Summer festivals in Slovakia attract thousands of people even from abroad. (source: SME/Jozef Jakubčo)
TIP FOR THE SUMMER
Fancy a festival?
You may have heard of Pohoda and Grape, but they are not the only festivals in Slovakia. In fact, many smaller events – and even different types of festivals – take place across the country throughout the summer.
This guide highlights what to look forward to this summer season.
Pohoda is one of the most popular festivals in Slovakia. (source: TASR)
TRAVEL
A historic cloister
The Monastier Zostúpenia Svätého Ducha (Monastery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit) in eastern Slovakia is one of the oldest and most significant cloisters of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church. Founded in the 14th century and now located near the village of Krásny Brod in the Medzilaborce District, it is one of the cloisters that directly follow the Cyril and Methodius tradition. Having suffered repeated damage and fires, all that remains today are ruins nestled in nature – offering a place of rich atmosphere and reflection.
The ruins of the Monastery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit near the village of Krásny Brod. (source: TASR)
ART
The centre of animation
The Fest Anča International Animation Festival returns for its 18th edition, providing a space for students, professionals, animators, children and adults to connect and enjoy animated film together. Although the event – held in Žilina, northern Slovakia – began on 24 June, there is still much to enjoy before it concludes on 29 June, especially over the weekend. This year’s festival features screenings of 343 short and feature-length films, including several premieres alongside iconic titles such as Ghost in the Shell. The theme this year is Our Bodies, explored in depth through the work of Japanese animator Sawako Kabuki, among others. Find out more and purchase tickets here.
A new urban festival
Just a short distance from Bratislava's city centre, a new event called Danube Music Days will take place this Friday and Saturday right beside the Danube. Across two days, expect more than 20 live electronic music performances on two stages, including Booka Shade – performing in Bratislava for the first time – as well as DJ sets from Jazzanova and Kraak & Smaak, plus Autumnist featuring Nina Kohout, and many more. Tickets are available for individual days or as a two-day pass. More information here.
Inner Landscapes
A few days ago, the Považská Galéria Umenia in Žilina opened a new exhibition of works by Slovak painter Dušan Mravec, known for his large-scale still lifes featuring objects discovered in various antique shops. His paintings are generally highly realistic, often bordering on photorealism. The gallery is open daily, except Sundays. Find out more here.
Dušan Mravec's pantings. (source: TASR)
MISCELLANEOUS FUN
Welcome the summer
With the school year ending this week, what better way to celebrate than by joining a summer kick-off party? This Friday evening, the town of Trnava in western Slovakia will host a Latin America-inspired celebration, bringing seaside vibes to the heart of the country. Expect vibrant scents, delicious food and drinks, and plenty of dancing to the rhythms of rumba, salsa, and merengue.
On Two Wheels
The Slovak Technical Museum in Košice has unveiled a new exhibition showcasing a unique collection of more than 120 miniature bicycles from around the world – including pieces crafted by specialised manufacturers and hand-made models from Cuba. Ján Trulik from Žilina has been collecting them since the 1990s and has even been listed in the Slovak Book of Records. The exhibition, which traces the evolution of this popular mode of transport, runs until late October. More details here.
The collection of miniature bicycles features more than 150 models. (source: TASR)
Cultural summer(s)
Summer is upon us, and along with soaring temperatures comes a rich cultural offering prepared by towns and municipalities throughout Slovakia. Throughout July and August, enjoy concerts, open-air cinema nights, festivals, and much more. While it would be impossible to list them all, here's a short selection of towns to explore: Bratislava, Košice, Banská Bystrica, Žilina, Trnava, Martin, Poprad. Be sure to check your local municipality's website to see what's happening near you.
One last chance
This Sunday marks the final day of the 16th annual exhibition of tropical butterflies at the botanical garden of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. The exhibition showcases hundreds of live butterflies from tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia – including the Atlas moth, one of the largest species, with a wingspan of more than 24 centimetres. Find out more here.
Cheer for American football
This Saturday, the town of Nitra in western Slovakia will host another American football match, as the local club Nitra Knights faces the Czech side Ostrava Steelers. After winning 9 out of 10 matches in the regular season and finishing top of the table, this will be the first – and hopefully not the last – of their play-off matches. Although the Nitra Knights are favourites, having defeated the Steelers twice already this season, the outcome is still anyone's guess. Get your tickets here and come cheer on the home team.
Illustrative image. (source: TASR)
MORE AND UPCOMING EVENTS
June 21-30: Radničné Hry open-air theatre event in Trnava
June 27-28: The Hip Hop Žije festival in Bratislava
June 28: An antique market at the Červený Kameň castle
June 28-July 6: Lavender self-picking in Šurany
July 3-6: The Východná 2025 folklore festival in Východná
July 4-6: Celebrations on the occassion of Cyril and Methodius traditions in Nitra
July 5: The Vrbovské Vetry music and humour festival in Vrbové
July 5: Live chess in Banská Štiavnica
July 6: Bratislava Period Picnic
July 10-12: The Pohoda music festival in Trenčín
July 14-17: The Trnavský Jazzyk festival in Trnava
July 19-20: Crocodile hunting event in Banská Belá
July 26: An antique market at the Červený Kameň castle
BEFORE YOU GO :
WHAT TO DO FOR NOTHING: Get ready for summer open-air cinemas and enjoy a special open-air gala concert by the Slovak National Theatre.
WHAT TO EXPLORE IN BRATISLAVA: Take part in Bratislava Cultural Summer and explore the richness of Italian culture.
WHAT TO LEARN: Do you want to learn to sound sophisticated in Slovak? Here are some useful words.
WHAT TO READ: For Michael "Bryce" Bunner, a fourth-generation Slovak American, discovering his roots felt like working alongside his late grandmother who had written and thoroughly researched a 541-page long genealogy book on their family.
WHAT TO DISCOVER: Bratislava's Nová Tržnica reinvents itself with Yellow Thursdays. This means craft markets, community events, and culinary startups, which signal a vibrant future for the iconic building.
That's it for this week. Take care, and have a great long weekend.
