26 essential culture picks for Prague this winter: Art, opera, live music

This year’s ambitious cultural calendar sees the National Gallery’s 230th anniversary with a free entry weekend, Jára Cimrman’s iconic wit in English, and top acts like Florence and the Machine heating up the capital’s indoor stages. From world-premiere Wagnerian operas to the arena-sized energy, here is our definitive guide to the 26 essential cultural picks for the first quarter of the year.

A deep dive into the "wild nineties" and the architectural boom that followed the Velvet Revolution at CAMP. From postmodern disco flair to disciplined modernism, this show features 30 iconic buildings and original design artifacts like Bořek Šípek’s chairs for Václav Havel.

CAMP (Center for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning); opens Jan. 28, 2026

To celebrate 230 years since its founding, the National Gallery opens all permanent collections for free. Expect a packed schedule of English-guided tours through the Trade Fair Palace and Sternberg Palace, alongside pop-up performances and workshops.

National Gallery Prague (All locations); Feb. 7–8, 2026

An interactive playground for the senses. This exhibition at Kunsthalle explores the biological and metaphorical process of digestion through porous installations that you can touch, smell, and hear—including a sonic layer of voices sharing experiences of "eco-anxiety."

Kunsthalle Praha; Feb.13–May 11, 2026

Inspired by British filmmaker Derek Jarman’s book Modern Nature, this exhibition transforms the Imperial Greenhouse at Prague Castle into a living tribute to his famous garden at Prospect Cottage. Expect a blend of blooming spring flora with contemporary art.

Prague Castle (Orangerie); Feb. 26–March 8, 2026

Wrapping up at DOX, Spanish heavyweight Miquel Barceló bridges the realms of clay and canvas through literary-inspired sculptures and paintings (until March 8), while photographer Joel-Peter Witkin challenges the boundaries of the human body and sacred imagery in a career-spanning retrospective (until April 5). David Lynch’s Up in Flames, featuring over 400 raw lithographs and sketches, concludes next month.

DOX Centre for Contemporary Art; David Lynch (ending Feb. 8), Miquel Barceló (ending March 8), and Joel-Peter Witkin (until April 5)

Prague offers a rare chance to explore poster art across two institutions. The Museum of Decorative Arts presents a landmark exhibition of interwar French pictorial posters, nearly 100 works by masters such as Cappiello and Cassandre, shown publicly for the first time in over a century. Nearby, the Mucha Museum Prague at the Savarin Palace reveals how Alphonse Mucha’s Art Nouveau posters continue to influence global visual culture, from advertising to Disney’s Frozen.

Museum of Decorative Arts: through March 29; Mucha Museum Prague: permanent exhibition

Virginia Woolf’s masterpiece brought to the stage in a production about the fear of time and the invisible woman. One of the best subtitle experiences in the city, perfectly suited for the intimate atmosphere of Na zábradlí, which has a growing repertoire of English-subtitled performances.

Divadlo Na zábradlí; Jan. 19, Feb. 15, and March 25, 2026

Thornton Wilder’s American masterpiece receives an English-language premiere courtesy of the Prague Shakespeare Company, directed by Ash Visker. A poignant exploration of ordinary life in the town of Grover’s Corners, demanding that we cherish every moment

Divadlo Na Prádle; Feb. 20, 26, 27, and 28, 2026

The works of Jára Cimrman—the greatest fictional Czech genius—are performed in English to international audiences at the Žižkov Theatre. This winter, catch the disastrous guest actor in The Stand-In (Jan. 30), the classic fairy tale subversion Long, Wide and Short-Sighted (Feb. 13), or the original debut The Act (Feb. 27).

Žižkovské divadlo Járy Cimrmana, various dates Jan. 30–March 27, 2026

Henry Purcell’s tragic masterpiece of love and betrayal in Carthage. This production brings the Baroque era to life in the perfectly sized acoustics of the Estates Theatre.

The Estates Theatre; Jan. 15 and 17, 2026 (Premiere performances)

The spectacular start of Wagner’s Ring cycle. This new production, directed by Sláva Daubnerová, explores power, greed, and the curse of the Nibelung’s gold.

The National Theatre; Feb. 12 and 15, 2026 (Premiere performances)

A visual-heavy drama based on Ovid’s ancient myths of transformation. Using the massive technical capabilities of the State Opera stage, this production promises a cinematic and sensory theatre experience.

The State Opera; Feb. 19–20, 2026 (Premiere performances)

Henrik Ibsen’s psychological masterpiece about a woman trapped by societal expectations and her own destructive impulses. A new staging of one of theatre’s most complex female leads.

The Estates Theatre; March 5 and 6, 2026 (Premiere performances)

Wagner’s “consecrational stage-festival play” returns to Prague. A profound journey into the themes of compassion, redemption, and the quest for the Holy Grail.

The State Opera, March 26 and 29, 2026 (Premiere performances)

A world premiere triple-bill showcasing the pinnacle of contemporary ballet. This evening features new choreographies by international stars, created specifically to push the boundaries of modern movement.

The National Theatre, March 12 and 13, 2026 (Premiere performances)

The 13th edition of Cirkopolis brings international contemporary circus to venues across Prague, showcasing productions that blend new circus with dance, physical theatre, visual performance, and experimental music. See provocative works by leading Czech and international artists at Palác Akropolis, ARCHA+, DOX, and La Fabrika.

Various venues across Prague; Feb. 8–14, 2026

The world-renowned Irish sketch comedy trio returns to Prague with their brand new show, Skittish. The group has amassed over a billion views online and is a perennial sell-out at the Edinburgh Fringe. High-energy scripted sketches and impeccable improv.

Kongresové centrum; Jan. 30, 2026

The spring edition of Tady Vary offers film fans the chance to see six preview screenings of standout contemporary films in a festival-style setting. With a subscription, audiences can enjoy monthly red-carpet evenings, shared nationwide screenings, and live introductions broadcast to cinemas across Czechia, for the price of five tickets.

Multliple cinemas across Prague and Czechia including all Aero cinemas; Jan. 7–June 10, 2026

The 12th edition of the annual Nordic cinema experience premieres across the Prague and Czechia this month. The big draw this year is the opening film, The Last Viking, a dark Danish comedy reuniting Mads Mikkelsen with director Anders Thomas Jensen.

Kino Lucerna and Edison Filmhub, Jan. 14–21, 2026

A city-wide celebration of Lynch’s 80th birthday. While DOX hosts his physical art and dedicated musical performance, cinemas Světozor and Ponrepo will run a full retrospective of his films, from Eraserhead to Mulholland Drive.

DOX, Kino Světozor, Ponrepo; Jan.16–25, 2026

The premier international human rights documentary festival. Every film is shown in its original language with English subtitles, typically followed by heated and insightful debates with directors and activists. Program TBD.

Various cinemas (Lucerna, Světozor, Atlas); March 11–19, 2026

The world-renowned tenor brings his signature blend of opera and crossover classics to Prague, performing beloved arias and popular favorites accompanied by an orchestra in a grand arena setting.

O2 Arena, Prague 9; Jan. 23–24, 2026

A traditional tribute to the musical genius comes via a lesser-known yet gripping opera, Idomeneo. The work, introduced in a new staging at the State Opera in September 2025, will now be presented in concert to mark the 270th anniversary of Mozart’s birth.

Estates Theatre; Jan. 27, 2026

The Prague symphony orchestra performs John Williams’ magical score live while the third Harry Potter film is screened, combining cinema and classical music for all ages.

O2 Universum, Prague 9; Feb. 21, 2026

A powerhouse trio of genre-crossing virtuosos combines banjo, harp, and percussion, blending bluegrass, jazz, and Latin influences in a dynamic and intimate concert experience.

Archa+, Prague; Feb. 5, 2026

The French composer and pianist, best known for his score to Amélie, presents an intimate concert blending minimalist piano, electronic textures, and cinematic themes, drawing on his evocative film and solo work.

Lucerna Music Bar, Prague 1; Feb. 24, 2026

A full symphony orchestra reimagines the legendary composer’s iconic film and electronic scores, celebrating the visionary soundscapes of Blade Runner, Chariots of Fire, and beyond.

O2 Universum, Prague 9; Feb. 27, 2026

The multi-genre Spectaculare festival returns with a curated program at the intersection of music and visual art, blending electronic, acoustic, ambient, post-rock, jazz, and contemporary classical sounds with film, theatre, video art, and mapping.

Various venues across Prague; March–April 2026

Prague’s concert calendar for the first quarter of 2026 offers a world-class journey from British indie-rock to French soul. Here is the full list of scheduled shows, organized into three monthly snapshots, see our complete 2026 concert schedule here.

Steve Shelley (Winged Wheel) (Jan. 14), 30 Years of Akropolis Palace: Etc… + Garage + Velvet Underground Revival Band (Jan. 17), Earth (Jan. 24), RAYE (Jan. 25), Zaz (Jan. 27), Earl Sweatshirt (Jan. 29)

Lucio Corsi (Feb. 5), Blossoms (Feb. 6), All Time Low (Feb. 9), White Lies (Feb. 16), The Last Dinner Party (Feb. 17), Machine Gun Kelly (Feb. 21), The Kooks (Feb. 25), Westerman (Feb. 27), La Dispute (Feb. 28)

Smith/Kotzen (Mar. 1), Jason Derulo (Mar. 2), Florence + The Machine (Mar. 5), Thylacine (Mar. 7), Miles Kane (Mar. 7), Hooverphonic (Mar. 8), Portugal. The Man (Mar. 11), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Mar. 12), Geese (Mar. 13), UB40 (Mar. 13), JID (Mar. 14), The Academic (Mar. 15), Carpenter Brut + Danger (Mar. 18), Colosseum (Mar. 22), Peter Hook & The Light (Mar. 23), Poppy (Mar. 24)

We will update this space as more performances are announced.