FRIDAY 2 MAY 2025

The area in front of the Hotel Thermal
14:00 - 22:00 | Thermal Grill & Beer Fest 
Festival programme:
14:00 - 19:00 | Face painting for children and adults
14:00 - 22:00 | DJ performance
15:00 | Lame Tapster - competition for visitors for beer prizes
17:00 | performance of DRUM BAND, Art School Ostrov
20:00 | Announcement of the winner of the Best Brewery public vote

T.G. Masaryk Avenue and Smetana's Park
10:00 - 14:00 | Barrel Organ Player
10:00 - 18:00 | Craft fair 
15:00 - 17:00 | Children’s creative workshops open to all young visitors — a space for imagination, creativity, and the joy of making things.
Mini treasure hunt near Elizabeth Spa – a small reward awaits those who complete it
14:00 - 15:00 | Angelic Voices choir led by Mgr. Štěpánka Steinová, Antonín Dvořák Art School
16:00 - 17:15 | Pestalozzi
18:00 - 19:30 | Lucie Revival

Interactive Gallery Becher's Villa
16:00 | Opening of the outdoor exhibition "Cultural Heritage of UNESCO - Belgium and Luxembourg"
The nationwide opening is part of a travelling panel exhibition featuring 47 Belgian and Luxembourg heritage sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Lists.

Dvořák's Park
17:00 | Mácha's May (free entry)

Imperial Spa
18:30 | Gala Evening with the Presentation of City Awards and Honorary Citizenship
(private event)

SATURDAY 3 MAY 2025

The area in front of the Hotel Thermal
9:40 Opening speech by the “Hippocrates of Karlovy Vary” David Becher – invitation to the year-round celebrations VARY°Becherovy
9:55 Ceremonial parade – Journey to the springs with David Becher and city councillors

11:00 - 22:00 | Thermal Grill & Beer Fest 
Festival Program:
12:00 - 19:00 | Face painting for children and adults
13:00 - 22:00 | DJ performance
14:00 | Performance by Abadá Capoeira Karlovy Vary
15:00 | Lame Tapster - competition for visitors for beer prizes
18:00 |Beer keg holding competition for visitors

Mill Colonnade
10:15 | Opening of the ceremonial blessing of the springs (speech by the mayor, fanfare)
11:00 | Municipal music, Kynšperk nad Ohří
12:30 | Family Concert Pitrovi 
14:00 | DIXIELAND Planá
15:30 | Arrival of the Charles IV.
16:00 | Gala concert of colonnade melodies - a selection of the most popular pieces from the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra’s colonnade repertoire, conducted by Chief Conductor Ondřej Vrabec

St. Mary Magdalene Church
11:00 | Festive mass in honour of David Becher, physician and patriot of Karlovy Var

T. G. Masaryk Avenue and Smetana's Park
10:00 - 14:00 | Barrel Organ Player
10:00 - 18:00 | Craft Fair
10:30 - 17:00 Children’s creative workshops for all young visitors – a space for imagination, creativity, and the joy of making
Mini treasure hunt near Elizabeth Spa – a small reward awaits those who complete it
11:00 - 18:00 | Falconer and birds of prey
13:15 - 14:15 | Kateřina Bodláková & MD COMPANY
15:00 - 16:00 | JENNY.CZ
16:00 - 18:00 | Charles IV’s Medieval Encampment – demonstration of historical camp life and weaponry, with the opportunity to take photos with knights and ladies
16:00 - 18:00 | Feast of Charles IV – knights, jugglers, dancers, and actors perform for King Charles IV and his court
18:30 - 19:30 | Inflagranti and Roman Vojtek
20:15 - 21:30 | Martina Pártlová with the band

Market Colonnade
11:00 - 18:00 | Association of the Manor at the Žíželeves Fortress - parade in Biedermeier dresses and historical dance of the 19th century

Charles IV Park
15:00 | Start of the Charles IV Parade
Parade route: Sady Karla IV., Festivalový most, Mírové náměstí, Stará louka, Tržiště, Lázeňská, Mlýnské nábřeží, Dvořákovy sady, Hotel Thermal, Poštovní most, Smetanovy sady

Karlovy Vary Art Gallery
15:00 | Pavel Josef Kšica and his guests - spring concert of the winner of the Antonín Dvořák International Singing Competition (free entry)

Husovka Theater
18:00 | Macha's May (free entry)

Karlovy Vary Town Theater
18:00 | “Bestofka Šmeralová – Pleased to Meet You” – performed by students of the Šmeralova Primary and Art School, Karlovy Vary. A multidisciplinary performance featuring students from the music, dance, and literary-drama departments.
(admission 100 CZK, reduced 60 CZK)

SUNDAY 4. 5. 2025

T. G. Masaryk Avenue and Smetana's Park
10:00 - 18:00 | Craft Fair
10:30 - 17:00 | Free attractions for children – bouncy castle, face painting, live animals from the Karlovy Vary Leisure Centre Animal Centre, skill-based activity stations, and a “lucky dip” for everyone who completes all the challenges
Children’s creative workshops – a space for imagination, creativity, and hands-on fun
Mini treasure hunt near Elizabeth Spa – small reward upon completion
12:30 - 13:30 | Music Department of the Karlovy Vary Leisure Centre
14:00 - 15:00 | Nová Krev feat Julia Šlahařová
15:45 - 17:00 | Adam Mišík
17:45 - 18:45 | Sebastian

Mill Colonnade
14:00 | Collegium Vocale Jiří Štrunc

St. Linhart Area
15:00 | Sinatra Festival IX. (free entry)

PROGRAMME CHANGE RESERVED!

Karlovy Vary will enter the new spa season on the first weekend of May. From May 2nd to 4th, the entire city will experience one of the most important cultural and social events. A rich cultural program has been prepared for residents and visitors, which will not be missed by a number of important guests from all over the world.

The Saturday part of the program will be dedicated to the traditional rituals of the start of the season in Karlovy Vary, such as the consecration of the springs by the papal nuncio, a ceremonial mass and a procession through the city.

Program

2 May - 4 May | Craft Fair - Smetana Sady, daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
2 May - 4 May | Children's Workshops - Smetana Park, Friday from 15:00 to 17:00, weekend 10:30-17:00. 

EXHIBITIONS

9:00 - 12:00, 12:30 - 17:00 | Karlovy Vary Museum
Musical Instruments of the Karlovy Vary Region
The exhibition presents historical musical instruments from the unique collection of Jaromír Růžička. His collection includes almost all types of existing instruments—string, wind, and percussion—dating from the late 18th to the mid-20th century. Visitors can see commonly used instruments as well as curiosities and objects related to music. (admission 70 CZK, reduced 50 CZK).

9:00 - 12:00, 12:30 - 17:00 | Permanent exhibition of the museum
The permanent exhibition offers an overview of the history and natural features of the Karlovy Vary region, with a special focus on the specifics of the spa town. It presents both living and non-living nature with an emphasis on ecology, archaeological discoveries, the development of settlement in the region, the origins of towns and mining activities, valuable medieval and Baroque sculptures, and the history and development of the spa town from the 15th century to the present. It also highlights renowned Karlovy Vary physicians and visitors, local crafts, and the museum’s art and historical collections. (admission 110 CZK, reduced 70 CZK)

10:00 - 17:00 | Interactive Gallery Becher's Villa
Sources of Life / From the collections of the Sucher family
A nearly undiscovered group of six young artists (Denisa Dimitrovová, Lukáš Georgiev, Barbora Karpíšková, Radim Kučera, Adéla Leinweberová, and Roman Neruda) has created a site-specific imaginative presentation for the spaces of the Becher Villa, guiding visitors through the rich history of the now-forgotten Sucher family. Evocative photo portraits combined with painting and numerous symbolic artefacts represent a time span from the Baroque era to the present. In a chronologically structured and stylistically period-staged installation, the exhibition raises questions of ontology (origins, family DNA) and epistemology (search for knowledge), which have long been latent in philosophical discourse yet remain strikingly relevant today. (admission 80 CZK, reduced 40 CZK)

10:00 - 17:00 | Karlovy Vary Art Gallery
He’s Coming... Vratislav Nechleba (1885 - 1965), a Verist Caught in the Trap of Modernism
The story of painter Vratislav Nechleba, a sought-after portraitist during the First (Czechoslovak) Republic and a long-time professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, is today little known yet remarkable, full of life’s twists and turns. Although he distanced himself from progressive contemporaries striving for modern expression, his works were admired for their masterful technique, brilliant drawing, confident brushwork, and keen sense for characteristic detail. This revealing exhibition follows on from the previous extensive display held at the GASK Gallery in Kutná Hora. (admission 80 CZK, reduced 40 CZK)

10:00 - 17:00 | Karlovy Vary Art Gallery
Exhibition "Seven Decades of the Karlovy Vary Art Gallery (1953 - 2023)"
The new permanent exhibition prepared within the framework of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Karlovy Vary Art Gallery presents the rich collection of 20th century Czech art and presents works by classic Czech modern artists as well as contemporary artists - e.g. A. Slavíček, J. Preisler, J. Trampota, J. Zrzavý, J. Čapek, E. Filla, J. Šíma, M. Medek, V. Boštík, K. Nepraš, M. Rittstein, Z. Sýkora, K. Malich, F. Skála, J. Róna, etc. (admission 80 CZK, reduced 40 CZK)  

Imperial Spa | Visitors can become a part of history! During the tour, they have the opportunity to accessorise with elegant hats or wrap themselves in a stylish boa.

10:00 | Imperial Spa
Experience tour for children and parents
What exactly is a spa? And what does spa culture involve? We invite young visitors to a special interactive tour of the Imperial Spa, where we’ll try to find out — in a fun and sensory-rich way! Children and their parents will discover what peat looks and smells like, taste spa springs and wafers, enjoy a little musical surprise, and maybe even solve a mystery or stretch in an old-fashioned fitness room. At the end, we’ll take a peek into the Imperial Bathroom — where even a famous astronaut once bathed. (family ticket: 1 adult + 2 children = 350 CZK, suitable for children aged 6 to 12)

10:00 - 18:00 | Imperial Spa
Through the Imperial Spa | THREE WORLDS
This modern exhibition introduces visitors to the history of spa culture, notable spa guests, and the healing and mineral elements that have been used in the local spa tradition for centuries. (admission 250 CZK, children under 15 free, tours start at least every full hour)

10:00 - 18:00 | Imperial Spa
Imperial bathroom: a story of luxury
This tour tells the story of luxury designed for the most distinguished spa guests. For centuries, spa towns attracted statesmen, politicians, artists, and entrepreneurs, offering them top-tier service. During this 30-minute tour, visitors will learn about famous guests of Karlovy Vary and explore the bath facilities built for the most demanding clientele. The lavish furniture and valuable furnishings recall the era when European spas were symbols of opulence and grandeur. (admission 100 CZK, children under 15 free, tours every 30 minutes)

10:00 - 20:00 | Castle Tower
Exposition "Great Spa Towns of Europe"
The exhibition presents 11 famous spa towns from 7 European countries, which were jointly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2021.
(admission 50 CZK, reduced 25 CZK)