Summer is a season of music festivals across Czechia, giving people a chance for some domestic travel. International acts will come to some of the bigger ones as they travel Europe, while Czech bands will be very busy going from town to town. Music ranges from electronic dance to hard rock, with a lot of chances to experience heavy metal in particular.
The main festival in Prague is Metronome, coming to Výstaviště on June 22–24. This year’s headliners are Jamiroquai, ZAZ, and White Lies, with many other acts playing over three days. There will also be a side program of activities.
Two big one-day festivals called Prague Rocks will be at Letiště Letňany. The first on June 2 will feature hard rockers Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard, while the second one on June 21 will have pop stars Maroon 5 and Gwen Stefani.
The biggest festival outside of Prague is Colours of Ostrava, on July 19–22 in the former iron foundry in Dolní Vítkovice. OneRepublic is the main draw, with Macklemore, Burna Boy, Ellie Goulding, and Interpol also on the schedule.
This year, Rock for People, held on June 8–11 in Hradec Králové, has quite an eclectic mix with heavy metal band Slipknot and rapper Machine Gun Kelly as headliners. Alternative rock band Muse and indie pop band The 1975 will also perform.
For fans of oldies, Chris Norman, the former lead singer of the band Smokie, will be at the Benátská! s Impulsem festival, held July 27–30 in Liberec.
The season closes with Mácháč at Máchovo jezero on Aug. 18–19. Electronic dance DJs R3hab and Anfisa Letyago.
Our list only includes the main acts. Usually, there are many more. Check the festival websites for a complete list and also to see which dates a particular act will appear. There are also many individual concerts throughout the summer that are not part of festivals.
June
Jam Rock: Multigenre. Nazareth, Tata Bojs, Mirai, Tři Sestry. June 1–3, Letohrad. More info.
Kamenité Čas Rock Fest: Heavy metal. Ektomorf, Malignant Tumour, Alkehol. June 2–3, Vyšní Lhoty. More info.
Prague Rocks: Hard rock, metal. Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Kabat, Wolfmother. June 2, Letiště Letňany, Prague. More info.
Rychtář Fest: Czech bands. Tři Sestry, Horkýže Slíže, Jelen, Pokáč. June 3, Hlinsko. More info.
Dny Ježka: Czech bands. Anna K., David Koller, Lunetic. June 9–10, Jihlava. More info.
Rock for People: International, multigenre. Slipknot, Machine Gun Kelly, The 1975, Muse. June 8–11, Hradec Králové. More info.
Votvírák: Czech and Slovak bands. Lucie, Škwor, Dymytry, Chinaski. June 16–18, Milovice. More info.
Respect Festival: World music. Rangamatir Baul, Dur-Dur Band, Damir Imamović June 16–18, Rohanský ostrov, Prague. More info.
S-Massacre: Heavy metal, large lineup. June 16–18, Pisek. More info.
Oldies Festival: Jenny Berggren, Dario G, Loona. June 17, Ostrava. More info.
Rock in Town: Czech bands. Various lineups in different cities until Sept. 16. More info.
Prague Rocks: Pop, rock. Maroon 5, Gwen Stefani, Rag'n'Bone Man, James Bay. June 21. Letiště Letňany, Prague. More info.
Metronome: International music and culture. Jamiroquai, ZAZ, M83, Tove Lo. June 22–25, Výstaviště, Prague. More info.
JenštejnFest: Rock. Sto zvířat, Vilém Čok & Bypass, Klasickej postup. June 24, Jenštejn. More info.
Přeštěnice: Multigenre. Mirai, Rybička 48, Wohnout, Traktor. June 30–July 1, Přeštěnice. More info.
Slunovrat: Alternative music, culture. Lineup TBA. June 22–24, Opava. More info.
Mighty Sounds: Rock. June 23–25. Rancid, Dub FX, Enter Shikari. Letiště Tábor. More info.
Lážo Plážo Fest: Škwor, Rybičky 48, Royal Republic, Horkýže Slíže. June 23–25, Otrokovice. More info.
Vysmáté léto: Czech pop, rock. Queenie, Richard Krajčo & Nikolaos Grigoriadis, Calin. June 24, Kadaň. More info.
Fingers Up: Mostly Czech bands. Ben Cristovao, Pokáč, Yzomandias. June 23–24, Mohelnice. More info.
July
Coolin Festival: Multicultural. Viktor Sheen, Yzomandias, Nik Tendo, Ben Cristovao, July 1, Kolín. More info.
Maloskalská noc: Czech bands. O5 & Radeček, Sebastian, Poetika, Kamil Střihavka, Pam Rabbit. July 3, Malá Skála. More info.
Beats for Love: Electronic dance music. Deadmau5, Hardwell, Tiësto. July 5–8, Ostrava. More info.
Obscene Extreme: Underground metal, large lineup. July 6–9, Trutnov. More info.
Pekelný ostrov: Metal, rock. Kissin’ Dynamite, Rybička 48, Tři Sestry. July 7–8, Holýšov. More info.
Master of Puppets: Multigenre festival with 250 acts. July 3–9, Bystřice nad Pernštejnem. More info.
Bohemia JazzFest: Lineups TBA. Prague, Pilsen, Brno, and other cities. July 10–18. More info.
Masters of Rock: Heavy metal. Within Temptation, Amon Amarth, Airbourne. July 13–17, Vizovice. More info.
Colours of Ostrava: International, multigenre. OneRepublic, Macklemore, Burna Boy, Ellie Goulding. July 19–22, Ostrava. More info.
Hrady CZ: Czech music at a different castle every weekend. July 14–Sept. 2. Various castles. More info.
Sázavafest: Czech bands and culture. Kryštof, Mirai, Chinaski. July 20–22, Světlá nad Sázavou. More info.
Keltská noc: International lineup of Celtic-inspired bands. July 20–22, Plumlov. More info.
Benátská! s Impulsem: Rock. Chris Norman & band, Jaromír Nohavica, Rybičky 48, Mirai. July 27–30, Liberec. More info.
Pop Messe: International, pop. 58G, Annet X & Champion Sound, Berlin Manson. July 28–29, Brno. More info.
August
Let it Roll: Electronic dance music. Chase & Status, Bru-C, Camo and Krooked b2b Mefjus. Aug. 3–5, Miklovice. More info.
HoumrFest: Czech bands. No Name, Děda Mládek Illegal Band, UDG. Aug. 4–5, Jiříkov. More info.
Beseda u Bigbítu: Rock. Jaga Jazzist, Algiers, Zola Jesus, Astronautalis. Aug. 4–5, Tasov u Veselí nad Moravou. More info.
Kiss Party 90s: S.T.S.B, Twenty 4 Seven, Mr. President. Aug. 5, Konopiště. More info.
Brutal Assault: Heavy metal. Large lineup of local and international bands. Aug. 9–12, Pevnost Josefov. More info.
Hip Hop Kemp: Rap, hip-hop. Lineup TBA. Aug. 17–19, Hradec Králové. More info.
Rock Castle: Heavy metal. HammerFall, U.D.O, Amaranthe. Aug. 17–19, Moravský Krumlov. More info.
Vizovické Trnkobraní: Czech bands. Jaromír Nohavica, Kryštof, Mirai, Horkýže Slíže. Aug. 18–19,Vizovice. More info.
Mácháč: Electronic dance music. R3hab, Morten, Anfisa Letyago, Kölsch. Aug. 18–19, Máchovo jezero. More info.
MikuLOVE: Agon Orchestra, Dunaj, Načeva, Garage & Tony Ducháček. Aug. 25–26, Mikulov. More info.