Join Us for Exciting Events for Young People on November 17, 2025
This year, the national holiday on 17 November is on a Monday, and it promises a joyful and grand celebration of 36 years since the Velvet Revolution. You can take part in various events to remember this significant moment in 1989, particularly on Národní třída in Prague. Here, a celebration of freedom is being organized by a group called Thanks for letting us. This group comprises high school and college students who, while they did not witness the events of November 1989, feel a strong connection to them. The theme for this year’s celebration is We have a lot to say to each other. The day will be filled with discussions, podcasts, live conversations, remembrance activities, children’s events, music performances, educational activities, and many other programs spread across multiple venues.
In the popular Václav Havel Living Room, organized by the Václav Havel Library at the piazza of the National Theatre, you’ll hear extracts from the works of Václav Havel and other authors. There will be a diverse program at the X10 Theatre, which will turn into a space filled with exhibitions and installations, along with further debates, live talks, and podcasts. You can experience what Václav Havel’s meetings with Lou Reed were like, learn about traveling during the past regime, and understand the emotional scars left on people.
The next event is Free November – November 17 at Vyšehrad 2025. This event, which marks its 10th occurrence this year, is meant to honor the significant events of 1939 and 1989 as it recognizes the Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy, as well as International Student Day. This year, the event takes place at Vyšehrad, near the Old Purkrabství. Starting at 10:00 a.m., you can explore various vendor stalls, and the program on stage starting at 12:00 p.m. will feature speeches from rectors, representatives from the Council of Universities, and students. The afternoon will include a debate focused on political science starting at 2:00 p.m.
November 17 wraps up Freedom Week, which runs from 11 to 17 November 2025 and will showcase numerous cultural and educational events related to freedom, democracy, and current social issues. More than 40 cultural and educational organizations will contribute to this comprehensive program.
Velvet Dawn or Concert for the Future
The events of 1989 will also be remembered through the Velvet Dawn, a satirical parade featuring masks inspired by the traditional Fasnacht festival in Basel, Switzerland, which takes place a week after Lent begins. The larger-than-life masks represent today’s cultural, political, and social challenges, and you are invited to join in individually or with friends. The parade starts on November 17 at 3:30 p.m. from Kampa and proceeds to Maltézské náměstí, Mostecká Street, crossing Charles Bridge to Old Town Square and heading towards Jungmann Square. The final destination will be Kampus Hybernská.
On November 17, Wenceslas Square will light up with A concert for the future. This event will feature a variety of music and speeches from renowned public figures, making it one of the highlights of the national holiday festivities. The concert, taking place in the lower part of the square, will start at 4 p.m. and will continue until 10 p.m.. The overarching theme for this year’s gathering, woven into the speaker presentations, is Safeguards of democracy. The lineup will include performances by Jasná Páka, Barbora Poláková, Dušan Vlk, Vypsaná Fixa, Aneta Langerová, Anna Veverková, FVCK_KVLT, Anki, Jaroslav Hutka, The Silver Spoons and Wyfe.
The speakers will comprise various notable figures, including a judge from the Constitutional Court, Jan Wintr, Director of People in Need, Šimon Pánek, political geographer and university professor Michael Romancov, journalist and host of the podcasts 5:59 and MDŽ Lenka Kabrhelová, actress and member of the active reserve Sarah Havacova, and Director of the Scout Institute Miloš Říha.
Brno 17th
Traditional celebrations for Brno 17. will take place again this year at various spots across the center of Brno, including Svobody Square, in Kobližná Street, the Palace of the Nobility, and the Jiri Mahen Library. This year’s theme is “Certainty.” Attendees can expect concerts, discussions, workshops, theatrical performances, and cultural activities for both kids and adults. A significant and symbolic part of the program will be the human chain, forming at 4:50 p.m. from Kobližná Street to the main stage on Liberty Square. There, at 5:11 p.m., you will hear Prayer for Martha.
The festival embraces three core principles: we honor, we engage, we celebrate. The theme Reminder will resonate in the talks happening at Svobody and Kobližné squares, discussions at the Palace of Nobility, the Jiří Mahen Library, the Theatre Faculty of the JAMU, and other venues focused on non-profit organizations. Highlighting the program will also be a staged Václav Havel Audience performed by students from Uherské Hradiště.
A strong Activating program features can be found in the “CREACTIVE” initiative for kids at the Palace of Nobility during the HUMANITY Festival workshop at the Jiří Mahen Library, at the HOST Magazine Literary Stage, and discussions led by the Slovak organization TEACH regarding the future of education, and various screenings like The Great Patriotic Road Trip.
Celebrating freedom will include buskers, speakers, and bands performing at Liberty Square and Kobližné. Notable performances will come from Renegatz, musical group Strings for Freedom and Ukraine, the artist Michaela Chill, band The Deaf Turn, musical duo Tereza Marečková and Jan Kolařík, and the band Horses and Pigs. The whole event will culminate at 5:11 p.m. when Liberty Square will resonate with Prayer for Martha, followed by the Czech and Slovak anthems. After 5 p.m., the official program of Brno17 will continue exclusively on Liberty Square.
