Nick Cave, jazz in the squares, and island festivals: Prague's open-air calendar for 2026

With the city itself essentially one large outdoor venue, Prague does festival season well—and over the years, the programming has become more and more ambitious.

This spring and summer, the open-air calendar spans classical music, drum and bass, techno, experimental jazz, fringe theater, and street buskers. You'll find yourself dancing in Prague's finest squares, refreshing islands, and in pockets of cobblestone streets across the city. Here's what's coming up.

Now in its 23rd edition, United Islands remains one of the most unique events in Prague's festival calendar; partly because of the venue (the wooded Štvanice Island), partly because of its habit of booking left-of-centre international acts before anyone else does. The 2026 headliners include British indie rock trio Bilk, Luxembourg dark wave and techno project DasRADIAL, and Dublin electro-noise act YARD, alongside Czech singer-songwriter Toyota Vangelis. Over a hundred artists will perform across three days, with the programming spilling into clubs across the city in the evenings.

Štvanice Island and clubs across Prague, April 30–May 2

Metronome marks its 10th anniversary this year with a move to Letňany Airport and a lineup that makes a credible case for being the most star-studded open-air event Prague has seen in some time. Confirmed headliners include Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Sting, with Manic Street Preachers, The Flaming Lips, Tom Odell, and Slowdive also on the bill. Three days, multiple stages, and a gastronomic zone that has become something of a fixture in its own right.

Prague Letňany Airport, June 19–21

The 20th edition of Prague's beloved student festival follows its traditional format: a parade through the city, the election of a King and Queen of Majáles, and then a very large open-air concert at Letňany Airport. This year's confirmed headliners lean heavily into drum and bass —Dimension, Sigma, and Rudimental—alongside a broad slate of Czech and Slovak artists.

Prague Letňany Airport, May 1

The Sound events team brings their reliable combination of techno and trance back to Štvanice Island for a daytime open-air in late May. The 2026 edition features Serbian DJ and producer Tijana T, Denmark's Mama Snake, and Czech selector Yan among the confirmed acts. Tickets run from 350–700 Kč, and the setting, riverside and tree-lined, makes it one of the more pleasant places to spend a Saturday afternoon in the city if your tastes run towards the electronic end of the dial.

Štvanice Island, May 23

The biggest open-air jazz event in Prague coincides with International Jazz Day, which falls on April 30. Mladí ladí Jazz takes over Karlovo náměstí with a lineup mixing Czech and international acts, and a particular focus on emerging artists and experimental forms. It's free, it's in one of the city's finest squares, and it happens to fall on the same day as the United Islands festival launch, making April 30 a rich afternoon in Prague.

Karlovo náměstí, April 30

The 81st edition of the Prague Spring International Music Festival is one of the most formally significant events on the spring calendar. The Opening Concert on May 12 at the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House will be broadcast live as part of the Prague Spring Open Air series. The festival opens with Smetana's Má vlast, conducted by Petr Popelka and the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding. In total, the festival presents more than sixty events across its three-week run, including concerts, masterclasses, and accompanying exhibitions. For those who want the atmosphere without the ticket price, the Open Air broadcast of the opening night is the one to note in the diary.

Municipal House and venues across the city, May 12–June 4

Nine days of theatre, comedy, music, dance, and storytelling will unfold across the historic venues of Malá Strana for Prague Fringe Festival in May. The Fringe model suits the neighbourhood well, and the 2026 edition brings over 200 performances from around 40 shows, with hundreds of artists from across the world.

Various venues in Malá Strana, May 22–30

Praha Žije Hudbou puts buskers in squares and on streets across the city for two days, with all performances free to attend. Audiences are invited to support artists with voluntary donations, which keeps the atmosphere collaborative rather than commercial.

Various locations across Prague, May 29–30