Slovakia Today, English Language Current Affairs Programme from Slovak Radio

Sundays with RSI, letters from listeners, music and more info about the 100th anniversary of Slovak radio.

A look back at the past week in Slovakia and on RSI.

A three-day report from the only international competition organised by Slovak Radio features jury members, world music experts, as well as samples of traditional music recordings. After boycotting the regular 2025 edition, 14 national broadcasters from across Europe have submitted 31 entries this year. Supported by the EBU, the contest highlights a vibrant and evolving music scene. Many tradition...

In this programme, we are going to take you inside a powerful photography project by Depaul Slovakia, where people experiencing homelessness document their own lives and journeys toward stability. Through personal stories, interviews, and authentic images, it reveals both the harsh realities and the hope behind starting over. You are going to hear from a Slovak documentary photographer Gabriela Te...

In this episode, we focus on two unique natural sites and the efforts to protect and restore them. First, we visit the Šúr nature reserve, located near Bratislava. Despite its international ecological value, it remains little-known to the public. Conservationists are now working to revive this rare wetland forest—using traditional methods like grazing cattle. Then, we turn our attention to the Dan...

The recent Hungarian elections will have a big impact on Europe, but how will they affect Slovakia Today? Ben Pascoe talked with political analysts Grigorij Mesežnikov from IVO (the Institute for Public Affairs) and Radovan Geist from Euractiv about what the elections mean for Slovakia today.

Held at the Primate’s Palace, Integration Forum 2025 brought together national and international stakeholders to explore how to build resilience in times of uncertainty. The discussion focused on key global challenges, including European security, the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, the protection of vulnerable groups in Slovakia, and the role of NGOs in strengthening democratic resilience. T...

Today we take another look through the window to the world and learn about famous musician Hana Hegerova.

The weekly news digest is followed by a selection of topics discussed over the past week on Slovakia Today. Ben Pascoe revisits the national cinematography awards ceremony, Patrícia Polakovičová looks into the reasons behind Slovakia’s declining birth rate, and Veronika Ščepánová reports on Daffodil Day 2026 in Slovakia.

Talking about the latest exhibition by the prominent Slovak visual artist Dorota Sadovská in Vienna is its curator, Anne Avramut. Wolfgang Horvat, founder of the EU Art Network, presents a show marking 25 years of international symposia organized by the EU Art Network. Currently on display at the Gallery of Slovak Radio, the exhibition explores the theme “Times They Are a-Changing.” We also hear f...

Slovakia is experiencing a continued decline in birth rates, with fewer children being born each year and noticeable changes in the country’s demographic structure. The report from the Statistical Office of Slovak Republic says, the birth rates recorded for the year 2025 were the lowest since the World War II. What is behind this trend, and how will it shape the future of Slovak society? In today’...

In March, the education-focused NGO Živica hosted the Alma Festival for Good Education. The festival, which took place at both the inclusive Alma Primary School and the Technical University in Zvolen, brought together education experts, teachers, and families to discuss and present new ideas on how to improve education in Slovakia. In this first part of our report, we hear from American education...

The annual Slkno v Siete awards, recognizing the best in Slovak cinema were recently handed out. Ben Pascoe brings you interviews and sounds from the gala event.

Daffodil Day is one of the world’s most iconic and widely supported annual campaigns, raising both funds and awareness for cancer. In Slovakia, it is organised by the League Against Cancer and represents the country’s largest public fundraising initiative, promoting solidarity with cancer patients. This Thursday, April 16, volunteers wearing the signature yellow daffodils and carrying donation box...

This Sunday we take a closer look at the Grand Prix Svetozár Stračina, an international competition celebrating folk music, organised by STVR in cooperation with the European Broadcasting Union. We also spotlight Slovak alternative band Bez ladu a skladu, recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Radio_Head Awards 2025, and play music from this year’s nominees.

A look back at the past week in Slovakia and on RSI.

Or Happy International Romani Day! 8 April, dubbed International Romani Day, has been around since 1990—but the story starts earlier. Back in 1971, Romani representatives from across Europe met near London for the first World Romani Congress—bridging divides, even with the Iron Curtain still in place. Since then, it’s been about language, identity, culture—and being heard. And right now, that voic...

REPRÍZA: In this show, we explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping education in Slovakia through the official AI in Education initiative (ai.iedu.sk). While AI tools are increasingly present in classrooms and at home, their use raises important questions about teaching practices, fairness, and the role of human educators. We speak with two experts: Miron Zelina, a psychologist and universi...

A father sets out on a journey across Slovakia, walking from Košice to Bratislava - not for sport, not for adventure, but to try fundraise money to help save his two-year-old son, William. The boy suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare and devastating disease, and the family is racing against time to access experimental gene treatment. This radio piece follows a father’s determination, l...

Ben Pascoe finds out about the Engerau camp that was located in Petrzalka at the end of the Second World War. This forgotten chapter of Bratislava's history was commemerated at the Petrzalka cemetary on the 26th of March.

On this special Easter Monday programme, we explore some of Slovakia’s most unique — and sometimes surprising — holiday traditions. Why do young men splash women with water and gently whip them with willow branches? Ethnologist Katarína Nádaská explains the ancient, pre-Christian roots behind these customs. We also visit the Centre for Folk Art Production (ÚĽUV), where craftswoman Janka Dubašáková...

In today’s Sunday programme, you will hear about another spa town—Trenčianske Teplice—as part of our RSI competition “Living Water,” as well as the winner of the second round. In addition, my colleagues and I sat down to talk about Easter traditions in different regions of Slovakia.

A look back at the week in Slovakia and on RSI.

What traditions are linked to Good Friday and Easter in Slovakia? Ethnographer Zora Mintálová Zubercová shares insights from her book "Annual Holidays and Customs", while music ethnologist Miroslava Záhumenská highlights the traditional sounds of Good Friday in the region.

On behalf of the World Autism Awareness Day which anually falls on April 2, we prepared a special feature dedicated to people with this diagnosis. This programme explores what it means to live with autism in Slovakia today. Despite growing awareness, many families still face limited support and challenges in everyday life. Our guests include special educator Eva Turáková, founder of a specialised...