Prague’s 2026 festival season brings a packed calendar of open-air concerts, student gatherings, and major classical events across the city.
The season opens with United Islands, a long-running event focused on emerging artists. Held from April 30 to May 2 across Štvanice Island and nearby venues, the festival will feature more than 100 performances.
Its lineup mixes indie, jazz, electronic and world music, with international acts such as Bilk, Yard and Min Taka alongside Czech performers including Toyota Vangelis and Kvietah. Entry remains free, with visitors encouraged to support the event through voluntary contributions.
Alongside concerts, debates and discussions will take place as part of a new forum program addressing topics from artificial intelligence to the role of media in democracy.
On May 1, Majáles takes over Letňany Airport. The country’s largest student festival offers a full-day lineup combining rap, pop, rock and electronic music.
Performers include Ben Cristovao, Viktor Sheen, Sara Rikas and Chinaski, while a dedicated EDM stage will host international acts such as Rudimental, Sigma and Dimension. The event draws a mix of students and the general public, making it one of the busiest days of the spring season.
Classical music returns to the forefront with the Prague Spring Festival, running from May 12 to June 2 across venues including the Rudolfinum and Municipal House. More than 60 concerts and events are planned, bringing artists and orchestras from nearly 30 countries.
Among those appearing are Elīna Garanča and Benjamin Bernheim, while Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan takes on the role of resident artist. The festival is preceded by the Prague Spring International Music Competition, which begins on May 6 and remains a key platform for young musicians.
At the end of May, the Mezi Ploty Festival will once again transform the grounds of the Bohnice Psychiatric Hospital. Scheduled for May 30 and 31, the event combines music and theatre, with more than 100 groups performing. It has built a reputation for its inclusive approach and wide-ranging program.
Mezi Ploty Festival
Summer begins with a series of outdoor concerts under the Prague Open Air banner, running from June 11 to August 26 in Riegrovy sady and Holešovice. The lineup will be announced gradually, but the series has become a regular fixture for live music in the city during warmer months.
Mid-June also brings the Respect Festival, held on June 13 and 14 at Štvanice. Known for its focus on world music, the festival presents artists from nearly 20 countries. This year’s edition includes Senegalese musician Cheikh Lô and performers from Madagascar introducing the tsapiky style. The event continues its long-standing aim of connecting traditional sounds with contemporary global music.
Jazz fans can look forward to Bohemia JazzFest, which runs from June 14 to July 21, including concerts in the Royal Garden at Prague Castle. Founded by guitarist Rudy Linka, the festival offers free performances and regularly attracts leading names from the international jazz scene. The full program is expected to be released closer to the event.
One of the largest festivals of the year, Metronome Prague, will take place from June 19 to 21 at Letňany Airport, marking a move from its previous site in Holešovice. The lineup includes Nick Cave and Sting, who will perform with a smaller ensemble. Other acts announced so far range from Manic Street Preachers to The Flaming Lips and Of Monsters and Men, alongside Czech artists. Organizers are also expanding the event with a food program and discussions.
In September, Dvořák’s Prague returns from September 5 to 23, focusing on classical repertoire linked to the Czech composer while featuring international performers. The Vienna Philharmonic, Hilary Hahn and Magdalena Kožená are among the names confirmed. Concerts will take place in venues such as the Rudolfinum and the Prague Conservatory.
The season closes with Prague Sounds, scheduled for November 2 to 22 across multiple venues. The festival, which has run for nearly three decades, continues to present a mix of established names and emerging artists. The 2026 lineup has not yet been announced.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source praguemorning.cz ’
