HEMA Slovenica has grown from a local Slovenian gathering into one of the region’s recognised workshop-oriented Historical European Martial Arts events. Founded in 2012 as HEMA Celje and organised by the HEMA Federation of Slovenia together with the Slovenian HEMA community, the event has always focused on knowledge exchange, technical development, good fencing, and strong international camaraderie rather than purely competitive formats. Over the years, the event has welcomed instructors, researchers, fighters, and enthusiasts from across Europe, creating a reputation for high-quality workshops, open sparring, and an atmosphere that combines serious martial study with genuine hospitality. Following a long hiatus after the pandemic years, the event successfully returned in 2024 and continues to evolve while staying true to its original spirit: historical European martial arts practiced with intensity and curiosity with the community at the forefront.
On 19-20 September 2026, the event returns to Ljubljana, Slovenia with a new name and new looks!
HEMA Slovenica welcoms all Hemaists for another weekend dedicated to European martial traditions. Participants can expect international instructors, diverse workshops, structured and informal sparring, lectures, social gatherings, and the unmistakable atmosphere that has defined the event for more than a decade. Whether you study longsword, rapier, sabre, sidesword, wrestling, dagger, or simply wish to experience the wider HEMA community, HEMA Celje 2026 aims to provide an environment where experienced practitioners and newer fencers alike can learn, exchange ideas, and fence together.
Located at the crossroads of Central Europe and the Adriatic world, Ljubljana offers an ideal setting for an international HEMA gathering: accessible, compact, welcoming, and rich in history. HEMA Slovenica is not only an event — it is a meeting point of clubs, traditions, friendships, and the living European martial heritage.
The HEMA Federation of Slovenia is the national umbrella organisation connecting Historical European Martial Arts clubs and practitioners across Slovenia. Established to support cooperation, education, research, and the safe development of HEMA, the federation promotes both the martial and cultural dimensions of Europe’s historical fighting traditions. Through seminars, instructor exchange, public presentations, and international cooperation, the federation actively contributes to the growth of the Slovenian and wider European HEMA community.