• Weather forecast
    07/31/2026

    Partly cloudy to cloudy, temporarily overcast. Isolated very strong thunderstorms possible. In the evening, precipitation and cloud cover will decrease from the west. Highest daytime temperatures of 28 °C to 33 °C.

  • Czech household debt to banks rises by CZK 26.5 billion to CZK 2.72 trillion in June
    07/31/2026

    Czech household debt to banks increased by CZK 26.5 billion month on month to CZK 2.72 trillion in June. The volume of loans to non-financial corporations rose by around CZK 38 billion to CZK 1.62 trillion, according to preliminary data published today by the Czech National Bank. Household debt to banks has been rising continuously since February 2016. The only exception was April 2022, when it declined month on month. According to the central bank, this was due to the withdrawal of the banking licence of the Czech branch of Russia's Sberbank. Housing loans accounted for the majority of household debt, representing 77% of the total in June.
    Author: Romana Grajcarová

  • Outgoing ambassador to Egypt Jukl to head Czech Centres, Macinka announces
    07/31/2026

    Outgoing Czech Ambassador to Egypt Ivan Jukl will become Director General of the Czech Centres from August, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists) announced at a press conference on the future of the organisation today. Jukl will replace Jitka Pánek Jurková, whom Macinka dismissed with effect from today. The minister also said the Foreign Ministry does not plan to close any Czech Centres and instead sees potential to expand the network, for example through cooperation with Czech expatriate associations.

    The Czech Centres are the Czech Republic's public diplomacy institute, established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their main mission is to promote the country's reputation abroad and strengthen cultural relations with other countries. The organisation currently operates 26 branches across four continents.
    Author: Romana Grajcarová

  • Hundreds of police officers and a helicopter to monitor Prague Pride march
    07/31/2026

    Police will step up security at all accompanying events of the Prague Pride festival, which begins in Prague on Monday. Several hundred police officers will be deployed for the Pride march, which will culminate the festival the following Saturday. They will secure the entire route from Wenceslas Square to Střelecký Island, while a police helicopter will monitor the area from the air. Traffic in the city centre will be restricted on the day of the march. According to police spokesperson Eva Kropáčová, the security measures were adopted in light of recent risk assessments, including the recent attack on a similar event in Berlin.
    Author: Romana Grajcarová

  • Seniors can end pension savings without penalty starting in August, says Finance Ministry
    07/31/2026

    Seniors will be able to terminate their supplementary pension savings plans without penalty starting in August and reclaim the government contributions that they previously had to repay to the state, the Czech Ministry of Finance announced. An amendment to the Supplementary Pension Savings Act takes effect on August 1, making this possible. The amendment had already been approved by Parliament and was signed by the President earlier this month.
    Author: Romana Grajcarová

  • Heatwave pushes temperatures above 40°C in Czechia, with more extreme heat forecast
    07/31/2026

    Czechia remains in the grip of an extreme heatwave after temperatures reached 40.1 degrees Celsius in Doksany on Thursday, breaking July 30 records at 114 long-term weather stations. Forecasters say similarly extreme temperatures are expected again on Friday, with highs of up to 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country.

    Meteorologists have warned of an extreme heat burden, urging people to avoid dehydration and overheating. The high temperatures could also cause further disruption to transport and energy infrastructure.

    The heat has already damaged a railway track between Unhošť and Kladno, halting rail services for several hours, and is hampering efforts to contain a large forest fire near Nové Vrbno in the Opava region, where around 150 firefighters and helicopters have been battling a blaze covering some 27 hectares.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Jirásek's Hronov amateur theatre festival gets underway
    07/31/2026

    The 96th edition of the Jirásek's Hronov amateur theatre festival begins on Friday in the east Bohemian town of Hronov, with organisers expecting tens of thousands of visitors.

    Running until August 8, the festival will feature nearly 150 theatre performances, 20 concerts and dozens of other cultural events. Around 80 amateur theatre companies from Czechia and Slovakia, along with three professional theatres, will take part.

    Founded in 1931, Jirásek's Hronov is regarded as the world's oldest continuously running amateur theatre festival, having survived World War II, the communist era and the Covid-19 pandemic. Amateur theatre in Czechia is also recognised on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. 
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Former president Klaus to speak at Milan Knížák’s state funeral
    07/30/2026

    Former Czech president Václav Klaus and Culture Minister Oto Klempíř will deliver speeches at the state funeral of artist, musician and educator Milan Knížák, who died on Sunday at the age of 86.

    The funeral will take place at Prague's Strašnice Crematorium on August 7. It will be held with state honours, including a three-volley ceremonial salute, following a government decision and with the consent of Knížák's family.

    The ceremony will be open to the public, although media will only be allowed into the hall before it begins, in line with the family's wishes.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Prague opens air-conditioned refuge from heatwave in city centre
    07/30/2026

    Prague has opened an air-conditioned refuge in Škoda Palace in the city centre, where residents and visitors can escape the heat as temperatures are expected to exceed 35 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday.

    The space, open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., offers free drinking water, seating and toilets. Additional cooling centres have also been opened by several Prague districts.

    The city is also encouraging people to use its online map of "cooling oases", which shows drinking fountains, misting stations, fountains and other places to cool down across the capital.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • President Pavel honours Czech rescue team for Venezuela mission
    07/30/2026

    President Petr Pavel has thanked the Czech USAR rescue team for its work following the devastating earthquake in Venezuela at the turn of June and July, praising its professionalism and dedication.

    Around 60 rescuers were honoured during a ceremony at Prague Castle's Deer Moat on Thursday. The firefighters also presented President Pavel with the First Class Hero of Venezuela humanitarian award, which Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, had bestowed on Czechia.

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