Events & Festivals in Prague

A grand celebration to welcome the New Year. The main event is a spectacular fireworks display launched from Letná Park, visible across the city. Concerts, including a popular open-air classical concert, are held. Expect large, festive crowds, champagne toasts, and a particular atmosphere along the Vltava River.

A traditional Czech carnival marking the period before Lent. Features colorful processions with elaborate masks (including bears, stags, and jesters), live music, feasting on pork and doughnuts (koblihy), and general merriment. The Žižkov district hosts one of the most authentic and lively parades.

A colorful, multi-week festival leading up to Lent, with a program of masquerade balls, concerts, theatre, and feasting. The highlight is the lavish Venetian-style masked ball and a grand parade through the streets. It emphasizes elegance, mystery, and historical costume.

A festival of light art and new media technology. Artists transform the city's historical buildings, squares, and parks into stunning canvases with video mappings, light installations, and interactive projections. It's a magical walk through Prague, seeing familiar landmarks in a completely new light.

Springtime markets fill Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Stalls sell hand-painted Easter eggs, traditional wooden toys, Moravian lace, and birch whips (pomlázka). Enjoy live folk music, dance performances, and seasonal food like grilled sausages, mulled wine (svařák), and honey cake (medovník).

One of the world's most beautiful marathons, with a route passing major landmarks like the Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, and Prague Castle. Includes a full marathon, half-marathon, and relay races. The city comes alive with cheering crowds and a supportive, energetic atmosphere.

One of Europe's most prestigious classical music festivals. It opens with a ceremony at the grave of Bedřich Smetana and features world-renowned orchestras, conductors, and soloists performing in historic venues like the Rudolfinum and Municipal House. The repertoire spans from classical masters to 20th-century works.

The largest beer festival in the Czech Republic, modeled after Munich's Oktoberfest. Features over 150 Czech beers from major brands and small regional breweries, served in huge tents with traditional Czech food, live music, and a lively, communal atmosphere. It's a celebration of Czech brewing culture.

An internationally acclaimed festival celebrating Romani (Roma) culture. Features energetic concerts of Romani music, dance performances, film screenings, photography exhibitions, and discussions. It highlights the diversity and richness of Roma traditions from across Europe in a powerful and joyful event.

A multi-genre music festival held on several islands and stages along the Vltava River. Showcases a mix of established international acts and the best of the Czech and Central European alternative scene, from rock and indie to electronic and world music. Lively, youthful, and easily accessible.

A magical celebration of the summer solstice on St. John's Night. The main attraction is the lighting of bonfires, with the largest traditionally at Kampa Park. There are concerts, theatrical performances, and boat rides. It's a romantic, folkloric evening celebrating light and the shortest night.

A gourmet showcase of the best of Czech and international cuisine. Top Prague restaurants set up stalls offering tasting portions of their signature dishes, alongside cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, wine and beer pairings, and workshops. A paradise for food lovers.

A major open-air music festival held at the iconic site of the former Stalin Monument in Letná Park. Features a curated lineup of international alternative, indie, rock, and electronic headliners, with stunning panoramic views of Prague as the backdrop. Known for its great vibe and production.

For one night, dozens of museums, galleries, libraries, and other cultural institutions open their doors for free or a symbolic fee, offering special exhibitions, concerts, workshops, and guided tours. Special shuttle buses connect the venues. A fantastic cultural marathon loved by locals.

While the main festival is in the spa town, Prague hosts significant satellite events. These include preview screenings of award-winning films, meetings with directors and actors, and opening/closing ceremony broadcasts in Prague cinemas. A chance to catch festival buzz without leaving the city.

Open-air theatre performances held in the magical setting of the Burgrave Palace courtyard at Prague Castle and other historical venues. Features plays by Shakespeare and other classical authors, performed by leading Czech theatre companies in Czech, often with inventive staging.

A week-long festival celebrating the LGBTQ+ community with a rich program of debates, film screenings, exhibitions, and parties. The highlight is the colorful, joyful, and peaceful parade through the city center, which draws hundreds of thousands of participants and supporters in a display of diversity and love.

Celebrates the Czech patron saint, St. Wenceslas (Václav). A traditional harvest festival with markets on Wenceslas Square, featuring regional food, crafts, and wine. Includes historical processions, concerts, and a solemn mass at St. Vitus Cathedral. It marks the unofficial end of summer.

A showcase of contemporary Czech and international design. Emerging and established designers present furniture, fashion, jewelry, glass, and ceramics. The event includes exhibitions, pop-up shops, workshops, and lectures, transforming a central location into a hub of creativity and innovation.

One of the largest film festivals in the Czech Republic. Screens a wide selection of new European and world cinema, documentaries, and retrospectives, often with directors and actors in attendance. The program is diverse, focusing on artistic and independent filmmaking.

An international 10km road race that attracts elite runners and thousands of amateurs. The fast, flat course runs through the historic center, starting and finishing on the Old Town Square. A companion to the spring marathon, offering a shorter but equally scenic race experience.

The official start of the season for the National Theatre and State Opera. Features gala performances, often of classic works like Swan Lake or La Traviata, with the full company. It's a glamorous night where Prague's cultural elite gather, and the historic buildings are at their most majestic.

An ambitious international music festival that transcends genres. Its curated program bridges classical, jazz, world, and experimental music, featuring unique collaborations and premieres by world-class artists in exceptional venues like the Rudolfinum and the National Theatre.

The iconic holiday event. Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square transform into winter wonderlands with giant decorated trees, nativity scenes, and wooden huts selling crafts, ornaments, and food. Savor roasted ham, trdelník, mulled wine, and honey liquor while listening to carols.

A beloved Czech tradition on the eve of St. Nicholas Day. Trios dressed as St. Nicholas (Mikuláš), an angel (anděl), and a devil (čert) walk the streets, giving sweets to children who recite poems or sing, while the devil jokingly threatens the naughty ones. Charming and slightly spooky.

The city erupts in celebration. Multiple public fireworks displays (both organized and informal) light up the sky, especially at Letná Park. Restaurants and clubs host gala dinners and parties. The atmosphere is festive and chaotic, with crowds filling the historic center.