Popular Annual Festivals and Events

Some events are so popular that they take place every year and still find new fans. Lately, unique tours of museums, churches, galleries, and even gardens have become popular. Sometimes, the ‘extra’ is the unusual time of a tour, such as visiting a building at night, which gives the location a completely different atmosphere. At other times, you can go on a tour with a guide who has been taking caring for the site for many years and knows the most intimate details about it. Below is a list of what to enjoy during the spring and early summer in the Czech Republic.

Gallery Weekend Prague (26–28 April)

This is a weekend when most of Prague’s private galleries open their doors. It is truly a feast for art lovers! The organisers managed to join the owners and operators of almost all of Prague galleries to open their doors to the public and to prepare interesting programmes for visitors. This follows the example of many European cities that host similar events. And what galleries can you look forward to? For example, the Gallery in the Municipal House, or NoD and Atrium in Žižkov. The current list of galleries keeps growing, and you can find it at the event’s website.

International Day of Museums and Galleries (18 May)

Museums and galleries all over the world celebrate their day. In Prague, the National Gallery is participating, and admission to all its exhibitions will be free for all visitors.

Museum Night Festival (18 May and 8 June)

The museum night is an event when museums, galleries, and other cultural sites stay open after dusk, usually until midnight. Admission is either a symbolic donation or completely free. This year marks the 15th iteration of this popular event in the Czech Republic.

Museum Night in Brno will take place on Saturday 18 May, and both large cultural institutions and small galleries and museums are participating again this year. They will remain open after 6 pm, and in addition to their exhibitions there will be a lot of different activities for adults and children alike. Visitors will have the opportunity to visit a total of 28 locations, including the St James Ossuary and the Underground Labyrinth beneath the Vegetable Market.

Prague’s Museum Night has become a phenomenon. The number of visitors has been rising every year, with tens of thousands of visitors coming to see the museums. This year, the museums will open at 7 pm on 8 June and they most will close after 1 am. But don’t worry, public transport will also be extended that night so you can get to your hotel or accommodation without any problems. This year’s Prague Museum Night will include 50 museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions. Otherwise traditional exhibitions and sites will become lively with unusual events that will make your evening unforgettable. There will also be programmes for children. You can visit the National Museum, the Botanical Garden, the National Gallery, and the synagogues of Prague. The current list of participating locations can be found on the organiser’s website.

Open House Festival (18–19 May)

Prague will host the 5th annual Open House Festival weekend, during which you can visit 80 buildings that are usually inaccessible to the public. Free of charge, you can tour the architecturally valuable spaces of historic palaces and villas representative of various artistic styles, enjoy modern design office spaces, and take in unforgettable views of Prague from the roofs of high-rise buildings. The crown jewel of this year’s festival is the tour of the Liechtenstein Palace in Malá Strana, which is used for state visits. Countless important visitors have stayed there, such as Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Japan’s Emperor Akihito.

The Night of Churches (24 May)

Somewhat gloomy houses of prayer and various churches are looking forward to welcoming visitors all over the Czech Republic. Almost all actively used houses of prayer, churches, and monasteries throughout the country are participating in this year’s festival, which is marking the 10th anniversary since its inception. Would you like to look inside the towers, gaze up at the bells, and peek in the backrooms that you can’t see during regular masses, or would you like to play the organ? Experience and cultural and spiritual programmes prepared for you by parishioners from all over the country. For example, you can visit the Church of the Sacred Heart in Vinohrady, the Rotunda of St Martin and the Basilica of St Peter and St Paul in Vyšehrad, and the Church of Our Lady before Tyn at Old Town Square. The list of all participating locations is available on the website.

Open Gardens Weekend (8–9 June)

Who wouldn’t want to know what lies behind the high walls of palaces in the cities or the fences of chateaus? On the second weekend of June, you will have the opportunity to peek into gardens all over the Czech Republic that are usually inaccessible, as well as explore some parks in a brand new way. This year, you can visit more than 130 gardens and parks. Moreover, many parks and gardens will organise a rich accompanying programme with guided tours, activities for children, and concerts during the Open Gardens Weekend. Among the many locations visitors can see in Prague is the garden of the Břevnov Monastery, while in Brno are the gardens around Špilberk Castle, and elsewhere in Moravia is the popular Herb Garden near the Valtice Chateau.