YARD, Min Taka or Toyota Vangelis: United Islands opens Prague festival season with fresh names from home and abroad
The Prague-based United Islands festival returns to the Czech capital with over 100 artists from 20 countries, blending new talent with established names. Alongside concerts, this year’s edition expands its non-music program with multiple debates and a film screening.
Over its 22 years, the Prague festival United Islands has established itself as a staple event showcasing new names from both the local and international music scene. For the second year in a row, the core of the festival will take place on Prague’s Štvanice Island, while several clubs across different parts of the city will also be involved. Michal “Gumi” Nguyen, one of the festival’s organizers, explains what’s in store for visitors this coming weekend.
“This year, more than 100 performers will appear at the festival. International acts will come from 20 countries, and a significant portion of the program will also be dedicated to the Czech and Slovak scene. From the Czech lineup, I definitely recommend the concert of Toyota Vangelis & Wierdsky, who will headline Friday’s program. We chose Toyota Vangelis not just as a solo performer but as an artist who creates a platform for others. Visitors can look forward to a large, composed show featuring many guests and dancers. His performance has, if not global, then at least continental scale.”
The multi-genre United Islands festival has long positioned itself as a place for visitors who want to discover new things rather than stick to what they already know. For many, especially local artists, it is often the first opportunity to perform on a large stage. The lineup organically mixes newcomers with more established names, as well as local and international scenes.
“I would recommend the very dynamic Irish band YARD and the British band DeadWax, which blends several genres – from heavier guitars to grime. And definitely the Turkish artist based in the Netherlands, Min Taka.”
In the music world, the German scene has long been one of the most vibrant in Europe, whether it’s Berlin as a hub of club culture or new discoveries across genres. United Islands brings this energy to Prague audiences as well.
“We have long-term cooperation with the Czech-German Future Fund, and together we connect Czech and German music scenes at the festival. This year’s standout German acts include Lawn Chair, Lifespark., Watch Me Rise, Future3, and Annette Pfab. I’d highlight Annette in particular, as she creates music both in Berlin and in the Czech Republic. With her Czech-German background, she shows how an artist can operate in both countries and bring the best of both scenes together.”
This year, United Islands will significantly strengthen its non-musical program. A new stage called Islands Forum will host discussions on topics shaping society, from artificial intelligence and the future of younger generations to resilience and the role of media in democracy.
“The non-music program has always been important to us, and this year it gets even more space. Guests will include journalists Zdislava Pokorná and Václav Moravec. We also want to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Czech Republic’s entry into the EU, which falls on Friday, May 1. On this occasion, we will screen the currently much-discussed film Mr. Nobody Against Putin, attended by its director and main protagonist. The Oscar statuette the film won will also be present at the festival.”
One of the main themes of this year’s edition is the intersection of technology and science. The program will feature stories of people who have turned ideas into reality. As young people are a key target audience, discussions will also focus on whether the Czech Republic offers a future for youth, how the role of media is changing in an age of rapidly produced information, and how today’s society copes with pressure, uncertainty, and change.
The United Islands festival begins with a club night on Wednesday, April 29, and runs until Saturday, May 2. The entry fee is voluntary.
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