Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in the Czech Republic
- Before planning a trip around a festival, verify the festival dates on the festival's website or with a local tourist information office. For more information about these and other events, visit the official tourism site for the Czech Republic.
- This list includes major festivals in major cities, plus national holidays observed throughout the Czech Republic. Many sights and banks close down on national holidays — keep it in mind when planning your itinerary. Note that this isn't a complete list; holidays can strike without warning.
- See upcoming holidays and festivals across Europe
2019
December (all month): Christmas festivals across the Czech Republic, most notably in Prague and Český Krumlov (markets, musical events, lights)
December 5: St. Nicholas Eve (St. Nicholas, devils, and angels walk the streets in search of nice — and naughty — children)
December 24–25: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Vanoce, closures)
December 26: St. Stephen's Day (closures)
December 31: St. Sylvester's Day (fireworks in Prague)
2020
January 1: New Year's Day; Restoration of Czech Independence Day (closures)
January 19: Anniversary of Jan Palach's Death (flowers in Prague's Wenceslas Square)
January 22–26: Prague Short Film Festival
February 22–25: Carnival celebrations, Český Krumlov
March 5–14: One World International Human Rights Film Festival, Prague
March 19–17: Febiofest, Prague (international film festival); festival travels to good share of smaller Czech cities throughout April
April 8: Pesach begins (Prague's Jewish Quarter sights closed on 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th days of Passover)
April 10–13: Easter weekend (Good Friday through Easter Monday; closures)
April 30: Walpurgis Night (Paleni Carodejnic, a.k.a. "Witches' Night"; similar to Halloween, with bonfires); Magical Krumlov (maypole dances, lantern procession)
May 1: Labor Day (some closures), Day of Love (akin to Valentine's Day)
Early May (1 day) Prague International Marathon
May 8: Liberation Day (closures)
May 12–June 4 (likely) : "Prague Spring" Music Festival
Mid-to-late May (17 days): Czech Beer Festival, Prague
May 22–30: Prague Fringe Festival (offbeat theater)
May 24–27 (likely): Prague Food Festival (food booths in Royal Gardens of Prague Castle)
May 28–30: Shavu'ot (Prague's Jewish Quarter sights closed)
Late May (2 days): United Islands of Prague (cultural events and world music on the city's islands)
Late May: Khamoro World Roma Festival, Prague (performances and events celebrating Roma culture)
June 2–7: Festival of Songs, Olomouc
June 11: Corpus Christi (religious festival; some closures)
June 12–13 (likely): Microbrewery festival, Prague
June 19–21: Celebration of the Rose, Český Krumlov (medieval festival and knights' tournament)
June 28–July 7: Český Krumlov Chamber Music Festival
Late June–mid-July: Prague Proms (musical festival)
July–August: Summer Festivities of Early Music, Prague
July–August: Summer of Culture, Olomouc
Early July (2 days): Bohemia Jazzfest, Prague (free concerts in Old Town Square); travels to other Czech towns in following week
Early July (3 days): Rock for People, Hradec Králové (eclectic concert series in north central Czech Republic)
July 3–11: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, western Czech Republic
July 5: Sts. Cyril and Methodius Day (closures)
July 6: Jan Hus Day (closures)
July 17–August 8: Český Krumlov International Music Festival (classical music and opera)
July 24–26 (likely): Czech Ukulele Festival, Únětice (near Prague; held in brewery)
July 24–August 9 (likely): Telč Vacations Festival (folk music, open-air theater, exhibitions)
August 26–30: Praha Music Festival, Prague
August 28–30 (likely): International Folklore Festival, Brno
September 4–6 (likely): Pálava Wine Harvest Festival, Mikulov (music, medieval procession)
September 6–21 (likely): Dvořák's Prague Music Festival
September 18–19: Slunce ve Skle beer festival, Pilsen
September 18–September 20: Rosh Hashanah (Prague's Jewish Quarter sights closed)
September 27–28: Yom Kippur (Prague's Jewish Quarter sights closed)
September 28: St. Wenceslas Day (celebrates national patron saint and Czech statehood; kicks off three-day folk festival in Český Krumlov; closures)
October 2–October 9: Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah (Prague's Jewish Quarter sights closed)
October 8–11 (likely): Signal Festival (light show on facades of landmark buildings), Prague
October 28: Independence Day (closures)
November (all month): Feast of St. Martin Wine Festival, Český Krumlov
November 1: All Saints' Day/Remembrance Day (religious festival, some closures)
November 17: Velvet Revolution Anniversary (closures)
December: Christmas festivals across the Czech Republic, most notably in Prague and Český Krumlov (markets, musical events, lights)
December 5: St. Nicholas Eve (St. Nicholas, devils, and angels walk the streets in search of nice — and naughty — children)
December 24–25: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Vanoce, closures)
December 26: St. Stephen's Day (closures)
December 31: St. Sylvester's Day (fireworks in Prague)