Enjoy a Free Visit to the National Gallery!
In celebration of key anniversaries like the Day of Establishment of the Independent Czechoslovak State and the Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy, the National Gallery invites everyone for free visits on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, and Monday, November 17, 2025. You can explore the gallery from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at no cost. The exhibitions include Medieval Art in Bohemia and Central Europe 1200-1550, Old Masters, Old Masters II, 1796-1918: Art of the Long Century, 1918-1938: The First Republic, 1956-1989: Architecture for All, and 1939-2021: The End of the Black and White Age at the Trade Fair Palace.
The Monastery of St. Agnes of Bohemia features medieval art from Bohemia and Central Europe, spanning the years 1200 to 1550. Noteworthy exhibits include gems from the reign of the Luxembourgs, such as King John and Emperor Charles IV, featuring the Master of the Michel Madonna, Master of the Vyšebrod Altar, Master Theodoric, and Master of the Třeboň Altar, among others.
Schwarzenberg Palace presents an exhibition called Old Masters I., showcasing significant masterpieces from the Collection of Old Art. This features renowned artists such as Hans von Aachen, Petr Brandl, Matthias Bernard Braun, and others, ranging from the 16th to the 18th century. This collection offers a retrospective view of earlier Gothic art influences that shaped Renaissance and Baroque art.
Sternberg Palace welcomes you to the permanent exhibition Old Masters II., which continues from the first Old Masters I. exhibition at the Schwarzenberg Palace. This exhibition highlights the best pieces from the unique collections of the NGP and its partners, including a remarkable icon collection originally put together by the notable collector Nikodem P. Kondakov. It also presents an exceptional selection of Italian paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries, primarily gathered by Franz Ferdinand d’Este. Following this, the Renaissance and Baroque paintings are featured, with works from artists like Alessandro Allori and Jacopo Bassano.
The Trade Fair Palace showcases masterpieces of modern art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Its expositions titled 1796-1918: Art of the Long Century cleverly blend domestic and international art. Unlike earlier exhibitions at the National Gallery, this collection does not feature any loans. It aims to represent what’s significant in Czech art from the 19th century through a diverse array of artists, including Josef Mánes alongside Pablo Picasso, Josef Navrátil beside Bohumil Kubišta, and Antonio Canova next to Franz von Stuck.
The collection exhibition 1918-1938: First Republic celebrates the centennial of the Czechoslovak Republic and highlights the artistic production of the young state from 1918 to 1938. It features works by prominent Czech, Slovak, Czech-German, and artists from the Carpathians, such as Václav Špála, Josef Čapek, Jindřich Štyrský, Toyen, August Brömse, Maxim Kopf, and more. It also includes renowned pieces from famous French artists like Paul Gauguin, Henri Rousseau, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, which were acquired by the Czechoslovak state shortly after its founding.
The title 1939-2021: The End of the Black and White Era doesn’t refer to the years from 1939 to 2021, but serves as a concept, summarizing a method that avoids a predetermined ideological assessment of this often painful historical period. This new permanent exhibition, which opened in May 2023 at the Trade Fair Palace, presents art that reflects the era chronologically. It allows viewers to see how the idea of artistic quality has evolved swiftly, even among individual artists. Featured artists include Josef Šíma, Toyen, Jan Zrzavý, Pavel Brázda, Ladislav Sutnar, Hugo Demartini, Zdeněk Sýkora, Eva Kmentová, František Skála, and Kateřina Šedá. Approximately three hundred exhibits portray the conclusion of the black and white era.
Another exhibition titled 1956-1989: Architecture for All centers on architecture and lifestyle in Czechoslovakia. This exhibition aims to break down the simplified East-West perspective that has lingered since the end of the Iron Curtain thirty years ago. It is organized into six main sections, which cover topics such as EXPO, housing initiatives, technology and communication, work and consumption, culture and recreation, and importantly, critiques of architecture. The exhibition showcases significant works from the NGP Architecture Collection and features artists like Václav Aulický, Věra and Vladimír Machonin, František Cubr, Karel Prager, Alena Šrámková, along with contributions from creative groups like Sial Liberec and others, supplemented by visuals and films from the National Film Archive and contemporary publications.
Architecture Day Festival 2025
During the Architecture Day festival, the National Gallery in Prague invites everyone on the weekend of October 4-5, 2025 to enjoy free access to the permanent exhibition Architecture for All. You can also expect guided tours, themed lectures, and activities designed for both children and adults. One of the highlights includes guided tours led by Markéta Čejková on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at two different times—3:00 PM and 4:30 PM. The Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia will also host a tour focused on the Convent of St. Agnes and the Order of Poor Clares in Bohemia on October 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM. There will be a creative workshop for children ages six and up on Saturday, October 4, 2025, called In the Footsteps of Saint Agnes. Additionally, there’s a workshop titled Architect Tour of Schwarzenberg Palace for the same age group. On Sunday, October 5, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, all generations can enjoy a fun workshop using Lego bricks named The Plot, the Building, the Wall.
