Discover the Flavors of Czech Cuisine: A Complete Guide to Festivals and Culinary Delights

Experience Local Delicacies

Gastronomic festivals celebrating regional dishes always spotlight a specific local delicacy that characterizes the area. For instance, in Moravia, the town of Ivančice commemorates its long-standing asparagus cultivation through the annual Asparagus and Wine Festival (16–18 May). This event showcases mouth-watering asparagus dishes paired with delightful wines, featuring a cooking demonstration and a variety of cultural activities.

In southern Bohemia, the town of Borovany hosts the highly popular gastronomic and cultural event known as Borůvkobraní (12-13 July). Here, the aroma of delicious bilberry dishes fills the local monastery’s grounds, complemented by a craft fair showcasing traditional goods that are rare to find elsewhere.

Znojmo, another gem in southern Moravia, is famously recognized for its cucumber harvest. Each year, it hosts the Cucumber Festival (1 August), featuring farmers’ markets and engaging cooking demonstrations.

For those seeking something a bit stronger, the Trnkobraní festival (22-24 August) in Vizovice, another Moravian town renowned for its slivovice—which is a traditional plum brandy—will highlight plums in various forms, from dumplings to pies, and of course, the sought-after slivovice itself.

Lastly, for lovers of hearty meat dishes, the Goose Festival held in the Moravian town of Boskovice (27–28 September) celebrates the historic fame of its geese, which once graced the tables of Austrian emperors in Vienna. Local restaurants will offer a variety of goose dishes over the weekend, with the greenhouse of the local château transformed into an expansive dining experience.   

Suggestions for Food and Drink Festivals

After a year-long wait, the much-anticipated festival for all food lovers is back! This year, the Fresh Festival will occur in Plzeň (24–25 May), in Brno (31 May – 1 June), and in Pardubice (21–22 June). These events will feature culinary stars and the latest trends in gastronomy.

Additionally, the Gastronomic Festival of M. D. Rettigová (24–25 May), dedicated to the author of the first Czech cookbooks, occurs regularly in Litomyšl. Her traditional recipes remain staples in Czech households and eateries to this very day.

If you’re keen to discover a unique part of the Czech Republic, check out the Chodsko Festivities (8–10 August) held in Domažlice, located in western Bohemia.

Unmissable Beer Festivals

To truly experience everything Czechia has to offer, you must savor our celebrated beer—our golden treasure. Beer festivals present a fantastic opportunity to indulge. Traditionally, each sizable brewery hosts its own festival at least once per year. What can you expect? An abundance of beer, unique beer specialties, grilled meats, and cheeses, all set to lively musical performances and delightful surprises.

For example, don’t miss the Bernard Fest (19–21 June) in Humpolec within the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, or CLOCK/DAYS (25-26 July) in the eastern Bohemian village of Potštejn. Additionally, the Radegast Day (August) at the Radegast Brewery in Nošovice features not only beer and delicious food but also a diverse array of cultural activities and musical performances.

Then, the Dočesná festival in Žatec (5–6 September) combines the excitement of a beer festival with that of a music festival. This town, which has lent its name to the highest-quality hop variety, has prepared an exceptional musical lineup and offers tastings of over 100 beer varieties.

If you’re eager to sample various breweries in one spot, visit the Beer & Burger Festival (18 May) in Karlín, Prague, showcasing craft breweries from Bohemia and Moravia alongside mouth-watering burgers. Don’t miss the Minibrewery Festival (13-14 June) hosted at Prague Castle, which is a highlight of the Czech showcase for minibreweries. You can explore the offerings of top 66 Czech and Moravian minibreweries, as well as a few participants from abroad.

Explore Wine-Infused Destinations

The finest wines in the Czech Republic primarily come from Moravia. The vintage season, which traditionally coincides with autumn, marks the conclusion of grape harvesting before the onset of frost. Throughout September and part of October, southern Moravia transforms into a lively hub for wine enthusiasts!

The highly regarded Znojmo Vintage (12-14 September) fills the historic heart of Znojmo with festivities and local wines. The Pálava Vintage (12–14 September) in Mikulov not only showcases delicious local wines but also presents an engaging program brimming with folklore and historical performances. Visitors can partake in the esteemed National Wine Contest, held in the grand hall of Mikulov Castle, featuring over 500 varieties of white, rosé, and red wines sourced from the Mikulov Wine Subregion.

For those visiting Prague on the weekend of 13–14 September, the Troja Vintage at the St Clara vineyard in the Botanical Garden awaits. This event features local wine tasting along with a tour of a wine cellar, where you can sample wines and burčák, a fresh partially fermented grape must.

Meanwhile, in Český Krumlov in southern Bohemia, you can explore the Wine Festival (3 October – 22 November), showcasing both Czech and international wines as well as local culinary delicacies against the backdrop of this stunning town.

Lastly, we invite you to another distinctive event, the Festival Mezi sklepy (20–21 June) in Mutěnice, southern Moravia. This unique festival opens up access to over 40 wine cellars that are rarely available to the public, allowing guests to savor wines in the ideal environment directly among the barrels, where they reach perfection in taste and temperature.