20 things to do in Prague this week – from Halloween fun to free museums

Prague is getting into the Halloween spirit this week, with spooky light installations, children's workshops and elaborate costume parties taking over venues across the city. The celebrations build toward Friday night, when a major Halloween spectacle transforms Lucerna, a craft-beer festival brings dozens of breweries to Holešovice, and clubs begin their weekend festivities.

There's more than Halloween on the calendar, however. Wednesday's Czechoslovak Independence Day holiday offers free entry to the National Gallery's permanent collections and rare opportunities to explore the Municipal House and the government's historic headquarters.

Meanwhile, British psychedelia, Belgian rock, Japanese martial arts and experimental music provide alternatives to the seasonal celebrations. Here's what's worth putting on your calendar this week:

The windows of Klub Klamovka in Prague 5 transform into a spooky animated spectacle every evening through Wednesday. Na Klamovce straší! uses projected ghosts, mysterious shadows and strange creatures to turn the building into a miniature haunted house. The free installation runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and can be enjoyed from outside, making it an easy Halloween outing for families.

The Majaland indoor amusement park, just outside Prague near the airport, launches a week of Halloween activities Monday. Children can make ghosts and seasonal decorations, enjoy themed food and explore attractions surrounded by pumpkins and spooky decorations. The program continues through Nov. 1, with additional pumpkin painting Thursday and face painting later in the week.

Acclaimed Czech pianist Lukáš Vondráček joins the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra Monday for Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3, conducted by chief conductor Elias Grandy. The program also features the world premiere of Petr Wajsar's Cathedral, inspired by a painting by Czech artist František Kupka, and Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra, whose dramatic opening became famous through 2001: A Space Odyssey. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., with a public dress rehearsal at 10 a.m.

British psychedelic-rock band Temples brings its latest album, BLISS, to Rock Café Monday. Formed in Kettering, the four-piece has expanded its 1960s-inspired sound with electronic influences, drawing on the atmosphere of late-1990s dance music while retaining its swirling guitars and melodic hooks. The show starts at 7 p.m., with support from JEWLS.

Prague-Suchdol offers one of the week's more atmospheric Halloween experiences Tuesday with a free Victorian Halloween adventure through Roztocký háj. Visitors follow a forest route populated by costumed characters and theatrical scenes inspired by the darker side of Victorian storytelling. The experience runs from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with last entry at 8:30 p.m. Organizers caution that the unsettling atmosphere is better suited to older children than preschoolers.

Antwerp rock trio Triggerfinger returns to Rock Café Tuesday with its distinctive blend of blues, alternative rock and heavy guitar riffs. The group has spent more than two decades developing a reputation for energetic live performances and arrives in Prague with new material from its forthcoming album. The concert begins at 7 p.m.

Joseph Alessi, principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic, joins the Moravia Brass Band for a gala concert at the Rudolfinum Tuesday. Bringing together leading brass musicians from across Czechia, the ensemble will perform a program of international brass repertoire, new arrangements and works for solo trombone and orchestra, conducted by Chuhei Iwasaki. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Dvořák Hall, with a free afternoon masterclass at the Prague Conservatory.

Celebrate Czechoslovak Independence Day with free admission to the National Gallery Prague's permanent collections. Visitors can explore centuries of European and Czech art across several historic venues, including medieval masterpieces, 19th-century painting and modern Czech art. The offer applies to the gallery's permanent exhibitions from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., making the public holiday an opportunity to discover collections that normally require tickets.

The Municipal House opens its richly decorated ceremonial rooms to the public Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can explore its Art Nouveau interiors, including the spectacular Smetana Hall, the Oriental Salon and the Mayor's Hall decorated by Alphonse Mucha. The free open house commemorates the 108th anniversary of Czechoslovakia's founding, which was proclaimed in the building in 1918.

The Straka Academy, home to the Czech prime minister's office, welcomes visitors for a rare open day Wednesday. Free guided tours offer a glimpse inside ceremonial halls and spaces normally used by the government, while the riverside gardens will feature a new sculpture celebrating Czech-Slovak relations. Tours begin at 10 a.m., with the final group departing at 5 p.m. The building will be illuminated in the Czech national colors after dark.

The seventh Budō Matsuri takes over the Czech Technical University sports complex at Juliska Wednesday. Organized by the Czech-Japanese Association, the festival showcases traditional Japanese martial arts through demonstrations, workshops and presentations. Running from approximately 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the event offers an unusual way for visitors to discover Japanese culture during the public holiday.

Bedřich Smetana's Libuše returns to the National Theatre Wednesday at 7 p.m. The grand opera, inspired by the legendary Czech princess credited with foretelling Prague's greatness, has a special place in the country's cultural history and is traditionally associated with important national occasions. Performed in Czech with English surtitles, the production offers an accessible way for international residents to experience a major work of Czech opera on Independence Day.

Prague Zoo launches its autumn holiday pumpkin feasts Thursday, inviting visitors to watch animals investigate seasonal treats. The special program includes pumpkin feedings for peccaries, meerkats, giant tortoises, Cuban iguanas and Tasmanian devils, with activities continuing through Sunday. Thursday's sessions begin at 10 a.m., providing a family-friendly Halloween outing that is more about wildlife than costumes.

Duplex launches its Halloweekend celebrations Thursday, transforming the rooftop nightclub overlooking Wenceslas Square for the seasonal party weekend. Doors open at 10 p.m., with DJs, dancing and the club's panoramic nighttime views. Student admission is free before 11 p.m. with valid student identification, subject to ticket availability, while regular tickets are also available. Entry is restricted to adults aged 18 and older.

Smetana's The Bartered Bride comes to the National Theatre Thursday at 7 p.m. The comic opera follows a young couple navigating family expectations, marriage arrangements and village traditions, with lively dances and some of Czech classical music's most recognizable melodies. Performed in Czech with English surtitles, it offers a lighter alternative to Wednesday's patriotic opera.

Prague brewery Sibeeria celebrates its 10th anniversary with Sibeeria & Friends, a two-day craft-beer festival in Hall 13 at Holešovická tržnice. More than 40 Czech and international breweries will participate, bringing more than 240 beers across the weekend. Friday's four-hour tasting session begins at 5 p.m., with unlimited samples from participating breweries included in the CZK 1,490 ticket.

Kunsthalle Praha gets into the Halloween spirit Friday with a screening of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, one of cinema's defining psychological thrillers. The English-friendly event begins at 7 p.m. and includes an introduction by film historian Milan Hain, who will explore the film's influence on cinema and visual art. Visitors can also see Annette Messager's Tragikomedie exhibition before the screening.

The grand Lucerna Hall transforms into an elaborate Halloween spectacle Friday for Wonderland Halloween 2026. The annual party combines DJs, theatrical performances, elaborate decorations, laser shows and a costume competition, culminating in a midnight production. Doors open at 8 p.m., with festivities continuing until 4 a.m. Costumes are mandatory, and tickets start at CZK 590.

MOON Club begins its two-night Halloween celebration with The Summoning Friday. The venue's theatrical interiors provide the setting for costumed dancers, live performances, themed cocktails and a supernatural atmosphere built around its signature moon installation. Doors open at 7 p.m., with costumes strongly encouraged and advance reservations recommended.

The Contempuls festival begins its three-day celebration of contemporary classical music Friday at Atrium Žižkov. Opening night features German harpsichordist Richard Röbel exploring unusual possibilities for the historical instrument, followed by Canadian saxophone quartet Quasar and a world premiere by Czech composer Michal Wróblewski. Performances begin at 7 p.m., with further concerts Saturday and Sunday.