Summer may have passed its midpoint, but that doesn't mean the fun is over. Popular summer festivals spanning a wide range of styles and philosophies are ready to welcome open-air and music lovers right through to the end of the month. You'll find the most interesting ones in today's roundup. In August, the Czech Republic transforms into one big festival stage — filled with the smell of good food, the sound of music, and the promise of summer relaxation under the open sky. Here are our tips for festival treats that shouldn't be missing from your August calendar.
Litovel Beer Festival (Litovelské Pivobraní)
The Litovel Beer and Music Festival 2026 is one of the biggest cultural events in the Haná region. It also serves as an open day for the Litovel Brewery, giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the brewer's craft through guided tours with commentary. It traditionally takes place on the second Saturday of August, running from morning through to the evening. Visitors can enjoy not only great Litovel beer and Haná regional delicacies, but also concerts by dozens of popular Czech and international bands. The festival combines a gastronomic experience with the pairing of Litovel beer and Haná specialties.
August Hrady.CZ
The Hrady CZ festival is one of the largest cultural and social events in the Czech Republic. Beyond well-known Czech and Slovak artists, it also focuses on promoting tourism and raising the profile of beautiful historic landmarks across the regions. It offers a unique atmosphere each year that sets it apart from other summer festivals — not only through its exceptional settings, but also through a rich range of additional services and refreshments. Saturday ticket prices also include entry to the permanent castle exhibitions. The headline acts of this year's 21st edition include Daniel Landa, Mirai, Rybičky 48, Mig 21, Harlej, and Trautenberk. The festival runs on 7–8 Aug at Veveří, 14–15 Aug at Hradec nad Moravicí, 21–22 Aug at Bouzov, and concludes 28–29 Aug at Bezděz.
Chodrockfest in Domažlice
From 14 to 16 August 2026, the rock festival Chodrockfest returns to the equestrian grounds of TJ Start in Domažlice for its twelfth successful edition. Nearly twenty Czech bands will perform across two alternating stages, giving visitors two packed days of live music. Confirmed acts include Harlej, Walda Gang, Alkehol, Krucipüsk, De Bill Heads, Komunál, Odyssea Rock, and vocalist Jakub Děkan. The full programme will wrap up with a spectacular afterparty featuring Hitradio FM Plus.
Music Marathon in Brno
Music across genres — classical, jazz, rock, pop, folk, electronic, and country — will fill clubs, theatres, concert halls, cafés, and open-air spaces. This year's Brno Music Marathon builds on the previous two editions but goes even further: the four-day festival, running from 6 to 9 August, will turn Brno into a music capital. Fans of virtually every genre will find something to love — jazz, rock, classical, pop, folk, country, and Moravian folklore. The festival's artist-in-residence for 2026 is the outstanding French guitarist of Vietnamese heritage Nguyên Lê, who will appear in three distinct musical projects. The festival also features busker performances inside designer room installations by artist Kateřina Šedá, placed throughout the city streets — giving audiences a chance to experience concerts from a bathroom, bedroom, children's room, or living room. This year's headline novelty, conceived as a tribute to the 25th anniversary of the Villa Tugendhat's UNESCO listing, will bring the minimalist elegance of the famous architecture right into the city centre.
Moravian Pathways (Moravské chodníčky) in Napajedla
The town of Napajedla sits at the geographical boundary of the Upper and Lower Moravian valleys, and at an ethnographic crossroads that doesn't merely divide — it connects. For twenty-one years, Napajedla has been the meeting point of three ethnographic regions — Slovácko, Wallachia, and Haná — under the fitting name Moravian Pathways (Moravské chodníčky). The festival takes place on 7 and 8 August and features performances by folk ensembles from Slovácko, Wallachia, and Haná. The programme will be followed by a traditional Cimbalom Social (Beseda u cimbálu). Originally held in the grounds of the château park in Napajedla, the festival is relocating closer to the town centre — to the area behind the former monastery building — due to changes in ownership and ensemble logistics. Members of the adult ensembles and the town's technical services will construct an amphitheatre with a covered stage. The event takes place outdoors in all weather.
Brutal Assault in Josefov
The heavy metal music festival has become a fixture at the military fortress of Josefov near Jaroměř, where dozens of world-renowned bands take the stage over four festival days. This year, Brutal Assault runs from 5 to 8 August. Come and soak up the incredible atmosphere, join the wild fans, visit the decadent art exhibitions, the horror cinema, and most of all experience a lineup of 150 bands from around the world. Among the biggest draws this year are crossover legends Body Count, gothic icons The Sisters of Mercy, and hardcore outfit The Ghost Inside. Fans of dark arts will also be treated to the ritualistic sounds of Wardruna, Cradle of Filth, and doom metal veterans Candlemass. Beyond the music, the festival boasts a record number of Meet & Greet signings, a horror cinema, and the post-apocalyptic Convoy zone in Bastion X.
TrutnOFF at the Battlefield (Bojiště)
The TrutnOFF music festival — which returned home two years ago to its mountain setting on the Bojiště grounds in Trutnov — will take place on its usual dates of 13 to 16 August 2026. The oldest rock festival in the Czech Republic, nicknamed the "Czech Woodstock," has deep roots in the pre-1989 underground. The first attempts to organise it in 1987 were broken up by the communist secret police. Its spirit of dissent and independence has endured to this day. The atmosphere is completed by traditional panel discussions, religious services, and a tent village with Native American teepees. This year's edition is symbolically dedicated to the would-be 90th birthday of its post-revolution patron and chief, Václav Havel.
Over sixty bands will perform at the festival. The colourful programme will be graced by some of the greatest legends of Czech pop and underground music, alongside young alternative discoveries and representatives of various other musical currents. The headline international act is the wild gypsy-punk outfit Gogol Bordello from the USA, while the domestic scene is represented by the historic premiere performance of the band Lucie, celebrating 40 years on stage. The underground roots will be recalled by Pražský výběr, Jasná Páka, Plastic People, and Visací zámek, joined by the hard metal rap of Redzed, electronic artist Ventolin, Zrní, French act Skarface, and the swing of Ondřej Havelka. The programme also includes a range of workshops for children and a poetry tent for young poets of the contemporary alternative and underground scene.
The Traditional Vizovice Plum Festival (Vizovické Trnkobraní)
The traditional summer plum festival Vizovické Trnkobraní will be held on Friday and Saturday, 21 and 23 August 2026, at the R. Jelinek distillery complex in Vizovice, near Zlín. The festival is a multi-genre cultural showcase featuring performances by the top names of the Czech and Slovak music scene across two stages, complemented by a theatre stage, a cinema café, and a children's corner. Visitors can look forward to a packed three-day programme, with Sunday's segment — including the traditional town parade — free for all attendees. Performing acts include rock legends Olympic, punk-rock band Tři sestry, Slovak pop-rock outfit No Name, and singer-songwriter Xindl X. They will be joined by rock staple Premier, pop-rock act Support Lesbiens, folk artist Vlasta Redl, Fleret with Zuzana Šuláková, and contemporary rap artist Renne Dang. The main stage lineup will also feature regional acts such as Docuku, Botox, Niemandi, Kosovci, and Nohow. The world-famous plum dumpling eating contest will return as a beloved tradition of Vizovické Trnkobraní.
International Film Music Festival Poděbrady
Once again, Poděbrady will host the International Film Music and Multimedia Festival SoundTrack Poděbrady from 27 to 30 August 2026 — one of the last major summer music festivals of the season. As part of the popular supporting programme in the Central Spa Park, visitors can enjoy concerts, exhibitions, children's activities, and much more. The Kinobus returns this year as well, bringing a musical programme by day and film screenings by night. Performers at this year's edition include Markéta Irglová, Klára Vytisková, Ohm Square, Ondřej Gregor Brzobohatý, Ondřej Brousek, the band Queenie, and others. The entire SoundTrack festival programme will take place under the open sky. The attractive supporting programme in the Central Spa Park will be free of charge for all visitors.
kudyznudy.cz / gnews.cz