Spring 2026 Events in Prague: Easter markets, Music Festivals, New Exhibitions & Theater

Best Things to do in Prague Spring 2026

Spring is a season of hope and renewal, and few places is this symbolism more resonant than in Prague, where a whole generation can still personally recall the Spring of 1968, which first promised new freedom but tragically ended with invasion, renewed autocracy and the occupation of the country. Yet, as most Pražáks will tell you, it is the season the city awakens from its winter slumber, when lovers gather on Petřín Hill under the blooming cherry blossoms on the 1st of May, when Easter markets fill the city’s many squares and the crowds of tourists swell again. events and activities likewise bloom for locals and visitors alike to experience. Read on for the best things to do during your spring visit to Prague.

Take a tour with Insight Cities

If it’s your first time visiting Prague this spring, allow us to introduce you. In our Prague Introduction Tour, a local historian takes you around all the city’s major monuments – Old Town Hall, the Jan Hus monument,  the Municipal House, and the old Jewish Quarter — while you discover the highlights of almost 1,000 years of history. Our guides are not only experts on local history but also personable and compelling, sure to give you a tour to remember.

Festivals

Prague Spring Music Festival – May 12 to June 4, 2026

While it shares its name with one of the most turbulent moments of the city’s history, the Prague Spring Music Festival actually dates back to 1946 and celebrates 80 years this year. The festival runs for three weeks and brings classical music to the masses, with top Czech and international conductors, playing both the classics and more modern compositions. The festival also hosts the Prague Spring International Music Competition and gives you the chance to see the best of the next generation of classicists in concert. Tickets are available online but often sell out fast.

United Islands of Prague – April 30 to May 2, 2026 

Home to nine islands in the middle of the Vltava river, Prague has a major music festival that gives you a chance to do some island-hopping. Once the largest music festival in the city, United Islands takes up-and-coming musicians and bands from the region, and places them on Prague’s many islands for two days of music and family fun. And it is entirely free! This year’s international acts include British indie rock trio Bilk and Irish band Yard. “It’s great that United Islands has established a firm place on Prague’s cultural map. Next year, we will bring artists from across Europe and show them that Czech fans are among the very best. And of course, we will once again present the most exciting new discoveries from the local music scene,” says Martin Štěrba, Executive Director of the United Islands Festival.

Spectaculare – March 5 to April 10, 2026

Spectaculare was launched in 2014 by Czech DJ and music curator Josef Sedloň, closely connected to Prague’s Palác Akropolis and its long-standing tradition of adventurous programming. The festival juxtaposes different forms of visual art including film, theater, video-art, video-mapping, and photography against the backdrop of (mostly) electronic music, showcasing the hippest trends in audio-visual culture. Featuring big, international names, this festival has it all. This year’s highlights include Rival Consoles’ Czech premiere of his album Landscapes from Memory on March 5, Berlin-based ambient and live electronic music producer Apparat performing at SaSaZu on April 8 and a concert film of the late pianist and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto on March 23. In all the festival will present 10 audiovisual live shows, two workshops, three movies and one exhibition.

One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival – March 11 – April 24, 2026

Each year, One World cements the Czech Republic’s reputation as a shining light in the democratic morass that the post-Communist nations of Central and Eastern Europe, seem to have found themselves in. Showcasing the most important documentary films of the year, the festival attracts some of the biggest names on the doc and human rights circuits, and is put on by People in Need, Czechia’s largest international NGO. This year’s edition will present the autobiographical trilogy by Norwegian documentary filmmaker Gunnar Hall Jensen.

Korso Krymská – 2nd or 3rd Saturday in May 2026

Will it or won’t it happen this year, is up in the air. But Prague’s answer to London’s Notting Hill festival is so much fun, we’d rather err on the side of caution, or at least point you to what you missed out on. Over 20,000 people descend upon one rather small street in the heart of Prague’s Vršovice district, as the city’s largest open-air street party plays out. From neighbors sharing their stories and meals, on the scores of casual sofas that have been put out, to some of the best DJs and pop-up food stalls in the city, do not give this a miss.

Markets 

UMtrh – Every other weekend throughout the year, beginning March 2026

UMtrh or Art Market is a hip, new pop-up concept, artistic and creative market which takes place every other weekend at Jan Palach Square, right by the Rudolfinum concert hall. Featuring live music and an array of collectible art and craft wares, along with food and drink, UMtrh showcases the creativity of the next generation of Czech artistes. With loads of options for kids, this is recommended for some family fun.

Easter in Prague

Like many European nations, Prague observes Easter over a four-day weekend, with Good Friday and Easter Monday off. While not as major of a holiday as Christmas, Easter still has many traditions that Czechs continue to observe to this day. You might see Beránek, cakes in the shape of lambs, and willow branches dressed up in ribbons. If nothing else, the festive decorations help usher in springtime feelings of hope and the return of long sunny days.

Easter markets – March 21 to April 12, 2026

Just as there are Christmas markets in the lead-up to Christmas, Easter markets pop up at the first hint of spring in the air. While they don’t draw the crowds that the Christmas markets do, the markets display a distinct seasonal style, with colorful flowers, ribbons and eggs decorating the stalls. You’ll find various ceramics, crafts, dolls in traditional costumes, and hand-painted Easter eggs. As with the Christmas markets, the Easter markets are also spots for locals to gather and enjoy the first warm days of spring, so you’ll find traditional street food such as sausages, langoš, dumplings, and pancakes.

The biggest markets by far are at Old Town and Wenceslas Square, but you can find smaller, equally charming markets at Náměstí Republiky, Mariánské náměstí, and Náměstí Míru.

Dvořák: Stabat Mater at the Municipal House, March 31 & April 1, 2026

Adapted from a Medieval text, Dvorak’s symphonic choral masterpiece tells the story of a suffering mother who witnesses her son dying on the cross: a harrowing enough experience for any mother, even more so if her son is the Son of God. The opus, imbued with a mix of sorrow, humility and hope, is performed by the Prague Philharmonic Choir and Symphony.

Exhibitions

Daniel Pešta: Who? Why? At Museum Montanelli – until March 29, 2026

Czech artist Daniel Pešta’s multimedia works, previously exhibited in Venice Biennale di Arte, come to Prague for the first time. Exploring the existential crises of our era, in times of increased uncertainty and fear, Pešta’s work incorporates modern technology and artistic approaches to comment on our times.

The Double at Prague City Gallery: House at the Stone Bell – until April 5, 2026

The double is a fascinating figure explored in art and literature of all kinds. This exhibition explores how the theme of the double and its associated myths, symbolism, and stories have evolved in art over time, interwoven with developments in philosophy, psychology, and technology. Featured artworks include pieces by Bohumil Kubišta, Jan Zrzavý, Andy Warhol, Milena Dopitová, and Petra Oriešková. 

Vietnam: Near and Far — closes May 31, 2026

This exhibition may seem surprising to find on this list, but the Czech Republic is home to a sizeable Vietnamese minority, and this exhibition at the Náprstek Museum explores the Vietnamese-Czech immigrant story as well as the country from which they come. The result of a collaboration with the Vietnamese-Czech community, the exhibition displays various everyday objects belonging to Vietnamese people and offers a unique window into the contemporary Czech world.

Special Events

Prague Marathon – May 2 & 3, 2026

Prague’s marathon, with a route that circles the Vltava through the historic center, is quickly becoming one of Europe’s top marathon events, ranking among the world’s most prestigious. Running enthusiasts can join in, or sign up for the half-marathon on March 28. No other city can boast a scenic route like Prague!

Night of Churches – May 29, 2026

One night a year, Prague’s churches open their doors to the public, including spaces that are normally inaccessible. This night provides a unique chance to step inside some of the city’s most beautiful churches, including St. Vitus Cathedral and the churches at Old Town Square. There are 160 participating churches, so check out the website and choose your churches carefully – you won’t get the chance to see them all.

Open House Prague – May 18–24, 2026

As the spring air warms and encourages residents to open their windows, so Prague opens the doors of venues that are otherwise closed to the public. Visitors can get a glimpse of Prague’s hidden architecture gems, as well as places where municipal activity still takes place. The program includes tours, lectures, and debates on city architecture – in Prague, just as anywhere, the city council has made controversial decisions to change, destroy, or erect buildings. Participating buildings for next year’s Open House Prague, including the English program, will be announced in April 2026. Past buildings include the glass-domed Ministry of Industry and Trade, a beautiful turn-of-the-century palatial building hosting the Ministry for regional development, and various buildings of the National Gallery.

If you have a particular fascination with Art Nouveau and Cubist architecture, take our tour and discover the secrets of these architecture movements that left a unique stamp on central Prague’s aesthetics. While we view some of Prague’s most notable Art Nouveau and Cubist buildings, you’ll learn how this movement developed in the Czech lands and how it was influenced by the historical climate in the early 20th century. Your guide will not only be an expert on this unique movement but also relay their knowledge with affable enthusiasm. We also have bona fides, as our Prague architecture tour was selected by the Guardian as one of the world’s best architecture tours. Contact us and book your tour this spring!

Outdoor Fun

Visit Prague Gardens – April 1 to October 31, 2026

Spring’s arrival also heralds the reopening of Prague’s most stunning gardens. Wallenstein’s grotto wall and mythic fountains harken to the ancient past, the Castle gardens tell stories of dedication and decadence, and hidden gardens reveal the secrets of Baroque landscaping. Each is beautifully landscaped with their own distinct markers of taste and history.

Our Prague Gardens Tour takes you through Prague most beautiful Renaissance and Baroque Gardens, each providing a luminous glimpse of the tastes of Bohemian nobility.  You’ll also get to visit gardens that are rarely visited by tourists, getting an exclusive look at some of Prague’s early green architecture. The gardens are open only from April 1 – October 31, so don’t wait and book your spring Prague gardens tour today.

Performances

Poe at The Estates Theater, March 13–15 and April 2 & 3, May 18 & 19 2026

Taking inspiration from three of Edgar Allen Poe’s stories, Poe puts on a unique production in the style of Laterna Magika – a unique blend of dance, song, music, stage design, and puppetry that bring out Poe’s dark yet humorous and lyrical stories to the stage. This production is recommended for ages 14 and over.

Tosca at the State Opera – March 31, April 4 & 9, May 23 & 30, 2026

Puccini’s classic opera, set in the era of the Napoleonic Wars, remains an international classic, and this state opera production features Josef Svoboda’s legendary scenery dating back to its 1947 premiere, adding an extra historical dimension to the performance. Love gets entangled in political intrigue when the singer Floria Tosca’s lover, a painter, is arrested for saving the life of a political dissident. As the police chief has his eyes set on Tosca, personal and political affiliations become further ensnared in tragic fashion. Tickets start at 490 CZK and go up to 1490 CZK for the best seats.

Rusalka – March 19 & 31 and April 5 & 26, May 30, 2026

Beloved Czech composer Antonin Dvořák’s Rusalka, one of his best known operas, regularly plays at the National Theatre, where it premiered in 1901. And it’s no wonder the opera continuously captivates audiences – the tale of a water nymph who falls in love with a prince and makes a terrible bargain to be with him is both tragic and timeless in its tragedy. Tickets range from 250 CZK to 1390 CZK.

Want to see the National Theatre and learn more about the building where these classic operas are performed? Contact us and arrange a tour with Insight Cities. Whether it’s just an introduction, a focus on Art Nouveau, or the Cold War, we’ve got a guide who can give you the inside story of Prague’s most historic moments. Availability is limited as the tourist season picks up, so if you have plans to visit Prague this spring, don’t delay and get in touch with us today.