A Yearly Cultural Calendar that Might Come in Handy

If you’re planning a trip to Pilsen in 2025, you couldn’t choose a better year to visit the fourth-largest city in Czechia. Aside from the traditional annual festivals, you can expect also some absolutely exceptional events in the capital of beer and European Capital of Culture 2015. We believe that thanks to the broad range of events planned for this year, you will look forward to your trip even more and perfectly enjoy your visit to Pilsen.

January – film gifts from the north and the festival for the little ones

January can be sometimes really freezing, but a true north wind will blow at the showcase of the Scandinavian cinematography, SCANDI (16^th – 19^th January). Unique films from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Island will enchant you not only with a setting they take place in, but also by a wide variety of topics and a distinctive character that the Nordic film world has created over the years. The multi-genre KUK festival (28^th January – 6^th February) will catch the attention of the youngest curious minds, from 10 months to 3 years. In addition to a giant playground, there will be also theatre performances and art workshops. Parents will be invited to interesting lectures and workshops.

March – light and music performances

With approaching spring, March will be marked by light. September’s main celebrations of 10 years since the title European Capital of Culture will be heralded by the event Open UP! (8^th March), when giant light puppets called DUNDU will move around the central square and the St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral will be covered by a stunning video mapping. The city will be lit up also thanks to the 10^th edition of the BLIK BLIK Festival of Light (21^st – 22^th March) which will, besides the light installations and exhibits, bring a birthday present in the form of an extraordinary programme. Strings and bows will sound at the prestigious Smetana Days (6^th March – 10^th April) which pay tribute to classical music and one of the most famous Czech composers Bedřich Smetana with a series of first-class concerts. And we would almost forgot – we have also an excellent event for beer enthusiasts, the two-day Brūstok festival (7^th – 8^th March).

April – Pilsen running and feasting

The city will be alive with fun and sport in the month of April. Avid runners can take part in the Pilsen Region Half Marathon 2025 (12^th April), which will enliven Pilsen and its surroundings with movement and a great atmosphere. Warmer weather will surely spark a desire to sit on the terrace for the first time this year, with a dewy glass of beer and a tasty treat. Your wish will come true at the Treffpunkt (24^th – 26^th April), the Bavarian-Czech festival. The Bavarian “Biergarten” will come to life here, the beer will flow from taps all day and the tables will overflow with the delicacies from both national cuisines. There will also be, of course, a good quality music and traditional Bavarian costumes. Simply heaven!

May – the eventful May

The beginning of May will belong to the Liberation Festival (2^nd – 6^th May) which will mark the significant 80^th anniversary this year. Pilsen is one of the last cities that were liberated by the Allies at the end of the Second World War, and it is rightly proud of it. The highlight of the spectacular programme will once again be the majestic parade of military historical equipment, the Convoy of Liberty. You will uncover the secrets of chefs at Pilsen FRESH Festival (17^th – 18^th May), where you will spoil your taste buds in a bath of great drinks and food. The Lógr Coffee Festival (25^th may) will also prepare culinary, especially coffee experiences. The most colourful and playful festival Žonglobalizace (20^th – 26^th May) will bring acrobatics, magic and cabaret to the city (Juggling means žonglování in Czech), and of course, a lot of stars that master the art of contemporary circus. Then, in the home straight of May, you can look forward to the city’s historical 730^th anniversary celebrations.

June – dancing Pilsen

Right at the beginning of June, Pilsen will be in full swing. In beautiful surroundings of the Lochotín amphitheatre, fans of hard music will gather to enjoy the popular Metalfest (6^th – 8^th June). Also, the CIOFF International Festival (11^th – 16^th June) will be full of dancing and singing. Folklore groups from Czechia and more distant countries will perform both live music and colourful traditional costumes. You will be quickly captivated by this vivid spectacle. You will find yourself in a whirl of dance at the Pilsen Tap Festival (19^th – 22^nd June) which will make the city dance to the clacking sound of tap shoes. The fact that the streets can be literally a surface for art will be underlined by the WALLZ festival (21^st – 27^th June), during which large-scale paintings will decorate the public space and you will have the chance to see their creation live. A completely unique experience will be offered at the end of month by Night with Opera (27^th June), an open-air show by the J. K. Tyl Theatre, which will return to the amphitheatre once again and mix prime vocal performances with the dazzling technical effects in an irresistible combination.

July – summer ease

July means a beginning of those right summer evenings, when you don’t have to rush home from the walks and the terraces of open restaurants invite you to stop by. Dive into exploring parks and urban green spaces, where you can hide before the sun, or use our tips, where to go to cool off during hot summer days. They include not only places in Pilsen, but also swimming pools in the surrounding area, which might not occur to you at first. And gather your energy, because at the end of the month, you can rock it at the International Dixieland Festival (26^th – 27^th July), full of jazz performances and music parades that will wander through the city centre, spreading the joy of Dixieland music.

August – the city in motion

In August, you’ll have another wonderful opportunity to experience music sounding under the summer sky, thanks to Festival on the Street (16^th – 25^th August). Several music scenes will fill the city centre, where Czech bands of various genre will set the stage on fire. Children will have plenty of fun at Sportmania, which will arrive to Pilsen at the end of the month. A variety of sport activities, for which they can also earn medals, will deepen or teach love to exercising and introduces the little and bigger ones also to less traditional sports.

September – Pilsen in light

The enlivened streets will be followed by Pilsen Busking Fest (4^th – 7^th September), where Czech and international street artists will charm you with their performances. Every busker will show what they can do best – from music, dance, singing and magic to acrobatics and other impressive tricks. Theatre masters from around the world will walk onto the stage at the Divadlo International Theatre Festival (10^th – 18^th September). Shining Pilsen will celebrate 10^th anniversary since the title European Capital of Culture in a big way (12^th – 14^th September). A spectacular show on Republic Square, full of music, theatre, acrobatic and light performances, will completely enthral you. Artists will even hover on cranes above your heads. Golden rays of Indian summer will land in beer glasses at the festival Sun in a Glass (18^th – 20^th September).

October – 183^rd birthday of the Pilsner Urquell beer

The celebrations of the world-known lager, without which we can no longer imagine October in Pilsen, will be moved outside the brewery area this year, directly to the historical centre. You can count on a proven couple at the Pilsner Fest – excellent beer and equally great music.

December – pre-Christmas joy

For December dreaming about a white Christmas, Christmas markets will be opened for almost the entire month. Live music will make browsing through the decorated little cottages with delicious food (Don’t hesitate too long and be sure to try something delicious!) and handicrafts more enjoyable. The traditional event, Pilsen Design (6^th – 7^th December) will help you in a successful search for Christmas gifts and also a new favourite brand. Designers from different corners of Czechia will offer you their products made with love. If you belong to book lovers, your heart will leap with joy, when we tell you a little secret – the design market usually takes place together with the book market, Bookfest.

So, which of the events caught your eye? Let us know when we can look forward to seeing you! Our Events section always tells you what’s currently happening in Pilsen.