Radio Prague International - latest articles

Among those paying tribute to Václav Havel on what would have been his 90th birthday has been former US president Bill Clinton, who in an interview for Czech Radio shared memories of his political ally and long-time friend.

Czech literature will be in the international spotlight next week when Czechia becomes Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest publishing trade fair. Seventy-five Czech authors are heading to Frankfurt for the event, which runs from October 7 to 11 under the motto “ Czechia: A Country on the Coast .” Against that backdrop, Czechast speaks to Belgian intellectual-property la...

Czechs go to the ballot boxes in a week’s time for municipal elections and elections to one-third of the seats in the Senate. How significant will the latter be for government leaders ANO? And what are the local polls likely to tell us about the positions of the major parties? I discussed those questions with political scientist Petr Just.

Drones have fundamentally altered the character of modern warfare and have become a decisive factor on the battlefield. The Czech military is winding up a 12-day international exercise, Drone Shield 2026, aimed at mapping and testing available technologies.

One of Czechia’s most celebrated modernist buildings, Prague’s Villa Müller, has just reopened after renovations. A presentation on Wednesday also included the launch of a book about the villa, co-authored by leading Dutch architect Winy Maas.

A new exhibition at Prague’s Villa Pellé explores the work of Kamil Lhoták, one of the most distinctive Czech artists of the 20th century. Called Landscape of Dreams, it brings together works spanning more than five decades of his career.

One of Egon Schiele’s most recognisable drawings is now on display at the National Gallery Prague. Seated Woman with Bent Knees has been reproduced countless times on posters and merchandise, but the fragile original normally remains in storage.

Thursday sees the start of the music conference ReConnect Brno , one of several such events, often combining industry discussions with showcases and festivals, that take place in Czechia. But like the music industry itself, music conferences have to evolve – bringing in international experts, responding to new trends, merging events or radically changing their concept.

Scientists in Brno have developed a special bone glue that could one day help doctors treat even complicated fractures. The material is now being tested on sheep.

A photograph of a wounded young man lying outside Czechoslovak Radio on August 21, 1968, became one of the striking images of the Soviet-led invasion. After 58 years, Memory of Nations organization has identified him as Jaroslav Mareček. The Soviet bullet remains lodged in his leg to this day, although for decades he did not know it was there.

The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra is commemorating the centenary of its founding. Its 2026/2027 season plans feature distinguished guest conductors, new compositions by Czech composers, prestigious festival appearances and special projects to reach a wider audience.

In a fortnight’s time, voters will be going to the polls in Czechia in local and Senate elections. Many EU citizens resident in the country may be unaware they can also take part in the former – and that’s something the group Volby pro všechny ( Votes for Everybody ) are working to change.

The annual LUSTR festival of illustration and comics has got under way at Prague’s Holešovice Market. The 13th edition brings together more than a hundred Czech and international artists, with exhibitions, talks and workshops running until the end of the month.

Czech President Petr Pavel used his address to the UN General Assembly to warn that Russia’s war against Ukraine threatens European security and has consequences far beyond the continent. He urged continued pressure on Moscow alongside serious diplomatic efforts. Pavel also backed Czechia’s bid for a Security Council seat and called for international oversight of artificial intelligence.

A remarkable apartment in Brno, preserved almost intact since the 1930s, has just opened to the public after several years of restoration. It once belonged to a Jewish family who left Czechoslovakia shortly before WWII.

Karel Kuttelwascher, the most successful Czechoslovak fighter pilot to serve with Britain’s Royal Air Force, was born 110 years ago, on September 23, 1916. His greatest victories came during daring solo night operations close to German airfields in occupied Europe. Archival recordings preserve his own vivid account of the missions that made him a wartime celebrity.

The Václav Havel Library ceased to exist in its hitherto form earlier this year, when both major donors and staff members departed. Further twists followed – and this week Havel’s widow entrusted Prague’s Municipal Library with preserving the legacy of the dissident dramatist-turned-president.

New cable cars have just entered operation on Prague’s Petřín Hill. The glass-heavy cars afford spectacular views of the city and boast cool details; for instance when they pass, those going up “wink” (flash their lights), while those going down “blush” (light up red inside). I discussed the system with its designer Anna Marešová, shortly after she and invited guests enjoyed its maiden run on Mond...

Personal conversations, intimate photos and videos, and even the sending of underwear are all part of the growing online sex business. As more sexual services and content move online, so does related criminal activity. Organisations working with people at risk and victims of exploitation say, however, that some offences are difficult to prosecute under current Czech law.  

Ninety years ago, a broadcast first went on air from Prague’s Strašnice district with a single mission: to make heard the voice of Czechoslovakia, a small country in the heart of Europe.  Radio Prague International was not created as a pastime, but as a strategic weapon against Nazi propaganda. Through the crackle of the airwaves, presidents, ordinary people and visionaries spoke to listeners abro...

The 139th edition of Wimbledon is making Czech tennis history. For the first time ever, it is already certain before the final that the Wimbledon title will go to a Czech player. Linda Nosková and Karolína Muchová will face each other in Saturday's championship match.

An old hospital coal plant might seem an unlikely place for contemporary art. But this summer, the Czech Street Art Festival (SAFE) has transformed a functionalist industrial landmark into a space where street art and psychotherapy collide.

Violent crime committed by children is on the rise in Czechia, with a growing number of attacks carried out simply for the thrill of it. The trend is prompting renewed debate over whether the age of criminal responsibility should be lowered.

Visitors to this year's Colours of Ostrava festival , due to open next week, will be able to explore a brand-new venue. Alongside the more laid-back Steel Stage, organizers are also introducing a new fan zone called Steel Town.

The oldest known beech tree in Czechia has been identified in the Beskydy Mountains near the country's border with Slovakia. Researchers have determined the tree to be 492 years old, meaning it must have taken root in the early 16th century.