the town as a seat of the Euroregion Beskydy exploits cooperation with partnership towns and develops international relationships. The town’s support is aimed at the development of cultural tourism.

As an example of annually held successful festivals, we can mention the biggest Slovak festival of carnival masks Carneval Slovakia Žilina (February), the Central European Festival of Concert Art (April), the international street theatre festival Žilina St. John’s Night (June), the puppet theatre festival Puppet Žilina (June), the international animation festival Anča Fest (July), the open-air festival of Žilina history Medieval Day (August), and the international festival of creativity and fantasy Jollieworkshop, focused on integration of disabled people. (September).

Among traditional events organized by the Town of Žilina, there are a three-day festival called Old Town Festival (May), Santa Claus in the Town, Christmas Markets, New Year’s Eve Party (December), and a marathon of various cultural events called Žilina Cultural Summer, within which the town co-organizes a folk festival Jánošík’s Days in Terchová (July - August).