Czech autumn festivals to mark on your calendar now

Autumn in Czechia is festival season. As summer winds down, Prague and cities across the country fill up with celebrations of wine, food, film, design, music, architecture, and the arts. From traditional vinobraní to cutting-edge light installations, here are the festivals and Czech traditions worth putting on your calendar this fall.

One of Prague's biggest classical music festivals returns with orchestral and chamber concerts celebrating the work of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák alongside other classical favorites.

Sept. 5 to 23, Rudolfinum, more info here.

Prague's fashion crowd gathers for the autumn edition of the city's major fashion event, with runway shows, emerging Czech designers and accompanying events.

Sept. 5 to 10, various locations, more info here.

Contemporary Czech and international design takes over Prague for four days of exhibitions, installations and presentations from designers working across furniture, fashion, jewelry and product design.

Sept. 10 to 13, various locations, more info here.

Whether you love or hate burčák, wine harvest season is upon us, and with it, vino tasting fests all around the city in the coming weeks. As early as this weekend, the Prague Castle Harvest Festival will bring connoisseurs and wine enthusiasts to the Royal Garden.

Keep a lookout also for Vinohradské vinobraní on Jiřího z Poděbrad (Sept. 11-12), the Troja Wine Festival (Sept. 12), and Wine Harvest at St. Clare’s Vineyard (Sept. 12-13), as well as successive wine fests at Grébovka, Kunratice (both Sept. 18-19), on Střelecký island (Sept. 4-5) and at Villa Richter (Sept. 28).

Wine harvest celebrations take place throughout Czechia in September, with South Moravia the country's major wine region. For a weekend trip, consider the Znojmo Historical Grape Harvest Festival (Sept. 11-13) or Mikulov's Pálava Grape Harvest Festival (Sept. 11-13), both combining wine and burčák with food, music, folklore and other festivities.

Throughout September.

Contemporary European literature gets an unusual setting during Noc literatury, or Literature Night. Well-known actors read excerpts from works by European authors at locations across Prague, offering a chance to discover writers and books from across the continent.

Sept. 16, various locations, more info here.

You don't have to travel to Munich for an Oktoberfest experience. Prague's own version brings Bavarian beer, food and music to the Holešovice Market Hall.

Sept. 16 to 20, Holešovice Market Hall, more info here.

Entire Prague districts will come alive with food, live music, workshops and entertainment for the annual Take Back Your Street! festival. In Prague, most of them will be held on Sept. 19, but a few others have different dates (Sept. 12 for Americká) throughout the month.

Throughout September.

Pickle lovers get their own festival in Prague, celebrating fermented and preserved vegetables with food, vendors and plenty of creative takes on the humble pickle.

Sept. 19 to 20, Prague Exhibition Grounds, more info here.

Galleries, museums, institutions and other art spaces across Prague join forces for several days of exhibitions, talks, tours and special programming focused on contemporary art.

Sept. 24 to 27, various locations, more info here.

Illustration takes center stage at Lustr, Prague's annual illustration festival, with exhibitions, talks, workshops and work from contemporary Czech and international illustrators.

Sept. 24 to 30, Holešovice Market Hall, more info here.

Autumn months are when film festivals take over Prague, with both thematic and country-based cinema fests attracting viewers back into their halls after the summer lull.

Look forward to the best movies from the Cannes, Venice and Berlin film festivals at Be2Can (Oct. 7-14); discover sci-fi cinema at Future Gate (Sept. 28-Oct. 4); be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community at the Mezipatra Queer Film Fest (Nov. 5-12); support journalists at Press Play Prague (November dates TBA) and independent filmmakers at the Prague Independent Film Festival (Sept. 18-20); or nerd out at the Prague Science Film Fest (Oct. 19-22).

Autumn is also when countries compete for attention to showcase the best of what their national cinema has offered the world: French Film Festival (dates TBA), Cino Argentino (dates TBA), Indian Film Festival (Oct. 8-10), Das FilmFest (Oct. 15-20), Kolnoa Israeli Film Festival (Oct. 23-25), Aussie & Kiwie Film Fest (Nov. 6-12), 3Kino Polish Film Fest (Nov. 9-15) and Kino Brasil (Nov. 26-29).

Various dates and locations.

The Czech Republic's biggest design and fashion festival returns with exhibitions, installations, talks and presentations from established names and emerging designers.

Oct. 7 to 11, various locations, more info here.

One of Prague's most popular autumn festivals is back in mid-October for its 14th edition. Over 20 installations will draw thousands of visitors in the center of Prague and, for the first time, through the Dejvice district and inside the Signal Space. Among this year's highlights: a video-mapping inspired by Václav Havel, laser show on the Vltava River, the first showcase of a Ukrainian artist, and a Laterna Magika performance in Bubeneč.

Oct. 15 to 18, various locations, more info here.

Prague's specialty coffee scene comes together for two days of tastings, workshops, talks and demonstrations, with Czech and international roasters and baristas on hand.

Oct. 24 to 25, Prague Exhibition Center, more info here.

Czechia's biggest festival of space activities returns with events for the general public, students, families and industry professionals. Prague hosts talks, exhibitions and events looking at everything from space exploration to the country's growing space industry.

Nov. 2 to 8, various locations, more info here.

Researchers open up their work to the public during this annual week of lectures, demonstrations, tours and other science-focused events.

Nov. 2 to 8, various locations, more info here.

Artificial intelligence gets its own festival-style fortnight, with talks, workshops and discussions designed to make AI more accessible and explore how the technology is changing everyday life and work.

Nov. 2 to 15, locations TBA, more info here.

Music fans and industry professionals come together for a series of concerts, talks, networking, an expo and other events celebrating the Czech and international music scene.

Nov. 4 to 6, Prague Exhibition Grounds, more info here.

Whisky Life! brings whisky lovers together in Prague for tastings, masterclasses and a chance to sample bottles from around the world. You don't have to be a whisky expert to enjoy it.

Nov. 6 to 7, New Town Hall, more info here.

One of the most distinctly Czech traditions of the autumn calendar arrives on St. Martin's Day, when roast goose is served alongside the year's first young wines.

Traditionally, Svatomartinské wine is opened at 11:11 a.m. on Nov. 11. Restaurants, wineries and public celebrations across Prague mark the occasion with goose, wine, music and other festivities.

Nov. 11, city-wide.

Independent watchmaking takes center stage at Micro Prague, a festival showcasing independent watch brands from across Europe. The event takes place at Fantova Building at Prague's Main Train Station.

Nov. 28 to 29, Fantův sál, more info here.