The present work is focused on the role of ZrO2 modification in the performance of CuO modified TiO2. Zirconia loading leads to formation of more resistant photocatalytic layers compared to samples modified with only copper containing species. Surface modification of mixed phase TiO2 with CuO/ZrO2 improves the degradation of Reactive blue 19 dye under simulated solar irradiation. An in-depth investigation of the catalysts showed that in case of CuO/ZrO2 modification, the covering of the TiO2 surface with zirconium containing species prevents morphological and harmful energetic changes induced by copper species formed on the rutile TiO2 phase at a higher copper loading.