Oct. 28 national holiday in Czechia: What’s closed and what to do in 2026

Czechia celebrates the founding of Czechoslovakia on Wednesday, Oct. 28, with a public holiday that closes large stores and regular government services while opening some normally inaccessible historic buildings.

Known in Czech as Den vzniku samostatného československého státu (Independent Czechoslovak State Day), the holiday marks the establishment of an independent Czechoslovak state in 1918. This year is its 108th anniversary.

For families, the date also begins an extended school break. Autumn holidays fall on Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30, giving pupils five consecutive days away from lessons when combined with the weekend. Those two additional weekdays are not public holidays for workers.

On Oct. 28, 1918, political leaders in Prague proclaimed an independent Czechoslovak state as Austria-Hungary disintegrated at the end of World War I.

The declaration followed years of campaigning at home and abroad. Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, a leading figure in the independence movement, became the new republic’s first president.

Although Czechoslovakia later split into Czechia and Slovakia, Oct. 28 remains a Czech national holiday honoring the origins of the republic and its democratic traditions. The establishment of today’s independent Czech state on Jan. 1, 1993, is commemorated separately.

Official observances include the presentation of state decorations. Prague Castle has confirmed this year’s ceremony for 8 p.m. in Vladislav Hall on Oct. 28; it is a formal event rather than a public open house.

Retail stores with sales areas larger than 200 square meters must close for the day. The rule affects most supermarkets, hypermarkets and large clothing, furniture and electronics stores.

Smaller shops can open at their owners’ discretion. Exemptions include pharmacies, gas stations and shops at airports, railway stations and bus terminals. Restaurants, cafés and cinemas are not covered by the retail sales ban.

Online shopping can continue. The Czech Trade Inspection Authority’s current guidance says handing over goods previously ordered online is also permitted, although individual retailers decide whether to operate collection services.

Bank branches and government offices will generally be closed for regular business. Some public buildings will nevertheless welcome visitors for special holiday tours.

Check holiday timetables before using public transport, and confirm individual opening hours for attractions. The public holiday does not mean every museum is closed—or that admission is automatically free.

The Senate will open Wallenstein and Kolowrat palaces from 7 a.m., with last entry at 5 p.m. Its free program marks 30 years since the upper chamber’s establishment and includes exhibitions, interactive activities and opportunities to meet senators. Expect security checks and possible queues; large luggage is not permitted.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the city’s open-house program covers New City Hall, the mayor’s residence, Škoda Palace and the Central Library. Admission is free, but guided tours of New City Hall and the mayor’s residence require reservations through the official event listing.

Rohanský Palace in Malá Strana opens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free guided tours depart every 30 minutes and last approximately 45 minutes. No advance registration is required, but capacity is limited and the route is not wheelchair-accessible.

The National Museum in Prague and its affiliated venues will be operating as usual for the holiday, with a list of events and exhibitions available on the museum website. Oct. 28 is not listed among the National Museum’s scheduled free-entry dates for 2026, but its next listed free-entry day is Nov. 1, subject to exhibition-specific exclusions.