Karlovy Vary will enter the new spa season on the first weekend of May. From 1 to 3 May, the whole city will come alive with one of the most important cultural and social events. Residents and visitors alike can look forward to a rich cultural programme, which will also be attended by a number of distinguished guests from around the world.

Saturday’s programme will be devoted to the traditional rituals marking the start of the season in Karlovy Vary, such as the blessing of the springs by the Apostolic Nuncio, a festive mass, and a procession through the city.

PROGRAMME OF THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE 2026 SPA SEASON

WITCH BURNING

THURSDAY, 30 APRIL 2026

Sokolský vrch

17:00 - 20:00 | Competitions for children with DDM Karlovy Vary
17:00 - 20:00 | Bouncy castle, airbrush tattoos (free of charge)
17:30 | Divadlo Letadlo: fairy tale “Explorers in the Forest”
18:30 | Costume competition
19:00 | Andělské hlasy under the direction of Mgr. Štěpánka Steinová, Antonín Dvořák Elementary School of Arts
20:26 | Lighting of the bonfire
20:30 | KABÁT revival Plzeň

The entire afternoon programme will be hosted by Tereza Švecová.

OPENING OF THE SPA SEASON

1–3 May | Craft fair – Smetana Gardens, daily from 10:00 to 18:00
1–3 May | Children’s workshops – Smetana Gardens, Friday from 15:00 to 17:00, weekend from 10:30 to 17:00

1–3 May 2026 | Exhibitions

Karlovy Vary Museum

9:00 - 12:00, 12:30 - 17:00 | Aspects of Nature – The Vision of Alexander von Humboldt
Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) was one of the most important scientists of his time. His comprehensive and interconnected view of nature, humanity and society remains extraordinarily relevant to this day. Prof. Dr Wolfgang-Hagen Hein collected documents relating to Alexander von Humboldt for more than 60 years. This resulted in the largest private collection of its kind, which has been accessible to the public and scholars alike at the Berlin City Museum since 2003. Following successful exhibitions in Germany, France, the USA and Peru, visitors to the Karlovy Vary Museum will also have the unique opportunity to explore the life and work of Alexander von Humboldt. The exhibition is bilingual, in Czech and English. (admission CZK 70, reduced CZK 50)

Becher Villa Interactive Gallery

10:00 - 17:00 | Wasser - Zeichen / Water - Signs
This Czech-German exhibition project presents the work of German artist Georg L. Fieger and invites visitors to discover the motif of water as a bridge between cultures. The exhibition had its intimate premiere in Selb, and now you can immerse yourself in its more extensive version in Karlovy Vary. (admission CZK 80, reduced CZK 40)

Karlovy Vary Art Gallery

10:00 - 17:00 | Roman Franta - Outside / Inside
The first retrospective exhibition of leading Czech painter Roman Franta offers a unique opportunity to follow his work from his student beginnings to the present day. You will see the famous series of insect paintings that earned him a nomination for the Jindřich Chalupecký Award, as well as entirely new “landscape” portraits. The exhibition is diverse, playful and surprising – an ideal opportunity to find your way to contemporary art. (admission CZK 80, reduced CZK 40)

10:00 - 17:00 | Exhibition “Seven Decades / Karlovy Vary Art Gallery (1953–2023)”
Take a journey through time across seventy years of Czech art. This permanent exhibition, prepared for the gallery’s anniversary, presents the very best from its 20th-century collections – from icons of Czech modernism to outstanding contemporary personalities. You will encounter works by artists whose names you may know, yet whose paintings can still surprise you today. (admission CZK 80, reduced CZK 40)

Imperial Spa

1 May | Imperial Glass
Opening of the glass exhibition. The exhibition will feature works by Lukáš Jabůrek, Josef Dvořák, Michal Kožený, Vítězslav Mahovský and Jaromír Smutný, with Jaroslav Mádle (Nižbor) as a guest exhibitor.

2 May | Viktor Braunreiter Street Theatre: Uncovering the Mystery of the Imperial Spa
3 May | Heart
A ballet performance, a dance drama inspired by a true story.

Castle Tower

10:00 - 20:00 | Great Spa Towns of Europe exhibition
The exhibition presents 11 famous spa towns in Europe from 7 countries, which were jointly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2021. (admission CZK 50, reduced CZK 25)

Stará Louka, area in front of the Karlovy Vary Municipal Gallery

5 Years on the World Heritage List
Outdoor exhibition marking the 5th anniversary of Karlovy Vary’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

FRIDAY, 1 MAY 2026

T. G. Masaryk Avenue and Smetana Gardens

10:00 - 14:00 | Barrel organ player
10:00 - 18:00 | Craft fair
15:00 - 17:00 | Creative workshops for children
Prepared for all children interested in creating. Here, imagination, creativity and the joy of making things will find full expression.

14:00 - 15:00 | Andělské hlasy under the direction of Mgr. Štěpánka Steinová
15:30 - 17:00 | Vanua2
18:00 - 19:30 | Monkey Business

Area in front of Hotel Thermal

14:00 - 22:00 | Thermal Beer & Grill Fest

Mill Colonnade

14:00 - 17:00 | Cantate Carlsbad 2026
International festival of choirs, featuring 2 choirs from the Czech Republic, 1 choir from Switzerland and 3 choirs from the Federal Republic of Germany.

Dvořák Gardens

17:00 | Mácha’s May (free of charge)

Imperial Spa

18:30 | Ceremonial evening with the presentation of the city awards and honorary citizenship
(closed private event)

SATURDAY, 2 MAY 2026

Area in front of Hotel Thermal

9:55 | Ceremonial procession to the Mill Colonnade (majorettes, brass band, period costumes)
11:00 - 22:00 | Thermal Beer & Grill Fest

Hotel Thermal Riverside Promenade

10:00 - 18:00 | 13th World Championship in Mixing Non-Alcoholic Drinks – Mattoni Grand Drink

Mill Colonnade

10:15 | Opening of the ceremonial blessing of the springs (speech by the Mayor, fanfares)
11:00 | Municipal Band of Kynšperk nad Ohří
12:30 | Riccio Quartetto
14:00 | KARLOVARKA Brass Band
15:30 | Arrival of the Charles IV procession
16:00 | Luhačovice Girls’ Saxophone Orchestra

Church of St Mary Magdalene

11:00 | Festive mass

Park Colonnade

11:00 - 12:30 | Dyleň Song and Dance Ensemble

Market Colonnade

11:00 - 18:00 | Association of the Nobility at Žíželeves Fortress – promenade in Biedermeier costume and 19th-century historical dance

T. G. Masaryk Avenue and Smetana Gardens

10:00 - 14:00 | Barrel organ player
10:00 - 18:00 | Craft fair
10:30 - 17:00 | Creative workshops for children
Prepared for all children interested in creating. Here, imagination, creativity and the joy of making things will find full expression.

11:00 - 18:00 | Falconer and birds of prey
12:45 - 13:00 | Performance by the Milites flag and drum group
13:15 - 14:15 | KVeen: Queen live experience
15:00 - 16:00 | Kalandr and Revival Band
16:00 - 17:30 | Historical camp of Charles IV
Demonstration of a historical camp and weapons, with an opportunity to take photos with knights and ladies.

16:00 - 17:30 | Feast of Charles IV
Knights, jesters, dancers and actors perform for King Charles IV and his court.

18:30 - 19:30 | P.S. Iveta (Šárka Vaňková & Fredy Bittner Band) – the greatest hits of Iveta Bartošová
20:00 - 21:15 | Ray Wilson & Band: Genesis Classic

Alžbětiny lázně

11:00 - 17:00 | Open Day
Come and take a look at the history, present and future of spa care in Karlovy Vary. During the day, visitors will be able to visit a corner dedicated to the history of the spa, tour the spa premises and try selected treatments.

Charles IV Park

11:00 - 15:00 | Imperial Picnic
15:00 | Start of the Charles IV procession
Procession route: Charles IV Park, Festival Bridge, Mírové Square, Stará Louka, Tržiště, Lázeňská, Mlýnské nábřeží, Dvořák Gardens, Hotel Thermal, Poštovní Bridge, Smetana Gardens.

Husovka Theatre

18:00 | Mácha’s May (free of charge)

Karlovy Vary Municipal Theatre

18:00 | Deep Wrinkle
Theatre artist Jiří Suchý will soon celebrate his 95th birthday, and the Elementary School and Elementary School of Arts in Karlovy Vary have decided to commemorate together with the audience the tremendous work he created together with Jiří Šlitr and Ferdinand Havlík. This new four-discipline performance aims to be a tribute to the Semafor Theatre, whose legacy continues across generations to this day. (admission CZK 150, CZK 120, CZK 100)

SUNDAY, 3 MAY 2026

T. G. Masaryk Avenue and Smetana Gardens

10:00 - 18:00 | Craft fair
10:30 - 17:00 | Creative workshops for children
Prepared for all children interested in creating. Here, imagination, creativity and the joy of making things will find full expression.

10:30 - 17:00 | Free attractions for children
Bouncy castle, face painting, live animals from the DDM Karlovy Vary Animal Centre, skill stations and a small reward for everyone who completes all the skill stations.

12:30 - 13:30 | Klaun Legrácka
14:00 - 15:00 | Fontána Dance Studio
15:45 - 17:20 | Thom Artway
17:50 - 18:30 | Monika Bagárová

Mill Colonnade

14:00 | Collegium Vocale Jiřího Štrunce

St Linhart Area

15:00 | Sinatra Celebrations X (free of charge)

PROGRAMME SUBJECT TO CHANGE!