Opening of the 2026 Spa Season in Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary enters a new spa season on the first May weekend. From 1 to 3 May, the entire city comes alive for one of its most significant cultural and social events. A rich cultural programme awaits residents and visitors, with distinguished guests from around the world.
Saturday's programme is dedicated to the traditional season-opening rituals: the blessing of the springs by the Papal Nuncio, a festive mass, and a parade through the city.
PROGRAMME FOR THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE 2026 SPA SEASON
WALPURGIS NIGHT
THURSDAY 30 APRIL 2026
Sokolský vrch
17:00–20:00 | Children's competitions with DDM Karlovy Vary 17:00–20:00 | Bouncy castle, airbrush tattoos (free) 17:30 | Divadlo Letadlo: fairy tale "Explorers in the Forest" 18:30 | Costume competition 19:00 | Andělské hlasy choir directed by Mgr. Štěpánka Steinová, ZUŠ Antonína Dvořáka 20:26 | Lighting of the bonfire 20:30 | KABÁT Revival Plzeň
Programme throughout the afternoon hosted by Tereza Švecová.
OPENING OF THE SPA SEASON
1–3 May | Craft market – Smetana Gardens, daily 10:00–18:00 1–3 May | Children's workshops – Smetana Gardens, Friday 15:00–17:00, weekend 10:30–17:00
1–3 May 2026 | Exhibitions
Karlovy Vary Museum
9:00–12:00, 12:30–17:00 | Aspects of Nature – Alexander von Humboldt's Vision Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) was one of the foremost scientists of his time. His all-encompassing view of nature, humanity, and society remains relevant today. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang-Hagen Hein spent over 60 years collecting Humboldt documents, creating the largest private collection of its kind, open at the Berlin City Museum since 2003. After exhibitions in Germany, France, the USA, and Peru, Karlovy Vary Museum now presents this unique exploration of Humboldt's life and work. Bilingual Czech–English. (admission: CZK 70, reduced CZK 50)
Interactive Gallery Becherova Vila
10:00–17:00 | Wasser – Zeichen / Water – Signs A Czech–German exhibition presenting the work of German artist Georg L. Fieger, exploring water as a bridge between cultures. After its premiere in Selb, the expanded version is now in Karlovy Vary. (admission: CZK 80, reduced CZK 40)
Karlovy Vary Art Gallery
10:00–17:00 | Roman Franta – Outside / Inside The first retrospective of prominent Czech painter Roman Franta, from student beginnings to the present. See the insect series that earned him a nomination for the Jindřich Chalupecký Award, plus new "landscape" portraits. Colourful, playful, surprising. (admission: CZK 80, reduced CZK 40)
10:00–17:00 | Permanent Exhibition "Seven Decades / Karlovy Vary Art Gallery (1953–2023)" A journey through seventy years of Czech art from modernism to the contemporary. (admission: CZK 80, reduced CZK 40)
Imperial Bath (Císařské lázně)
1 May | Imperial Glass – vernissage with artists Lukáš Jabůrek, Josef Dvořák, Michal Kožený, Vítězslav Mahovský, Jaromír Smutný; guest: Jaroslav Mádle (Nižbor). 2 May | Viktor Braunreiter's Street Theatre: In Search of the Imperial Bath's Secrets 3 May | Heart – ballet performance, a dance drama inspired by a true story.
Castle Tower
10:00–20:00 | Great Spa Towns of Europe Exhibition Presenting 11 European spa towns from 7 countries inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2021. (admission: CZK 50, reduced CZK 25)
Stará Louka, in front of Karlovy Vary City Gallery
5 Years World-Class – outdoor exhibition marking the 5th anniversary of Karlovy Vary's UNESCO inscription.
FRIDAY 1 MAY 2026
T. G. Masaryk Avenue and Smetana Gardens
10:00–14:00 | Barrel organ player 10:00–18:00 | Craft market 15:00–17:00 | Children's creative workshops 14:00–15:00 | Andělské hlasy choir 15:30–17:00 | Vanua2 18:00–19:30 | Monkey Business
Square in front of Hotel Thermal
14:00–22:00 | Thermal Beer & Grill Fest
Mill Colonnade (Mlýnská kolonáda)
14:00–17:00 | Cantate Carlsbad 2026 International choral festival: 2 choirs from the Czech Republic, 1 from Switzerland, 3 from Germany.
Dvořák Gardens
17:00 | Máchův Máj (free)
Imperial Bath (Císařské lázně)
18:30 | Ceremonial Evening – City Awards and Honorary Citizenship (closed event)
SATURDAY 2 MAY 2026
Square in front of Hotel Thermal
9:55 | Ceremonial parade to the Mill Colonnade (majorettes, brass band, period costumes) 11:00–22:00 | Thermal Beer & Grill Fest
Hotel Thermal Riverbank
10:00–18:00 | 13th World Championship of Non-Alcoholic Cocktail Mixing – Mattoni Grand Drink
Mill Colonnade (Mlýnská kolonáda)
10:15 | Ceremonial blessing of the springs (mayor's address, fanfares) 11:00 | Kynšperk nad Ohří Town Band 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
Spa Park Colonnade (Sadová kolonáda)
11:00–12:30 | Dyleň Song and Dance Ensemble
Market Colonnade (Tržní kolonáda)
11:00–18:00 | Žíželeves Manor Nobility Society – Biedermeier promenade and 19th-century historical dancing
T. G. Masaryk Avenue and Smetana Gardens
10:00–14:00 | Barrel organ player | 10:00–18:00 | Craft market | 10:30–17:00 | Children's creative workshops 11:00–18:00 | Falconer with birds of prey 12:45–13:00 | Milites flag and drumming group performance 13:15–14:15 | KVeen: Queen Live Experience 15:00–16:00 | Kalandr and Revival Band 16:00–17:30 | Charles IV Historical Camp – re-enactment and weapons display, photos with knights and ladies. 16:00–17:30 | Charles IV Banquet – knights, jesters, dancers, and performers entertain King Charles IV and his court. 18:30–19:30 | P.S. Iveta (Šárka Vaňková & Fredy Bittner Band) – greatest hits of Iveta Bartošová 20:00–21:15 | Ray Wilson & Band: Genesis Classic
Elizabeth Baths (Alžbětiny lázně)
11:00–17:00 | Open House – discover the history, present, and future of spa treatments. Tour the historic rooms, explore the premises, and try selected treatments.
Charles IV Gardens (Sady Karla IV.)
11:00–15:00 | Imperial Picnic 15:00 | Start of the Charles IV Procession Route: Charles IV Gardens → Festival Bridge → Mírové náměstí → Stará Louka → Tržiště → Lázeňská → Mill Embankment → Dvořák Gardens → Hotel Thermal → Poštovní Bridge → Smetana Gardens.
Husovka Theatre
18:00 | Máchův Máj (free)
Karlovy Vary Municipal Theatre
18:00 | Hluboká vráska Theatre artist Jiří Suchý is approaching his 95th birthday, and ZŠ a ZUŠ Karlovy Vary celebrates his extraordinary work alongside Jiří Šlitr and Ferdinand Havlík in this cross-disciplinary tribute to the Semafor Theatre. (admission: CZK 150 / 120 / 100)
SUNDAY 3 MAY 2026
T. G. Masaryk Avenue and Smetana Gardens
10:00–18:00 | Craft market | 10:30–17:00 | Children's creative workshops 10:30–17:00 | Free attractions for children – bouncy castle, face painting, live animals from DDM Karlovy Vary Animal Centre, skill stations, and a lucky charm for every child who completes all stations. 12:30–13:30 | Clown Legrácka 14:00–15:00 | Fontána Dance Studio 15:45–17:20 | Thom Artway 17:50–18:30 | Monika Bagárová
Mill Colonnade (Mlýnská kolonáda)
14:00 | Collegium Vocale Jiřího Štrunce
St. Linhart's Precinct
15:00 | Sinatra Celebrations X (free)
PROGRAMME SUBJECT TO CHANGE!