A culture that lasts!
Dear culture lovers,
The past year was an exceptional year for the statutory city of Pilsen, a year of celebrations, meetings and a deep awareness of the traditions and values that unite us. It was a year filled primarily with culture, but also with sports, education and community projects. A year in which Pilsen once again proved to be a self-confident and open city that has something to offer its residents and visitors from all over the country and abroad.
During 2025, we commemorated significant anniversaries that shaped the history and identity of our city, especially the 730th anniversary of the founding of Pilsen, celebrated as part of the city's historical festivities, or the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Pilsen by the American army, which was commemorated by the magnificent and extraordinary Freedom Festival. In the field of culture, it was primarily 10 years since the successful Pilsen-European Capital of Culture 2015 project. However, all of these anniversaries were much more than just numbers on the calendar; the past twelve months brought dozens of inspiring festivals, events, workshops, exhibitions, performances, conferences and meetings.
Under the banner of the Pilsen 2025 project, a rich program took place throughout the year, offering the public the best of cultural life. The celebrations began on March 8 with a spectacular open-air event Pilsen 2025 – Open Up! on Republic Square using light installations, video mapping and DUNDU light puppets, which were presented in this form and in a special program for the first time in the Czech Republic.
Various anniversaries were celebrated by popular festivals, events and local organizations. For example, we commemorated 10 years since the establishment of the BLIK BLIK Festival of Light and Art in Public Space, which brought a record twenty light installations, or 45 years of the existence of the multi-disciplinary festival Smetana Days.
Some Pilsen singing and musical ensembles also celebrated significant anniversaries, such as 45 years of the Pilsen Children's Choir, 40 years of the Javořičeks, 35 years of the Notičky choir, or 25 years of the Junior Orchestra.
The biggest celebrations took place in September during Pilsen in Radiance, a three-day event full of music, street theatre, lights and an enthusiastic audience. Its highlight was the breathtaking aerial acrobatic show Muaré Experience, which showed that Pilsen can combine art and experiences for all ages.
All of these activities took place in the context of a city that not only celebrates but also invests in its future. For Pilsen, 2025 was also the year in which a number of significant investments in cultural infrastructure and public space were launched or continued. Thanks to this, the quality of the facilities for the daily life of residents and visitors to the city is further improved.
Looking back on the past months, we can proudly say that 2025 was full of energy, creativity and experiences that shaped strong shared memories. The city of Pilsen has once again confirmed that culture has a fundamental and irreplaceable place in its life and is a natural part of the city's identity and a strong impetus for its further direction and development.
The year 2025 was a year filled with challenges and new artistic achievements, so we thank everyone who participated in the Pilsen 2025 project.
Mgr. Eliška Bartáková, Pilsen City Councilor for Culture and Monument Preservation