Several hospitals in Prague are reporting critically low blood supplies, prompting the Czech Ministry of Health to urge people to donate blood in the coming days. The shortage is affecting more than individual blood groups. Hospitals and transfusion centers in several parts of the Czech Republic are reporting a broader decline in available supplies, with some facilities nearing the minimum levels needed to maintain safe operations. The situation differs from one region to another. Some transfusion centers still have adequate reserves, while others are short of particular blood groups or are approaching critical levels. The shortage also extends to individual blood components. In Prague, the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM) is currently seeking more platelet donors regardless of blood type. People planning to donate are advised to check the latest information on the website or social media channels of their chosen transfusion center before visiting. Why hospitals need more donors Hospitals depend on regular blood donations not only during emergencies but also for planned medical treatment. Blood is routinely needed for surgery, childbirth and the treatment of patients who require repeated transfusions. This includes some cancer patients whose treatment can interfere with the body’s production of blood cells....
On October 10, the Prague electronic music collective EDEN will bring Rotten To The Core to Stadion Strahov for one of the collective’s largest and most ambitious events to date. Running from 10pm until 7am, the night will bring together international and local DJs, dancers and visual artists for an event built around music, performance and visual art. The lineup includes VLACE, SCHELLT, RiVid, 2NDRA and Mila (5), with the programme focused on techno and acid. Among the artists, 2NDRA is a Prague-based schranz and techno producer and performer and one of the founders of EDEN Collective. RiVid, meanwhile, is a Czech-Japanese hard techno duo. The event takes a broader approach to the club experience, combining the music programme with visual elements, art installations and live performances. That approach comes at a time when electronic music events are becoming increasingly commercialised, while promoters and venues face rising production costs and growing regulatory pressures. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐍 (@_eden_rave_) The event will take place beneath Strahov Stadium in Prague 6, continuing EDEN’s connection with unconventional venues and large-scale rave productions. The collective previously hosted its 40-hour ALT BABYLON weekender in Prague in August, featuring dozens...
Prague’s Kramář Villa will open to the public on October 3, giving visitors a chance to see inside one of the Czech government’s official residences. Admission will be free. The villa, located on Gogolova Street in Prague’s Letná district, is the official residence of the Czech prime minister. It was also the home of Karel Kramář, Czechoslovakia’s first prime minister, and his wife, Nadezhda. Visitors during the open house will be able to take guided tours of the building and learn about its history, architecture and former residents. The tour will include parts of the villa that are normally closed to the public, including its living quarters and ceremonial rooms. Built with a combination of Neo-Baroque and Art Nouveau influences, Kramář Villa has been one of Prague’s government residences since the early 20th century. Its history is closely linked to Karel Kramář, who became the first prime minister of Czechoslovakia following the country’s establishment in 1918. The open house will also include access to the villa’s garden. Located above the city, the grounds provide views across Prague and will remain open for longer than the villa itself. The villa will welcome visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October...
Prague will offer a range of free cultural events in October, from exhibitions and science films to family entertainment and hands-on craft workshops. Several major institutions will also open their doors to the public on October 28, Czech Independence Day. Here are five events where the main program is free, followed by a guide to some of the places that can be visited without charge on the October 28 public holiday. Free admission at the National Gallery October 3–4 and October 28, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM The National Gallery Prague will offer free access to selected exhibitions on two occasions in October. On October 3 and 4, visitors can see 1956–1989: Architecture for Everyone at the Trade Fair Palace (Veletržní palác) without paying an entrance fee. The offer forms part of Architecture Day, this year’s festival built around the theme “I Dwell, Therefore I Am.” The Architecture Day program will also include free tours and workshops at several National Gallery sites, including the Trade Fair Palace, the Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia and Schwarzenberg Palace. Some activities require advance registration. Another opportunity comes on October 28, when the National Gallery will waive admission to its eight permanent exhibitions. The program...
Bolt and U.S. electric vehicle maker Lucid Group have announced a partnership to develop autonomous mobility services in Europe, with plans to deploy more than 25,000 fully autonomous vehicles across European cities over the coming years. The vehicles will be based on Lucid’s upcoming Midsize platform and use NVIDIA Hyperion, a reference architecture and development platform for autonomous vehicles. The companies plan to develop the vehicles for SAE Level 4 autonomous driving, which allows vehicles to operate without human control within defined conditions. Bolt says the project is part of its wider ambition to have 100,000 autonomous vehicles operating on its platform by 2035. The companies will work together from the early stages of vehicle development. Bolt will contribute traffic and mobility data, operational experience and knowledge of European markets, while Lucid will provide its software-defined vehicle platform and automotive technology. Bolt will also define requirements covering the vehicle, software, safety and passenger experience. Its autonomous driving division will oversee the partnership and develop the infrastructure needed to operate the fleet. This will include vehicle dispatch, charging, maintenance, remote assistance and customer support. Bolt also plans to own and operate the autonomous vehicles itself. Rollout will depend on local regulations...
September 28 is a public holiday in the Czech Republic, marking Czech Statehood Day and the feast of St. Wenceslas. This year, the holiday falls on a Monday, giving many people a three-day weekend. For anyone planning to spend the day in Prague, however, there are two practical questions: which shops will be open, and what can you do around the city? Where you can shop on September 28 Under Czech legislation regulating retail opening hours, shops with a sales area of more than 200 square meters must close on September 28. The restriction applies throughout the day and covers large supermarkets, hypermarkets and home improvement stores. Smaller shops with sales areas of up to 200 square meters are exempt and can open at their owners’ discretion. Petrol stations and pharmacies can also operate. Other exceptions include shops located at airports, railway stations and bus terminals, as well as retail outlets inside healthcare facilities. Why September 28 is Czech Statehood Day The holiday commemorates Prince Wenceslas, a member of the Přemyslid dynasty who became one of the central figures in Czech history. Wenceslas was killed by his brother Boleslav I on September 28, 935, in Stará Boleslav. His death later...
A new sports complex has opened in Riegrovy Sady, giving residents of Prague 2 access to a refurbished court, parkour equipment, a climbing wall and an outdoor fitness area. The facility, next to the TJ Sokol Královské Vinohrady building, was officially opened Tuesday afternoon. The renovation and installation of new equipment cost CZK 8.7 million, excluding VAT. The site is intended for people of different ages and can be used for several sports. The refurbished court is suitable for football and basketball, while the new equipment includes a parkour area, climbing wall and a small fitness zone. The project forms part of the district’s longer-term plans for Riegrovy Sady. Officials said the upper section of the park has lacked sufficient space for outdoor sports and exercise. The sports area occupies land that until last year was used by two unauthorized structures, the Ice Magic ice sculpture exhibition and the Containall sports and cultural center. The district is also considering a much larger project for the site. A multifunctional hall for sports and cultural events could eventually replace the current outdoor facility. Petr Janů, deputy chairman of TJ Sokol Královské Vinohrady, previously said the goal was to create a building designed...
More than 240 children and 10 adults have developed gastrointestinal symptoms in connection with a suspected Salmonella outbreak at a school in Prague’s Újezd nad Lesy district. Masaryk Elementary School, which has around 1,100 pupils, is being temporarily closed while health authorities investigate the source of the infection. The school’s kitchen and cafeteria will also undergo thorough disinfection. Salmonella has so far been confirmed by laboratory tests in four children, according to Petra Batok, a spokesperson for the Prague Public Health Authority. Officials are continuing to investigate how the infection entered the school. The first cases were reported earlier this week. The largest number of illnesses has been recorded among upper-level pupils and children attending Montessori classes. Classes for those groups were cancelled on Wednesday, while all pupils have been given Thursday and Friday off. Food samples taken from the school cafeteria have been sent for laboratory testing, with results expected on Friday. The final number of people affected is not yet known. Health officials are collecting additional information through questionnaires completed by parents and adults who visited the cafeteria. The Prague public health authorities have described the incident as an epidemic. Prague emergency services have received 55 calls from...
Prague commuters should expect changes to metro and tram services from Saturday, September 26, through Monday, September 28, as maintenance work affects Metro Line C and tram routes in Libeň. Metro Line C will be suspended between Pražského povstání and Chodov for the entire long weekend. Trains will continue running between Letňany and Pražského povstání, while the southern section between Chodov and Háje will operate as a shuttle service. Four stations will be affected by the closure: Pankrác, Budějovická, Kačerov and Roztyly. Passengers can use replacement bus XC, which will run between Pražského povstání and Chodov via all four stations. Hundreds of railway sleepers to be replaced The closure will allow Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) workers to replace several hundred wooden sleepers with concrete ones. Once the work is completed, around 17,000 of the approximately 20,000 original sleepers between Florenc and Kačerov will have been replaced. DPP said the work is scheduled during long weekends because the materials used to secure the new sleepers need more time to harden than a standard weekend allows. Tram services suspended in Libeň Tram services will also be disrupted between Palmovka and Ke Stírce from early Saturday morning until 6 p.m. Monday. Several lines...
The legendary Gipsy Kings by André Reyes will perform in Prague this November, bringing their distinctive mix of flamenco guitar, rumba and Latin rhythms to Lucerna Great Hall on November 29, 2026. Led by founding member André Reyes, the group will perform some of the songs that made the Gipsy Kings famous around the world, including “Bamboleo,” “Djobi Djoba” and “Volare,” alongside newer material. The concert is being presented by Gotobeat and will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are online here. From southern France to the world The Gipsy Kings’ story began with the Reyes family and their musical roots in the south of France. André Reyes was one of the founding members of the group, which went on to combine traditional flamenco with rumba, Latin rhythms and pop influences. Their energetic guitar playing and Spanish-language songs helped turn rumba flamenca into an international sound. Tracks such as “Bamboleo” and “Djobi Djoba” became global hits, while their version of “Volare” introduced the group to an even wider audience. Music associated with the Gipsy Kings has sold more than 60 million records worldwide, making the group one of the most successful international acts to emerge from the flamenco-rumba tradition. Their music...
A new book documenting the history of Prague’s Roxy club and the alternative cultural scene that grew around it is seeking public support ahead of its planned publication this autumn. Titled Kopneš do plechovky a dva dny se tančí (“Kick a Can and Dance for Two Days”), the book looks at Roxy’s development from its beginnings in the early 1990s to its current role in Prague’s music scene. A crowdfunding campaign to finance the publication has been launched on Donio.cz. Rather than focusing solely on the history of one nightclub, the project examines the people, artists and cultural movements connected with the venue. More than 40 musicians, promoters, artists and other figures associated with Roxy contribute their memories and perspectives. Roxy opened in 1992 and quickly became an important venue for alternative music in Prague. Over the years, its programme has covered genres including hardcore, house, trip-hop, hip-hop and drum’n’bass. The book is the result of almost five years of research by cultural journalist Ondřej Horák. He examined thousands of archival documents, located previously unpublished photographs and interviewed nearly 50 people connected with Roxy and its history. The campaign will also feature newly created artwork. Graphic designer and typographer Jozef...
In the first year of the Friendly City Index, Prague ranked second among Central and Eastern European metropolises. Yet only 13.82% of residents can reach most daily destinations – work, schools, shops, or healthcare – within 15 minutes. The best metropolises in the region remain closer to “30-minute cities.” Young Czechs are closest to the ideal: 34% of those aged 18–24 said they can reach everyday destinations within 15 minutes. Middle-aged people, especially 45–54, scored the worst at 14.7%. Smaller Czech cities outperform Prague. Olomouc (36%), Ostrava (29.7%), and Brno (21.8%) all ranked better in their categories. Compact urban structures and shorter distances explain much of this advantage. Polish cities also dominated the rankings, including Krakow, Szczecin, and Lublin. Among metropolises, Warsaw leads with 15.9%. In other categories: Krakow (30.3%), Split (44%), Rijeka (53.3%), and Zadar (53.6%). Riga ranked worst at 9.8%, while Zagreb scored only 20%. The smaller the city, the better the accessibility Around 10–15% in metropolises, 30% in large cities, 40%+ in medium-sized cities, and over 50% in small cities. Even cities with metro systems like Prague or Bucharest show little improvement, confirming that compactness and urban structure matter more than infrastructure alone. Transport habits In Central...
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