World-class orchestras, the return of renowned artists and ensembles, fresh faces making their festival debuts, as well as world and Czech premieres – these are just a few of the highlights of the 80th edition of the Prague Spring International Music Festival with over fifty events, which will take place from 12 May to 3 June 2025.
The orchestral series will undoubtedly present the greatest highlights of the Prague Spring 2025. For the first time in its more than 130-year history, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform in the Czech Republic. Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Göteborgs Symfoniker will also make their Prague Spring debuts. Returning to the festival will be the London Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo’s NHK Symphony Orchestra, and the Wiener Symphoniker led by their new chief conductor, Petr Popelka. Audiences can look forward to an array of world-renowned conductors, including Jaap van Zweden, Andris Nelsons, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Sir Antonio Pappano, and Fabio Luisi, who returns to the festival after a long 35-year absence. Making its Czech debut with a Beethoven-themed programme will be the Kammerakademie Potsdam, conducted by Antonello Manacorda, who recently completed an acclaimed recording of Beethoven’s symphonies with the same orchestra. A major star will certainly be this year’s artist-in-residence, the violinist and performer Patricia Kopatchinskaja, who, will be presented at the festival in a series of unique projects reflecting her unorthodox and innovative approach to music and concert form.
For eighty years (since the spring of 1946) the Prague Spring International Music Festival has established itself as one of the world’s most respected classical music festivals. Rafael Kubelík, a preeminent conductor of 20th century classical music, was instrumental in the founding of the festival. The very first edition saw the international debut of the later renowned conductor Leonard Bernstein. Established in 1947, the Prague Spring International Music Competition, a founding member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions since 1957, has become an integral part of the festival.
Prague Spring Festival is held in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The concerts take place at two main venues – the Municipal House and Rudolfinum at the riverbank of Vltava and several other venues, including DOX Contemporary Art Gallery, National Technical Museum, National Theatre, various churches and monasteries and others.
The festival’s concert venues will take you to the most beautiful places in Prague: Art Nouveau gem Municipal House, Rudolfinum at the river bank with spectacular view of the Prague Castle, tiny churches like St Anne – Prague Crossroads, spectacularly renovated by Václav Havel’s foundation, or St Agnes’ Convent at the heart of the historic centre. Concerts take place also in less typical or industrial venues like DOX Contemporary Art Gallery, National Technical Museum, or Forum Karlin and others.
By airplane
The international Václav Havel Prague Airport is located on the northwestern outskirts of Prague in the Ruzyně district. Connections to the city centre are provided by public transport buses, AE – Airport Express buses, or Tick Tack-Airport Taxi.
By train
Three European railway corridors intersect in Prague, connecting the metropolis with the whole of Europe. The city’s primary train station is the Prague Main Railway Station, which sends over 200,000 trains a year to all major Czech cities and abroad. The second international train station is Prague Holešovice. Czech Railways is the largest national carrier in the Czech Republic; other major operators include RegioJet and Leo Express.
By bus
The central bus station in Prague is Prague Florenc Bus Station, a full-service station in the city centre at the Florenc metro station (lines B and C). More than 100 transport companies service the station, including international carriers. One of the major domestic and interstate carrier is RegioJet, which operates both buses and trains. Other large carriers include FlixBus. LEO Express provides bus connections to Prague from Germany and Austria.
By car
A dense network of roads leads to Prague, which are linked together by the Prague ring road (D0) in Prague. The ring road also handles transit traffic from the D1, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D10 and D11 motorways. Motorway tolls are collected in the form of a motorway electronic vignette (dálniční známka in Czech) which can be purchased in an e-shop, at sales points, or at self-service kiosks. More information about parking through this link.
More information about how to get to Prague through this link.
There are various types of accommodation for various demands, as in every other European city – from branch hotels to Airbnb apartments and hostels.
In Prague itself you can visit many important and interesting places, with beautiful architecture, such as: Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter, Wenceslas Square, National Museum, National Gallery and many more.
Whether you've come for luxury or with a backpack, Prague will tell its thousand-year-old story at every turn. In galleries you will find works by Dürer, Picasso, Warhol and Hirst, as well as outstanding Czech modernism by Kupka, Toyen and Filla. Nowhere else in the world will you find as many cubist houses and interiors as in Prague. Observe the life of the city from the cafes and restaurants where Kafka, Einstein or Havel used to sit before you.
There are several cities close to Prague where you can take a day trip. By train, by bus or by car you can go to the famous Kutná Hora, Český Krumlov, Litomyšl, the spa town Karlovy Vary, beer making city Plzeň etc.
The festival takes place for three weeks in May. The weather is already warm, but it can still be rainy. An umbrella is recommended for walking around the city. For concerts inside the beautiful concert halls, smart casual dress is recommended.
Prague has a very diverse gastronomic scene, offering a whole range of unique places, from Michelin star restaurants to an abundance of breweries and sweet shops. To explore the wide variety please click here.
The Prague Spring Festival offers a great opportunity to see and hear the very best contemporary performers of classical music, in one of the most beautiful historic cities in the world.
