The multi-genre United Islands festival will kick off Prague’s festival season, offering three days of music, film and discussions across the city. The program begins on Thursday, April 30, with pop-up concerts in Portheimka Park in Smíchov, followed by shows in clubs around Prague. The main open-air part will take place on May 1 and 2 on Štvanice Island, where five stages will host more than 100 emerging artists from across Europe. Among the international acts are Irish electro-noise trio Yard, Dutch singer Min Taka and Slovak rising star Meowlau. The Czech scene will feature recent Anděl Award winner Marie April, Toyota Vangelis, rapper Anki and indie band WYFE. In addition to music, this year’s edition expands its non-musical program. Visitors can attend debates with journalists Nora Fridrichová and Zdislava Pokorná, as well as a screening of the Oscar-winning film Mr. Nobody vs. Putin. Entry remains free, with voluntary tickets available to support the festival. United Islands has built a reputation as one of Central Europe’s key showcase festivals, focusing on new talent from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and beyond. It returns once again to Štvanice Island. View this post on Instagram A post shared by United Islands...
Although the main celebrations fall on April 30, this year’s Witches Night (čarodějnice) in Prague extends over several days, with events already scheduled before the traditional evening of bonfires. Across the city, districts are preparing parades, children’s programs, concerts and fire shows. The custom, known as Walpurgis Night, has long been tied to the belief that fires could drive away evil spirits. It also marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring, a theme that continues to shape the modern celebrations. Prague 1 – Kampa and Střelecký Island One of the most well-known celebrations will take place in the Lesser Town area. On April 30, Kampa will host an afternoon program for children starting at 2:30 p.m., including games, attractions and interactive activities. At 6 p.m., participants will gather at Malostranské Square before a parade crosses Charles Bridge toward Kampa. The main bonfire is scheduled for dusk, followed by live music performances. Nearby Střelecký Island will offer a full-day program from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with refreshments, wine tasting, and live music. A light and fire show is also planned. Entry to both locations is free. Prague 2 – Svatopluk Čech Gardens Families with younger children can...
You have moved to the Czech Republic. Congratulations. Now you are in for a rollercoaster of authorities, paperwork, and forms that will make your head spin for a month after your arrival. Housing, work, a bank account, a phone, a residency stamp. And somewhere amidst all this, it might occur to you that you’d like to play online. Fine. But before you click anywhere, it’s good to know how the Czech gambling market actually works. And hey, it’s actually a fair system. Rules exist, someone enforces them, and you can navigate through it faster than you’d expect. You just need to know where to look before falling for a welcome banner. A Czech domain? That doesn’t mean anything yet Almost everyone makes this mistake. The website looks Czech, the address ends in .cz, the design seems professional. So it must be fine, right? Well, no. You can’t tell if an online casino is legal by its language or domain. You can tell by whether the operator is on the official list of the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic. It sounds bureaucratic. But it’s the most reliable filter you have at your disposal. Moreover, the Ministry also publishes a...
Beer lovers in Prague can mark their calendars for May 1, when the eleventh edition of the První Pivní Máj festival takes over the grounds of Břevnov Monastery. The one-day event runs from 12:00 to 20:00 and offers a broad look at Czech and Moravian craft brewing in a relaxed, open-air setting. Around twenty microbreweries from across the country are expected to present their beers, with roughly 80 different types on tap throughout the day. The focus remains on smaller producers, giving visitors a chance to sample styles and recipes that are not always easy to find in regular pubs or shops. The festival is not limited to beer. Organizers have also invited Moravian winemakers, adding a second tasting option for those who prefer wine or want to alternate between drinks. Food stalls will be set up across the venue, serving a mix of street food and traditional snacks, including burgers, sausages, fried cheese, pancakes, and other quick bites. In the afternoon, visitors can join light-hearted competitions, such as timed beer drinking or holding a full beer mug for as long as possible. There will also be a discussion on Czech beer culture, offering some context on brewing traditions and...
Returning to Prague for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, composer Alexey Shor is set for three near-sold-out concerts, a long way from the apartment where he used to write music for nobody but himself. “[Prague] is just one of the most beautiful places on Earth,” Shor said. “The last time we had a concert here, the reception was wonderful, and the concert hall was full.” Unlike most composers, Shor spent more than two decades as a Wall Street mathematician, writing music secretly in his apartment with no intention of ever sharing it. It was only when a friend, world-class American violist David Carpenter, spotted a score on Shor’s desk and refused to let it stay private that everything changed, eventually leading to concert halls around the world and performances by some of the biggest names in classical music. That growing audience has brought with it a new kind of pressure compared with early in his career, and he now feels the weight of not wanting to disappoint them. “Early on, people had no idea who I was. I literally had people tell me, ‘We thought you died in the 19th century, and here you are,’” he said. Tonight,...
The start of the spa season in Czechia is approaching, with most towns set to open in May. As in previous years, the openings are tied to public events, smaller festivals, and cultural programmes that bring both locals and visitors into spa centres across the country. In Karlovy Vary, the season will open from May 1 to 3. The main event is the traditional parade of King Charles IV, which passes through the town with historical costumes and performances. The programme also includes concerts by the local symphony orchestra and a craft fair. A food and beer event is planned near the Thermal Hotel. Mariánské Lázně will follow on May 8–10. The opening begins with a concert by the West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra, followed by a church service and the traditional blessing of the springs. The town’s Singing Fountain, one of its main attractions, will again be part of the programme. In Františkovy Lázně, the season starts on May 16 with a ceremony at the František spring, including a parade and a day-long programme in the town centre. A week later, on May 23, Jáchymov will host cultural performances, local food stalls, and the usual blessing of the springs....
Interest in Poland’s Baltic coast is rising steadily among Czech travelers, who are increasingly choosing it over more traditional southern destinations. The appeal lies in a simple mix of short travel times, reasonable prices and reliable services. From Prague or northern parts of the country, the drive to cities such as Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia typically takes between four and five hours. For many, that proximity has turned the area into what some travelers informally call the “Czech sea,” a nickname reflecting how common Czech visitors have become along the coast. The region offers long stretches of sandy beaches, a contrast to the pebbled shores often found in Croatia. While the Baltic Sea remains cooler, with summer temperatures usually ranging between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius, many visitors find it more comfortable than the heat of southern Europe. The water is also less salty, which families with children often appreciate. Prices remain a major factor. A half-liter of beer in a standard restaurant along the Polish coast typically costs between 50 and 70 Czech crowns, noticeably less than in central Prague, where prices can be significantly higher. Accommodation is also more affordable, particularly outside the main tourist hubs, while...
A train journey between Prague and Vienna that currently takes several hours could be reduced to around two and a half hours by 2040 under new plans agreed by Czech and Austrian officials. Transport ministers from both countries signed a memorandum setting out joint ambitions for rail and road upgrades along key cross-border routes. The document outlines a long-term goal of significantly shortening travel times between the two capitals through major infrastructure investments. Reaching the 2.5-hour target will depend mainly on the construction of a high-speed rail line between Prague and Brno, a project seen as essential on the Czech side. The section forms part of the broader Via Vindobona corridor, which is designed to connect Berlin, Prague, and Vienna. Austrian estimates suggest the full route could reduce travel between Berlin and Vienna to about four hours. While both countries are planning upgrades, Austria’s section between Vienna and Břeclav is expected to remain a limiting factor, even after modernization that will allow speeds of up to 200 km/h. The agreement also covers several other rail corridors. One focuses on upgrading the Prague–České Budějovice–Linz connection, with a joint study by Czech and Austrian rail authorities examining the cross-border section. Another project...
Prague officials are once again debating how to ease pressure on the city’s historic core, with a new proposal to restrict vehicle access during the peak tourist season. Deputy Mayor Jaromír Beránek, a member of the Czech Pirate Party, plans to submit a measure that would temporarily limit traffic in key central areas during the summer holidays. The proposal targets parts of the city around Malostranské náměstí and sections of Smetana Embankment along the Vltava River. Under the plan, transit traffic would be blocked from passing through selected routes on both sides of the river, a move intended to reduce congestion, noise and pollution in one of Prague’s most visited districts. The idea follows earlier efforts by the Pirates to introduce entry fees for cars in the city center — a measure that was ultimately rejected by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. However, the latest proposal has met resistance from local leaders. Transport councilors representing seven Prague districts issued a joint statement warning that the restrictions would fail to address the root of the problem and instead shift traffic to other neighborhoods. According to the statement, redirecting vehicles away from the center would increase congestion in...
After their explosive set at Rock for People 2025, IDLES are coming back to the Czech Republic. The British band will perform on 7 July 2026 at Forum Karlín in Prague, marking their seventh appearance in the country and their largest headline show here to date. Tickets go on sale on 4 December at 11:00 via the RFP Concerts website. Formed in Bristol, IDLES built their reputation on raw intensity, politically charged lyrics, and high-energy live shows. Their sound moves between punk and post-punk, driven by aggressive instrumentation and an unfiltered emotional delivery that has made them one of the most talked-about live bands of the past decade. The group has released two UK number one albums and has grown from underground favourites into a globally recognised, Grammy-nominated act. In recent years, their reach has expanded beyond music, including work on the original soundtrack for the upcoming film Caught Stealing, directed by Darren Aronofsky. Their live reputation has only grown stronger internationally. During a recent US tour, they headlined Forest Hills Stadium in New York. At Glastonbury, their performance on the Other Stage became widely discussed after a Banksy intervention involving an inflatable boat installation featuring migrant figures, turning the...
Clothing swaps are among the most practical examples of the circular economy in action. Instead of buying new items, people exchange what they already own, extending the life of garments and reducing textile waste. The approach also cuts demand for fast fashion, an industry linked to overproduction, short product cycles, and mounting environmental pressure. In Prague, the Swap Festival on April 26th at Congress Center, is building on that idea with a public event that combines clothing exchange with education and debate. Organizers present swapping not only as a way to refresh a wardrobe, but as a shift in how people think about consumption, ownership, and waste. Visitors are invited to take part in workshops and discussions that examine the broader impact of the textile industry. One of the main debates, titled “Fast Fashion Toxic Relationship or Marriage of Convenience,” looks at consumer habits, the role of marketing, and the limits of regulation. Speakers include Štěpán Vaškevič from Circle Economy and Karolína Brabcová from the environmental group Arnika. A separate part of the program focuses on product safety. In cooperation with Arnika, attendees can have selected items tested for harmful substances. The testing targets everyday objects that come into contact...
A new National Center for Artificial Intelligence was officially opened in Prague on Wednesday, April 22, marking a step toward bringing academic research in AI into practical use across both the public and private sectors. The project is built around cooperation between universities, companies and public institutions. One of its main goals is to support the use of artificial intelligence in state administration and other areas where digital systems are becoming more central to decision-making. According to Tomáš Kroupa from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University, the center was developed over a period of three months with the involvement of seven technical universities across the country. Rather than working in isolation, the center is designed to respond directly to demands from industry and public bodies. Companies are expected to define their needs, while universities and research teams will translate those requirements into applied solutions in the field of artificial intelligence. The center will focus on several key areas, including industrial production, security applications, autonomous systems, biomedicine, energy, and construction. These sectors were selected due to their increasing reliance on data-driven systems and automation. One of the first planned projects involves cooperation with a major cybersecurity company....
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