The Czech Republic has taken another step in its long process of cannabis policy reform. As of 1st of January 2026, the country has legalized the home growing of up to three cannabis plants for personal use. This measure reinforces its profile as one of the most open regulatory frameworks in Europe, although it is still far from a fully regulated market. The change does not imply full decriminalization, but it does redefine which practices are no longer subject to penalties and which remain under criminal control. In a continent where the debate is progressing unevenly, the Czech decision once again raises questions about the boundaries between personal use, state control, and criminalization. Home Cultivation and Possession: What’s Legal as of 2026 As of January 1, people over the age of 21 can grow up to three cannabis plants for personal use, whether indoors, in greenhouses, or outdoors, as long as there is no commercial intent. While weed possession has been decriminalized since 2010—meaning you weren’t imprisoned for carrying small amounts, although fines or other administrative consequences were still possible—there were no clearly defined thresholds in the country to prevent ambiguity in enforcement. Today, the law clearly establishes the permitted possession limits,...
Pope Leo XIV received the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, in the Vatican on Monday morning. According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the President subsequently met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. “During the cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State,” the statement said, “appreciation for the good diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Czech Republic was renewed, and the intention to further strengthen them was reaffirmed.” It added that the discussions focused on issues of common interest and on several socio-political matters of a regional and international nature, with particular attention to the ongoing conflicts, “underscoring the importance of an urgent commitment to peace and to the recovery of the principles and values that underpin international coexistence.” Topics included also relations between Europe and the United States, global challenges, and sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. This was President Pavel’s first visit to the papal residence since the election of the new pontiff last year. He planned to invite Pope Leo XIV to visit Czechia, a trip no pope has made since Benedict XVI in 2009. Would you like us...
Three Czech nationals were killed on Saturday afternoon after an avalanche struck near Pusterwald in the Austrian region of Styria, police confirmed. The accident occurred shortly before 4:30 pm during a ski tour in the area. Four other members of the group were rescued and evacuated to safety by emergency services. At the time of the incident, the avalanche danger level in the Pusterwald area was rated two out of five, indicating a moderate risk. Despite the classification, mountain rescue authorities have repeatedly warned that local conditions can change rapidly, particularly at higher elevations. The Pusterwald tragedy came only days after another fatal avalanche involving a Czech teenager in Austria. Earlier in the week, a 13-year-old Czech boy was killed while skiing off-piste near the Alpine resort of Bad Gastein. The incident occurred around midday when a sudden snow slide swept the teenager away. He was skiing with another minor at the time. Rescue teams reached the boy quickly, but despite intensive efforts, they were unable to revive him, according to local mountain rescue officials. Authorities later stressed that off-piste skiing carries heightened risks, especially following recent snowfall and shifting snowpack conditions. Austrian rescue services have described the current avalanche...
Conscription Debate Returns as Army Prepares New Mobilisation Plan The possibility of introducing mandatory military service is once again being actively discussed in the Czech Republic. Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka said the army has prepared a new mobilisation concept for the government that would allow limited conscription if voluntary reserves prove insufficient. The plan does not involve mass enlistment, as before 2004, but would focus on recruiting specific specialists. Priority would go to medical staff, IT and technical experts, communications specialists, engineers, logisticians, heavy equipment drivers, and people with rare skills such as drone pilots or previous military experience. Icy Conditions Force Closure of Prague Cemeteries All city cemeteries in Prague have been temporarily closed due to dangerous icy conditions. The only exception applies to mourners attending already scheduled funeral ceremonies at Olšany Cemetery. Former MP Dominik Feri faces further rape charge Former member of parliament Dominik Feri (TOP09) has been charged with an additional rape, prosecutors confirmed to the news site iRozhlas on Tuesday. The case involves a 17-year-old girl who said she consented to sex but alleged that Feri had removed the condom.Feri is currently serving a three-year sentence for raping two other girls, including...
New Rules for EVs and Taxis Could Reshape Transport in Prague Prague authorities have approved new measures for electric vehicles and taxis that could change how people move around the city. Owners of electric cars will be able to park in all paid zones for an annual fee of 24,000 crowns, while taxis will be required to switch to electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles. The plan still needs approval from city councilors, but that is widely expected. If confirmed, parking permits will start being issued on March 1, and the full transition of taxis to low-emission vehicles is set for 2030. Cold Snap Pushes Gas Use to Five-Year High Severe frosts have driven gas consumption in the Czech Republic to its highest level in five years. Over the past week, usage exceeded the average for the heating season by more than 60 percent. Electricity demand has also risen, though not as sharply. Dispute Over Funding for Ukraine’s Arms Initiative Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said that around 280 billion crowns passed through Czech companies as part of the arms initiative for Ukraine, with about 17 billion crowns allegedly financed directly from the Czech state budget. He accused the previous government of lacking...
Freezing Rain and Severe Ice Expected Across Czechia Meteorologists have issued a warning for freezing rain and severe ice across the Czech Republic today and tomorrow. Precipitation is expected to begin on Monday evening and may lead to the formation of a dense ice layer up to five millimetres thick, mainly in Prague, the Central Bohemian Region, Vysočina and parts of Moravia. Authorities warn of a likely rise in road accidents, along with possible power outages and damage to trees. Safety inspections in bars, clubs, discos and restaurants start on Monday Safety inspections in bars, clubs, discos and restaurants around the country start on Monday and will run until August, the Czech News Agency reported. The inspections were ordered by the interior minister in response to the tragic fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Firefighters will focus on escape routes, the condition of fire extinguishers and compliance with capacity limits. Bars, clubs and discotheques will be inspected during normal operating hours. Prague Castle Sees Record Visitor Numbers Prague Castle recorded its highest attendance ever last year. More than 2.7 million people visited the interiors of the complex, while over nine million walked through the wider area, including the gardens. Castle officials say...
For many young people across Europe, leaving the family home is no longer a natural step into adulthood. Rising rents, expensive mortgages and unstable incomes are changing how an entire generation lives. In the Czech Republic, this shift is becoming increasingly visible. According to the latest data from Eurostat, more than a quarter of Czechs aged between 25 and 35 still live with their parents. The figure stands at 25.9 percent and continues to grow. Similar patterns can be seen across the region, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, where housing costs are rising faster than wages. The trend is even more pronounced in neighbouring Poland. Almost 40 percent of single people aged 25 to 35 there still live in their parents’ homes. Over the past decade alone, that share has increased by ten percentage points. Among Poles aged 18 to 34, nearly seven out of ten have not yet moved out. Within the European Union, Poland now ranks fifth in this category. Experts say the reasons go far beyond individual choices. Sociologist Vojtěch Bednář points to a mix of low incomes and long-term uncertainty. Young people today, he argues, grow up in an atmosphere shaped by warnings about economic...
Heavy snowfall sweeping into the Czech Republic from Bavaria has brought widespread disruption to roads across the country, triggering dozens of traffic accidents. Police said early Friday that conditions were deteriorating fast, with emergency services dealing with incidents in nearly every region. The most serious situation unfolded near Prague Airport, where a truck overturned and blocked both lanes of the D6 motorway. The crash brought traffic to a halt in both directions and caused knock-on delays for drivers heading toward the capital. Public transport in the area was also affected, as buses struggled to navigate icy roads. Elsewhere, the D5 motorway became another trouble spot after a series of crashes involving heavy vehicles. Police closed a stretch of the road in the Tachov district between kilometres 144 and 136 in the direction of Prague, where multiple trucks were left stranded. Further along the same route, another lorry stalled near kilometre 112, adding to already long delays. Conditions have been particularly difficult in western Bohemia. In the Pilsen region, police reported that some secondary roads were impassable in places, with snow and ice making even short journeys risky. Officers said the number of accidents had risen sharply since early morning, most...
Energy Demand Surges Amid Severe Frosts Due to severe frosts, gas and electricity consumption in the Czech Republic has risen sharply. Distributors report that gas consumption over the past week was roughly a quarter higher than during the same period last year. Electricity demand also increased, prompting the Temelín nuclear power plant to raise output from 1,086 to over 1,100 megawatts. Foreign Minister Challenges Presidential Authority New Czech Foreign Minister Peter Macinka stated unequivocally that the president has no real authority in forming the government. After President Petr Pavel again refused to appoint Filip Turek as Minister of the Environment, the leader of the Motorists Party said the movement would not nominate another candidate and would continue to push for Turek. The party insists that responsibility for cabinet formation lies with parliament, not the president. Czech Mortgage Rates Tick Up By early 2026, interest rates on new mortgages in the Czech Republic have increased slightly for the first time since last summer, averaging 4.94%. Banks continue to act cautiously amid inflation risks and economic uncertainty, and no major changes in rates are expected in the near term. Hepatitis A Deaths Spike in Czech Republic In 2025, 36 people died from...
The Czech Republic continues to hold its ground as one of Central Europe’s most attractive retail destinations. Last year, forty foreign brands made their debut in the country, confirming a steady inflow of international players despite ongoing economic uncertainty across the region. According to a market overview by Cushman & Wakefield, the number of new entries remained in line with recent years, though slightly below the exceptional peak of 2024, when 47 brands arrived. Food and drink lead the expansion Restaurants, cafés and fast-casual concepts once again dominated the list of arrivals. The most closely watched launch was the American burger chain Five Guys, which opened its first Czech outlet in Prague’s Máj department store. Other fresh names on the local dining scene included the health-focused dean&david, Mediterranean restaurant Koykan and Seven North, which opened inside the SiR Prague hotel. Live-music fans gained a new venue with the Piano Bar at Savarin Palace, while several specialty brands introduced new flavours to the market, from Italian aperitif Ciao Spritz to German cinnamon-roll concept Cinnamood. Supermarket chains also played a role in expanding the country’s culinary offer. Sushi Circle and Yuzu from Germany, along with France’s Mai Sushi, entered the Czech Republic...
Inflation in Czechia held at 2.1% in December Consumer prices in Czechia rose by 2.1% in December, the same as in November. This is according to a preliminary estimate released on Wednesday by the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ). The inflation rate was slightly above that of the eurozone, which stood at 2%, according to Eurostat data. The Czech National Bank holds record amount of gold in reserves The Czech National Bank (ČNB) purchased 20.4 tonnes of gold last year, a figure similar to that of 2024. By the end of the year, its reserves reached a record 71.6 tonnes, according to data released by the Bank on Wednesday. At the end of 2025, the value of the gold reserves stood at $10.1 billion and gold accounted for 5.76% of the total value of Czechia‘s foreign exchange reserves. Czech Republic Will Continue To Run Ammunition Initiative, Says Babis The Czech Republic will continue to coordinate the Ukraine ammunition initiative, but will not contribute any further money to the scheme, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis (ANO) wrote on social media yesterday after a meeting of leaders of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ – countries committed to supporting Ukraine. Babis said he made the decision...
Cold weather is set to remain across the Czech Republic in the days ahead, with meteorologists warning that winter conditions will not ease anytime soon. While temperatures may rise slightly toward the end of the week, cold weather is expected to stay, with more snow on the way — including up to 20 centimeters in some mountain areas. According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, freezing temperatures will dominate the country through at least Thursday. Even though mornings have been slightly milder than earlier in the week, daytime temperatures are expected to stay below zero in most regions, keeping icy conditions firmly in place. On Friday and Saturday, some areas may briefly see temperatures rise above freezing, but the cold will not let up for long. This, however, will not bring real relief. Instead, it is likely to be accompanied by snowfall and, in some areas, mixed precipitation. Meteorologists warn that rain combined with snow, or even freezing rain, could affect parts of southwestern Bohemia outside the mountain regions, increasing the risk of icy roads and sidewalks. The most intense snowfall is expected in the Bohemian mountain ranges, where up to 20 centimeters of new snow could accumulate by the weekend....
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