Tower of light: Prague landmark beams into night sky to mark end of WWII

A bright blue beam shooting into the night sky from Prague’s Žižkov Television Tower has been catching residents off guard this weekend, prompting confused reactions on social media from people wondering what they were seeing.

The light installation, which is part of commemorations marking the end of World War II, has been visible across large parts of the city since May 7. It continues nightly through May 9, always from dusk to midnight, meaning those who missed it still have a chance to see it this evening.

The striking visual prompted a wave of online speculation, with some residents jokingly asking whether it was a film stunt or something more mysterious.

“Are we broadcasting to aliens again?’” one Prague resident inquired on Reddit, while others wondered whether it could be a laser experiment or even “something from a sci-fi movie.”

In reality, the beam is a symbolic installation projected from the Žižkov TV Tower, one of Prague’s most recognizable landmarks. It is part of annual Victory Day commemorations marking the end of World War II in Europe.

The organizers say the installation is meant to serve as a quiet reminder of history, rather than a spectacle for its own sake.

According to the Tower Park Prague website, the laser is intended to symbolize “hope, peace, and solidarity,” and transforms the tower into a kind of beacon over the city during the anniversary period.

The beam is accompanied by a subtle lighting change on the tower itself, which has also been illuminated in the colors of the Czech flag as part of the commemorations.

City officials from Prague 3 have also highlighted the symbolic nature of the installation, linking it to broader reflections on freedom and responsibility during Victory Day events.

While the installation is not new, many Prague residents appeared unaware it was returning this year, leading to a surge of posts questioning the source of the blue light. Some users compared the scene to cinematic or science-fiction imagery, while others shared photos and videos taken from across the city skyline.

The Žižkov TV Tower regularly uses lighting installations for various awareness campaigns and international observances, often changing colors to mark different causes and events throughout the year.

In April, for example, it was lit green for World Hemophilia Day and blue for Autism Awareness Day, continuing its role as one of Prague’s most visible illuminated landmarks.

The WWII commemorative light installation will remain visible only until Saturday, May 9, when it will switch off at midnight. For those in Prague who missed it over the past nights, tonight offers the final opportunity to see the blue beam cutting through the city skyline.