Culture

New Contemporary Art Gallery to Open in Prague’s Center

A new exhibition space, Kodl Contemporary, is set to open in Prague by the end of 2025. The three-story glass gallery will be located on Dvořákovo nábřeží, near the newly renovated Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel—formerly the InterContinental Hotel. The concept behind the gallery comes from Jakub Kodl, the youngest member of the well-known Czech art collector family behind the Galerie Kodl auction house. Kodl selected a glass cube design to maximize the impact of natural light on the exhibited works, enhancing the visual experience for visitors. While an exact opening date has not yet been confirmed, final construction and interior works are currently underway. The mission of Kodl Contemporary is clear: to showcase contemporary Czech art to an international audience, boost its prestige, and increase the market value of individual artists’ works. “To realize this vision, we are establishing partnerships with renowned international galleries, leading curators, and top artists, creating new opportunities for cultural exchange,” said Tereza Kaslová, head of communications, on the gallery’s official website.     Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more

 by Cara Stevenson Apr 28, 2025

Mladí Ladí Jazz Open Air Returns to Prague on April 30

International Jazz Day celebrations are set to return to Prague’s Karlovo náměstí on April 30, with the spring edition of the Mladí ladí jazz Open Air festival. Visitors can look forward to live performances by 7krát3 & live band, Bassolino, Undo Redo, and Kosmonauci. Admission is free, with voluntary contributions available through the GoOut platform. This year’s headliner, 7krát3—real name Štěpán Hebík—will perform with a full live band. Known for his playful lyrics and collaborations with artists like Jiří Korn and PSH, the singer from České Budějovice quickly rose to fame with two albums and multiple Anděl Award nominations, becoming Singer of the Year in 2020. The international guest is Dario Bassolino from Naples, Italy. A composer, pianist, and producer, Bassolino moves effortlessly between jazz, funk, and disco, and has collaborated with talents like LNDFK and jazz-funk icon Nicola Conte. His performances often feature spontaneous improvisation, offering audiences a unique and pure musical experience. Polish band Kosmonauci will also perform, blending jazz roots with hip-hop, drum & bass, and improvisation. Featuring an unusual lineup of vibraphone, saxophone, bass guitar, and drums, their energetic style shifts between emotional melodies and wild polyrhythms. Local project Undo Redo rounds out the program. Formed...

 by Prague Morning Apr 26, 2025

Areál7 Is Here: Holešovice’s New Venue Brings Beer, Music, and Events

Holešovice is set to shine this summer with the launch of Areál7, a new multipurpose venue opening on May 2 and 3. The launch will feature the grand opening of its Beer Garden, with free entry and a relaxed festival atmosphere. Areál7 joins a dynamic network of cultural spaces like the Holešovice Market, Výstaviště, Vnitroblock, and the iconic Cross Club, all helping turn the neighborhood into a hub for summer culture, music, and sports. From May 9 to 25, Areál7’s Beer Garden will screen the Ice Hockey World Championship on large outdoor displays, creating a stadium-style vibe for fans of the Czech national team and international matches alike. “We’ve been in this industry for years and long searched for an ideal open-air venue that wouldn’t disturb neighbors but could still host world-class acts,” said Filip Lipovský, managing director of Areál7. “We finally built it here in Holešovice.” The team behind Areál7 has published a code of ethics on its website, emphasizing priorities like noise control, public safety, ecological responsibility, and transparent communication with residents.   This summer, Holešovice will be buzzing with events at the Market, which celebrates 130 years since the founding of the former royal slaughterhouse. Festivities include...

 by Karolina Kubičková Apr 24, 2025

June 14: Prague Planetarium Reopens as Europe’s Most Advanced

After nearly a year of renovations, the Prague Planetarium is set to reopen on Saturday, June 14, now boasting the most advanced projection technology in Europe—and one of the most sophisticated in the world. The planetarium’s transformation centers around its new LED Dome, a €12 million upgrade that replaces traditional projection systems with ultra-high-definition, immersive visuals. “We’re planning a special program for the opening weekend, June 14 and 15, to welcome visitors back,” said director Jakub Rozehnal. “Guests can look forward to a 15-minute show running in cycles throughout both days, discounted tickets, and a small souvenir to commemorate the occasion.” From Monday, June 16, the planetarium will resume its regular schedule, offering a broader selection of programming. “We’ve acquired new educational films and are currently finalizing their translations and dubbing,” Rozehnal added. “We’ll include whatever is ready by then.” New Standard in Planetarium Technology The overhaul, which began in summer 2023, was fully funded by the City of Prague at a total cost of 300 million CZK. The crown jewel is the LED Dome, valued at 180 million CZK, measuring 22 meters in diameter. Unlike traditional systems that use spherical projectors and fabric screens, the new dome incorporates 45.3...

 by Melissa Santoyo Apr 24, 2025

Big Names, Bold Films: Prague Film Festival 2025 Takes Off

The Prague Film Festival 2025 is in full swing, welcoming film lovers, students, and professionals to one of the most dynamic cinema events of the year. The lineup includes more than 75 films from 29 countries, with appearances by renowned directors from Cannes and Berlinale, such as Marian Crișan, Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter, and Izabela Plucińska. This year’s program offers a rich selection of award-winning features, thought-provoking premieres, and exclusive masterclasses, creating a unique platform for storytelling and international dialogue. Berlinale Premieres Make Their Czech Debut One of the highlights of the festival is the Czech premiere of the Oscar-winning film I Am Not A Robot. Alongside it, audiences can catch three premieres from this year’s Berlinale, including two powerful fiction films. Cu Li Never Cries, directed by Vietnam’s Pham Ngoc Lana, explores the emotional journey of a woman trying to reconcile with her past while her personal life evolves under the weight of memory and time. Maria’s Silence, from Latvian director Dāvis Sīmanis, delves into the dark period of Stalinist Russia. Actress Maria Leiko travels to visit her granddaughter but soon finds herself ensnared by the KGB’s brutal system. The film paints a tense, haunting portrait of survival and resistance....

 by Richard Sovitzky Apr 23, 2025

A Pope of the People – Czech Leaders Mourn the Passing of Francis

Czech political leaders expressed deep respect and condolences following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away Monday morning at the age of 88. Across the political spectrum, tributes highlighted his humility, compassion, and efforts to modernize the Catholic Church for the 21st century. “He was a man of deep faith who worked tirelessly to reshape the Church so it could better fulfill its mission in today’s world,” said Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS), who met Francis in June 2022 at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. “He showed concern for those facing injustice and radiated humanity and humility.” Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský echoed that sentiment, calling Francis “a voice of compassion, justice, and hope in a troubled world.” He added: “My sincere condolences to the faithful and to all who were inspired by his words and actions. Honor to his memory.” Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák (STAN) praised Francis for trying to guide the Catholic Church into the modern era with integrity. “He honestly sought to ensure the Church entered the 21st century with dignity,” he said. Andrej Babiš, leader of the opposition ANO movement, remembered Francis as a symbol of humility and unity. “I admired his effort...

 by Prague Morning Apr 21, 2025

Echoes of Resistance: Prague’s Old Town Bell Rings Again After 80 Years

The Prague Museum is unveiling a remarkable exhibition marking 80 years since the Prague Uprising at the end of World War II. The centerpiece: original fragments of the Old Town Hall bell, destroyed in 1945, alongside a reconstruction of its original sound. The exhibition opens free to the public on May 5, located on the ground floor of the Old Town Hall. The display includes preserved parts of the 14th-century bell, a replica model created from 3D-scanned fragments, and an audio rendering of how the bell likely sounded before it was silenced during the war. This special exhibition is part of a broader memorial project honoring the 80th anniversary of the 1945 uprising, which also features commemorative events, lectures, and a public procession through central Prague. The museum had 46 preserved fragments of the destroyed bell in storage. These pieces were carefully scanned with 3D technology and then printed at a quarter scale. Collaborating with a Czech bell foundry, researchers were able to reconstruct the bell’s profile and tone. Its recreated sound will be played publicly for the first time during a commemorative event on May 5, 2025, and again on May 8 at 4:00 p.m., marking the exact hour...

 by Prague Morning Apr 21, 2025

Mazanec and Beránek: Timeless Czech Easter Traditions

Baked goods in some form or other are staples of Easter traditions across Europe. The Hungarians have fonott kalacs; Italians have colomba pasquale, and the English have their hot-cross buns. Here in the Czech Republic, the two classic Easter baked goods are mazanec and beránek. Apart from sharing some connections to other European customs, these two foods can lay claim to centuries of tradition. Long-lasting food Mazanec is a sweet, though not cloyingly so, bread filled with raisins and often topped with almonds. Beránek is a cake baked in the shape of a lamb. Many commercial varieties are covered in chocolate. The earliest evidence of baking mazanec apparently goes back to the 15th century. The noted Czech writer Magdalena Dobromila Rettigová later included a recipe in her popular cookbook, Domací kuchařka, (a Household Cookery Book). The tradition of baking lamb-shaped sweet bread extends even further back in time. It is claimed the Jewish people of ancient times prepared bread in the shape of a lamb. The basic ingredients of mazanec haven’t changed much. It is made from flour, yeast, milk and eggs. Rettigová’s version called for sweetened cream and grated lemon rind. Today, people add sugar, vanilla, and sometimes nutmeg, though...

 by Prague Morning Apr 18, 2025

Moravská Třebová Named the “Historic Town of the Year”

Moravská Třebová has won the title of Historic City of the Year 2024, a reward for using money from the Ministry of Culture’s programme for the restoration of monuments. The award, which comes with a one-million-crown cheque, honors those towns and cities that have excelled in preserving and renewing their cultural and architectural heritage. The “Historic Town of the Year” competition is organized annually by the Association of Historic Settlements in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia along with the Ministry of Regional Development. Moravska Trebova, in the Svitavy district, is a town of almost 10,000 inhabitants. The town has made its Renaissance town hall accessible and created a new information system. At the same time, it acquired the Renaissance church from the local parish, which it is trying to repair and make accessible. The Ministry for Regional Development’s award, which carries a prize of CZK 100,000, went to Nove Mesto nad Metuji in the Hradec Kralove Region and Prague 1 for its outstanding implementation of the programme for the rehabilitation of heritage reserves. A special award was given to Horni Slavkov in the Karlovy Vary Region for the restoration of St. George’s Church, and the town of Lipnik nad Becvou in...

 by Prague Morning Apr 16, 2025

Navalis Festival to be Held in Prague on May 15

The biggest Baroque celebrations on the water at Charles Bridge in Prague following a three-hundred-year tradition. The NAVALIS Saint John’s Celebrations are a commemoration of the best-known Czech saint and Prague native, Saint John of Nepomuk, patron of all people of the water. A mass is held with a procession and a Baroque water concert on the Vltava River beside Charles Bridge on the evening before the holy day of Saint John of Nepomuk (so-called vigilia). Every year there are numerous special events, such as a folklore festival,  a regatta of historical and dragon boats, markets, lectures and exhibitions. Venetian gondoliers regularly take part in the event and amaze visitors with their captivating songs. John of Nepomuk, the patron saint of Bohemia, is revered among the Catholic faithful as a protector from floods and drowning. Legend has it that King Wenceslas IV had him tortured, killed and thrown into the Vltava River because he refused to divulge the queen’s secrets, told to him in confession. Statues of John of Nepomuk, such as the one installed in 1683 on the north side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, were erected long before he became a saint, notes historian Jiří Louda. “At the beginning of the 18th...

 by Prague Morning Apr 14, 2025

GALLERY: Czech Pavilion Opens at Expo 2025 in Osaka

The Czech national pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, has officially opened to the public, showcasing a bold fusion of architecture, glassmaking tradition, and contemporary Czech art. Designed by Apropos Architects, a Prague-based studio, the four-story structure will welcome visitors on the artificial island of Yumeshima until October 13. The opening ceremony was attended by Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, Czech Ambassador to Japan Martin Klučar, and Expo Commissioner General Ondřej Soška. Located along the coastal promenade, the Czech pavilion stands out with its striking spiral walkway, which wraps around the building and leads visitors to the rooftop. The structure is built primarily from wood and glass, a deliberate reference to the Czech Republic’s centuries-old glassmaking heritage. The exterior spiral, stretching 260 meters, is also glass-covered, transforming the pavilion into a dynamic visual space that shifts with the natural light. Inside, visitors are greeted by installations from leading Czech artists, including Rony Plesl, Jakub Matuška, and multimedia collective Lunchmeat Studio. At the heart of the pavilion is an auditorium set to host cultural performances, discussions, and lectures throughout the exhibition. A restaurant section will serve traditional Czech cuisine along with Pilsner beer, further immersing guests in the country’s cultural offerings....

 by Lisa Goasdoue Apr 13, 2025

All Aboard! Prague’s New Railway Museum to Launch by 2030

By renovating and expanding the historic workshop halls near Prague’s Masaryk Railway Station, the National Technical Museum plans to open a Museum of Railways and Electrical Engineering by 2030. The updated cost of the project has now risen to 1.89 billion CZK, including VAT, up from the originally projected 1.69 billion. The new museum will stand on the site of the former workshops along Husitská Street, featuring a newly constructed building and a covered track area. “These buildings are officially recognized cultural landmarks,” said Karel Ksandr, director of the NTM. “They commemorate the arrival of the first train to Prague, which took place 180 years ago this year.” The historic moment occurred on August 4, 1845, when the first train pulled into what is now Masaryk Station. The first official ceremonial train was greeted at the Gate of Glory on August 20 of the same year. An architectural study is already complete, and the museum has acquired additional land next to the site. In collaboration with the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University (CTU), the team is working on solutions to reduce energy consumption in the historic halls. According to Ksandr, the concept was inspired by the railway museum...

 by Prague Morning Apr 12, 2025

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