Welcome to your Friday edition of Today in Slovakia, after yet another hot day across the country. The weather is on the turn – the heat will not last, with temperatures slowly dropping and rain expected by Monday.
The same, however, cannot be said for the situation in Slovakia – as you will see in the lines that follow.
With the country baking, Slovakia has declared a heightened fire risk in all districts except Gelnica and Spišská Nová Ves, banning open flames, smoking and the burning of vegetation in forests and high-risk areas. The public is expected to follow fire safety rules until further notice, the Fire and Rescue Corps announced.
No candles, no exceptions: In Trnava, even cemeteries are affected. From 2 July, lighting candles or using open flames is off-limits in all five city graveyards.
Blazing evidence: Fires have flared up across the country. A vast field in Svodín, Nové Zámky district, went up in flames, and in the northeast, forest firefighters were back near Palota, close to the Polish border, after a blaze reignited on Friday morning.
In Svodín, Nové Zámky district, a large agricultural field went up in flames amid the ongoing drought. (source: Facebook - Szabolcs Méri)
Mist and mercy in Zvolen: The central Slovak city is doing what it can. Zvolen has installed mist gates on its main square to help the public cool off. Street sprinklers are deployed when temperatures cross the 30°C mark, and drinking fountains are on standby at SNP Square. Even the city’s dog shelter has adjusted its hours and added shade cloths, splash pools and strict hydration regimens to keep four-legged residents cool.
Meanwhile in Levice: Local anglers came up with a low-tech but surprisingly effective hack to beat the heat-induced fish die-offs. Their solution? Straw bales and good bacteria to keep oxygen levels stable. For now, it is working – even under a blazing sun.
Not just a natural disaster: The economy is sweating too. Europe’s latest heatwave could shave up to half a percentage point off GDP growth this year, Allianz Research warns.
Farmers raise the alarm: The Slovak Agricultural and Food Chamber says extreme drought, storms and field fires are battering harvests across the country. With potatoes and onions stalling in overheated soil and violent downpours destroying crops just days before harvest, the 2025 season is already drawing comparisons to the disastrous year of 2022.
Running dry: Western Slovakia’s water company is urging residents to limit tap water use strictly to drinking and hygiene. Forget your lawn, your car, and your inflatable pool – reservoirs are running low.
Leading the rationing charge: Tornaľa, southern Slovakia, has become the first town to make it official. From June through August, locals are banned from using tap water for anything beyond basic household needs. The move follows a warning from the regional utility as drought conditions deepen.
Heatwave or not, the Slovak government is ready to party. Why? Tomorrow, 5 July, is a public holiday marking the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius – two ninth-century Byzantine missionaries and Slovakia’s most cherished foreigners (at least in the eyes of PM Robert Fico and his conservative gang).
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Fico’s overpriced “mediaeval fair” at Devín – everyone is invited
Devín Castle in Bratislava ahead of the 5 July Cyril and Method celebrations (source: SME - Matúš Burčík)
It is all kicking off at 11:00 on Saturday at Devín Castle in Bratislava, where the Defence Ministry – still unclear why them and not Culture – is staging a lavish, state-sponsored celebration of Slovakia’s two favourite saints. Operatic heavyweight Jozef Benci headlines the gala, flanked by baritone Roman Krško and a 43-strong choir, according to SME. So far, so national pride.
But here’s the rub: the government is dropping a cool €750,000 on the bash – more than double last year’s bill.
The number game: €4,200 for Benci, €3,000 for Krško, €13,500 for the choir, €7,995 for a roasted bull, €44,280 for PR, €91,364 for tech, €171,990 for the main stage, and €69,618 to rent Devín Castle...
Behind the scenes: The mastermind? Karin Silberhorn, director of Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák’s office and a known backstage operator in Smer’s campaign machine. She is signed off on most of the contracts and also ran the May VE Day spectacle in Piešťany. Oh, and as SME reports, in June 2024 she scored a state-owned five-room flat with a garage and terrace for just €196/month – while ordinary Bratislavans pay three to four times that for much smaller flats.
Throwback to 2024: Last year’s event was a tightly controlled affair. Only ministers, MPs and ambassadors were allowed through the gates. The public and media watched from a hill – or on TV. For PM Robert Fico, it was his first public appearance since the Handlová assassination attempt. On that hilltop, he vowed to change the constitution and build a “stronger dam” against what he called “nonsensical progressive and liberal ideologies”. One year on, that ambition is still stalled – for now.
Critics pile on: SaS MP Martina Bajo Holečková is not amused. She has slammed the week-long castle closure during peak tourist season and pointed to the spiralling costs: “Last year, renting Devín Castle cost €15,000. Now it’s €70,000.” Doing this kind of celebration for that kind of money in a time of consolidation is a slap in the face to people, she added.
Fico’s festival fantasy: For all the national symbolism, Devín Castle may not be the most historically accurate choice of venue. The daily SME runs an eye-opening interview with historian Miroslav Lysý, who points out that the site has no real link to Saints Cyril and Methodius – nor does 5 July, for that matter. According to Lysý, it is unclear when exactly the missionaries arrived in what is now Slovakia. Their script did not take root here, and their role was less about spreading religion and more about training priests. What Slovaks can thank the saints for, he argues, is helping the region begin to integrate into the Western world – by learning to play by its rules.
Mindef’s defence: Kaliňák insists it is money well spent: “Everything is free – the entrance, the transport, the spectacle.” But transparency? Not quite. The ministry has not released a full breakdown. According to Pravda, event agencies say the whole show could be pulled off for a third of the price.
What to expect if you go: Historical re-enactments, puppet shows, falconry, swordplay, mediaeval crafts, and a dollop of ethnography from Katarína Nádaská (€1,450 for two lectures). The grand finale? A live televised gala with big voices, a big stage, and presumably, big speeches.
How to get there: Free shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes from two directions: from Nové SND via Riviéra to Cyril a Metod, and from Bory Mall via Devínska Kobyla to Devín – from 10:00 until 23:00.
The celebrations keep coming: If you thought the Cyril and Methodius bash was the only party in town – think again. The government has just approved another round of state-funded festivities: this time for the 81st anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP). The price tag? €636,165. The event will take place on 29 August in Banská Bystrica, central Slovakia.
These parties are the latest in a string of high-profile commemorative events organised by Fico 4.0, including: 80th anniversary of the SNP (2024) for €2.7 million, 80th anniversary of WWII’s end in Europe (Piešťany, 2025) for €705,000 and 1161st Cyril and Methodius + sovereignty (Devín & Stará Bystrica, 2024): €456,000.
And then there is one party – or rather, a hip hop festival – that is already a disaster, and it has not even begun.
LABOUR WATCH – WHAT WORKERS WANT IN 2025: Flexibility, purpose, and digital skills top the list, according to ManpowerGroup’s new report on global work trends. Slovakia’s labour market is shifting fast – and employers will need to keep up.
Will Rubicon Festival happen or not?
Rubicon Festival (source: Facebook)
Slovak rapper Momo went on Instagram on Friday to drop the bombshell: the Rubicon Festival – yes, the one that promised actual Kanye West (Ye) – is off. According to Momo, organisers phoned him with the cancellation news that very day.
The problem? The organisers themselves still have not confirmed a thing – not to the press, not even to the fans who bought tickets and started brushing up on Ye lyrics. Rubicon had promised an official statement on Thursday (3 July), missed the deadline, and kicked the can down the road to Monday (7 July).
Signs of trouble: First, tickets were quietly discounted. Then, they were given away for free. Then, the sale was suspended altogether. Slovak rappers Gleb and Samey pulled out. On Thursday, Closer reported that organiser Róbert Mikloš had walked away from the project entirely. Even the field – still full of blooming wheat – is not ready, and the festival is supposed to kick off on 18 July.
Silence from the top: Czech booking agency Pop Out Entertainment – tasked with handling artist contracts – told Closer it is in the dark too. “We have many questions and very few answers,” said rep Samba Samoura, adding they had heard everything from a Prague venue switch to a mysterious new investor and a seasonal postponement.
Survey: SME daily asked the mayors of Bratislava’s boroughs what they think of Kanye West performing in the city. Of 17 boroughs, eight responded – seven condemned West’s anti-Semitic comments; Petržalka said no comment. Bratislava mayor and musician Matúš Vallo is not happy about the gig.
The verdict: Fans have been left with vanishing artists, a silent Kanye, and a festival whose vibe has turned from hype to hostile uncertainty. Monday is the new D-Day. In the meantime, the internet has gone wild with memes: here’s Dua Lipa knowing where the festival’s taking place (na poli = in the field), here’s the new headliner, and yes – there’s one in Kseniia Husieva’s roundup of good news from Slovakia.
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WHISPERED PAST: A childhood suspicion turns into a journey across generations and borders, as one woman uncovers her grandmother’s hidden Slovak story.
GOLDEN LINK: A 14th-century gold ring found in Slovakia may have belonged to a nobleman with connections reaching as far as Sri Lanka.
FEATURE
Giving traditional pottery a modern look
Jakub and Nikol Liška are working to bring traditional ceramics down from the shelf and back to the table. (source: Modranska)
Jakub Liška is breathing new life into Modra’s ceramic tradition with clean lines and minimalist design. His brand Modranska blends heritage and function – pottery you can actually use, not just admire on a shelf.
IN OTHER NEWS
Most shops in Slovakia will be closed on Saturday due to the Cyril and Methodius holiday. Exceptions include petrol stations, pharmacies, hospitals, souvenir shops and stations.
Slovakia on Friday again blocked the adoption of the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia during a meeting of member state ambassadors (Coreper), the Foreign Ministry confirmed to TASR. Germany had reportedly expected swift approval after claiming Slovak objections were resolved, but PM Robert Fico continues to demand compensation for halting Russian gas supplies.
Slovakia and the US have finalised a draft agreement this week for the construction of a new nuclear power plant, according to Economy Minister Denisa Saková. The project, likely to be developed with American firm Westinghouse, would be based in Jaslovské Bohunice and could cost up to €10 billion, with the state set to operate it.
Game developer Pixel Federation will test a four-day workweek starting in August, aiming to maintain full pay and productivity in less time. The company hopes the move will boost employee well-being, contrasting with Slovakia’s broader trend of longer working hours. While other Slovak firms have tried and dropped similar models, Pixel says it is serious about making the shift permanent. (Index)
The government is creating a new post: Plenipotentiary for Artificial Intelligence. Prime Minister Robert Fico has nominated Radoslav Štefánek, current state secretary at the Ministry of Investments, for the role.
Michal Dendeš will take over as head of Kaufland Slovakia in August, replacing Sven Reinhard, who has led the company since autumn 2023. Kaufland operates 85 stores across Slovakia and employs 8,200 people.
The Grand Prize of Slovak Press Photo 2025 went to a photo titled Leo XIV, part of the series From One Day to the Next – At the Centre, by photographer Tomáš Baršváry. (source: Tomáš Baršváry)
A new preliminary report shows that life satisfaction among Slovak youth is falling, with girls faring worse than boys and signs of anxiety, depression and sleep deprivation on the rise. The findings, released by the Education Ministry and its research institute, mark the first milestone in a national project to collect long-term, representative data on children’s mental health.
Daniel Bombic has been indicted for extremist crimes, with the Specialised Criminal Court now set to decide whether to accept the case or return it for further investigation. The indictment, filed by a prosecutor from the General Prosecutor’s Office, outlines 26 incidents across 12 charges. Bombic, currently in custody by order of the Supreme Court, is known for building a far-right following online and is seen as a political protégé of the ruling Smer party.
WEEKEND WEATHER BRIEFING:
Saturday: Sunny and dry across the country, with highs of 27°C–32°C, a touch cooler (around 25°C) in Orava and under the Tatras.
Sunday: Partly to mostly cloudy, with rain or showers popping up in western Slovakia later in the day. Isolated afternoon storms possible. Highs of 28°C–33°C, slightly cooler again in the north.
Monday: Cloudy and wet to start the week – expect rain or showers in many areas, and isolated storms. Cooler in the west and north (19°C–26°C), but still hot in the east, with Zemplín, Šariš, Abov and Gemer hitting up to 33°C. (SHMÚ)
Children and adults enjoy a hot summer day in the Družba fountain on Freedom Square in Bratislava on 3 July 2025. (source: TASR - Miroslav Košírer)
WHAT’S ON: Kseniia Husieva rounds up three free events in Bratislava – including a cool outdoor yoga session for those who like their sun salutations with actual sun. Meanwhile, Matúš Beňo has your weekend covered beyond the capital, from open-air cinemas to day trips worth the drive.
CALENDAR WATCH: As mentioned, Cyrils and Metods get their moment on Saturday. Sunday is all about Patriks and Patrícias. And Monday? That belongs to the Olivers.
Also worth marking:
— 5 July is Deň zahraničných Slovákov – a nod to Slovaks abroad.
— 6 July brings the International Day of Kissing.
— 7 July is Chocolate Day – because Mondays need help.
That is all from me this Friday – I will be back at the keys on Monday with more from Slovakia.
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