JANUARY
The first month of the year is not one that typically offers a large number of events. Nevertheless, we have two recommendations for you. The cultural scene will once again be welcoming well-known names. On 23 January,
Tom Odel is set to appear at
Prague’s Forum Karlín theatre, or you can go to the O2 Arena on 25 January and enjoy the most famous music of Italian composer
Ennio Morricone.
FEBRUARY
February offers the opportunity to take part in a challenging sporting event, or at least to cheer on its competitors. The traditional
Jizera 50, a 50-km cross-country skiing race through the beautiful snow-covered countryside of the
Jizera Mountains is scheduled for 10 February. If you would prefer a cultural experience, then don’t hesitate to visit Fórum Karlín in
Prague on 17 February, where you will have the opportunity to see popular French singer-song writer
Zaz in concert.
MARCH
Fans of Icelandic tunes will be most welcome on 7 March, when Rock Café will be the venue for a performance by
Június Meyvant. Towards the end of the month (28 March), opera lovers should be sure to visit Prague’s
Obecní dům, where the Argentinian
José Cura will be singing the very best that his repertoire has to offer.
APRIL
Do you watch the Eurovision Song Contest? If so, you are sure to have seen the performance of Czech finalist
Mikolas Josef in 2018. If you would like to hear him live, he will be at
Prague’s Forum Karlín on 3 April. Meanwhile, the runners among you should start massaging your thighs: the
Prague Half-Marathon takes place in early spring on 6 April.
MAY
With spring well and truly underway, the number of events will also begin to increase. On 7 May, the O2 Arena in
Prague will play host to legendary British singer
Elton John. The month of May also sees the beginning of a veritable feast for lovers of classical music. The
international music festival Pražské jaro (Prague Spring) begins on 12 May and runs through 4 June. Over the course of these few weeks, you will be able to visit dozens of concerts in a number of locations around
Prague, such as
Rudolfinum or
Obecní dům. If modern music is more to your liking, you will be sure to enjoy a concert by
George Ezra (21 May, Tipsport Arena) or a performance by the group
Muse (26 May, at
Prague’s Letňany Airport). Sporty types will also not miss out. The
Prague Marathon is scheduled for 5 May, and will once again lead through the city’s historical centre and parks.
JUNE
June sees the beginning of some very interesting international events both in and outside of Prague. The
international music festival Smetanova Litomyšl takes place from 13 June through 7 July. An interesting point about the festival is that the organisers place emphasis on both classical and contemporary musical compositions, and the entire festival is held in the backdrop of
Litomyšl Château, a jewel of renaissance architecture included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On the weekend of 23 to 25 June,
Kutná Hora will become the stage for the historical festival
Královské stříbření (The Royal Silvering of Kutná Hora). Thanks to the organisers and actors, the entire town centre will be transported to the High Middle Ages. Would you like to see a fair and the Czech king? All this and more awaits. Sports fans will certainly not want to miss the
Czech Republic Speedway Grand Prix in Prague on 15 June at Markéta Stadium or
Ostrava’s famous
Zlatá tretra athletics meet on
20 June. The month of June will also see Prague become the concert hub of the entire country, with multiple events including
Maroon 5 (5 June, O2 Arena),
Slipknot (11 June, O2 arena),
Kiss and
ZZ Top (19 June, Eden Arena), the
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual free concert on 19 June at
Hradčanské náměstí (Hradčany Square), the
Metronome festival featuring the groups
Morcheeba and
Kraftwerk (21 June), and
Phil Collins in concert (25 June, O2 arena).
JULY
In late June and early July,
Karlovy Vary becomes a mecca for film fans, with the
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival taking place from 28 June to 6 July. It is not yet certain which Hollywood stars will be in attendance, but A-list celebrities always make an appearance. The festival welcomes both backpackers with tents and top global celebrities with open arms. Thanks to this combination, the town lives up to the reputation you will want to see with your own eyes. The
music festival Colours of Ostrava, which takes place this year from 17 through 20 July, is known well beyond our borders. It is a mix of music, theatre, and other aspects of contemporary art. This year’s main stars will be
The Cure. Alternatively, you can take in classical music at the
international music festival in
Český Krumlov from 19 July through 10 August. A combination of classical music, opera, and a
renaissance château guarantee a quality summer musical experience under the stars. And Karlovy Vary is not the only destination for film lovers this month: you can also visit the
Summer Film School in
Uherské Hradiště. This smaller-scale film festival, which focuses more on art films and documentaries, takes place from 26 July through 4 August. Other concerts on offer this month will include performances by
Ed Sheeran (7 July, Prague Letňany Airport) and the band
Rammstein (16 July, Eden Arena Prague).
AUGUST
In early August, the
Masaryk Circuit in
Brno hosts the country’s most prestigious motorsports event
the Brno Grand Prix – the Czech Republic Motorcycle Grand Prix (2–4 August). It is part of the
Road Racing Motorcycle World Championships (MotoGP). The second half of the summer also brings world-famous metal band
Metallica to Prague as they perform at Letňany Airport on 8 August.
SEPTEMBER
September is a month for celebrating wine harvests. Grapes are harvested in all of the country’s viticultural regions. You can visit the
Znojmo Historical Vintage (13–15 September), the
Pálava Vintage in Mikulov (6–8 September), or the
Mělník Vintage (20–22 September). Do you like a combination of swing and piano music? Then don’t miss Canadian star
Michael Bublé in concert at the O2 Arena in Prague on 17 September.
OCTOBER
In early October, you can discover Prague in a new light. The now-traditional
Signal Festival, which offers original light installations and projection mapping on and around historical sights, modern buildings, and lesser-known parts of Prague, will take place from 10 through 13 October. Music can also be heard in Prague in the first half of October. The
international festival Struny podzimu (Strings of Autumn) combines classical music with new elements, creating an inter-generational and multi-genre overlap. On the second Sunday of the month (13 October),
Pardubice will host the
Velká pardubická (Grand Pardubice Steeplechase), the oldest and toughest horse race on the European continent. From 24 through 29 October,
Jihlava will host the
Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival. You can look forward to hundreds of documentaries, including dozens of word premieres of all genres, from human rights films to ecological and humanitarian documentaries. And design enthusiasts will be sure to enjoy the latest edition of the
International Design Festival Designblok, the largest show dedicated to design and fashion in Central Europe.
NOVEMBER
You can commemorate the 214th anniversary of the
Battle of Austerlitz from 29 November through 1 December in Slavkov u Brna, nearby Moravia’s largest city. Meanwhile, lovers of Italian opera and classical music, take note:
Andrea Bocelli will be performing at the O2 Arena in Prague on 30 November, thereby beginning 2019’s Advent programme.
