In the summer, there are many festivals going on, with live bands playing outdoor venues, DJ’s and dances put on. The main festivals include: Banja Luka Choir Gathering (April - May), Theater Festival "Teatar Fest" (May), The Month of Rock Music (June), Folklore Days Banja Luka (July - August, every Thursday), Summer on the Vrbas (July) Banja Luka Summer Games (August) as well as the Banja Luka Fashion Week.

Sport

Banja Luka has one major football stadium and several indoor sports halls. The local handball and football teams bear the traditional name Borac (fighter), though the basketball club was recently renamed to Banjalučka pivara, after the Banja Luka brewery.

The city has a long tradition of good handball players and teams. RK Borac was the European Champion in 1976, the European Vice-Champion in 1975 and the winner of the IHF Cup in 1991.

Recently, tennis has taken on a bigger role in the city. The local tennis tournament, "Memorijal Trive Vujića", has become professional and has been awarded ATP status in 2001, with the rank of a Challenger. The Banja Luka Challenger takes place in September each year. Also, in 2006, the Davis Cup matches of the Europe/Africa Zone Group III took place in the city. Apart from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the teams included Monaco, Estonia, Turkey, Lithuania, Moldova, Armenia and Andorra.

In 2005, the European Championships in Rafting were held on the river Vrbas. According to the International Rafting Federation: "The event was hugely successful and the hosts are to be praised for the exemplary manner in which they ran the event, managed the media and looked after the competitors, staff and spectators...". Many nations took part, with the Czech Republic being the most successful.