The traditional opening of the 2026 spa season will once again take place on the first weekend in May.

Over the course of three days, the city celebrates its natural healing springs and pays tribute to Charles IV for founding the city.
Every year, Karlovy Vary welcomes the new spa season. A rich cultural program awaits residents and visitors alike, and it is an event not to be missed by a host of distinguished guests from around the world.

Saturday’s program will be dedicated to the traditional rituals marking the start of the season in Karlovy Vary, such as the blessing of the springs by the papal nuncio, a solemn mass, and a parade through the city.

Program for the Opening of the Karlovy Vary Spa Season 2026

Craft Fair – Smetanovy sady, daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Children’s Workshops – Smetana Park, Friday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, weekend from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Friday, May 1, 2026

T. G. Masaryk Street and Smetanovy sady
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Barrel organ player
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Angelic Voices led by Mgr. Štěpánka Steinová
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Vanua2
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Monkey Business
Area in front of the Thermal Hotel
2:00 PM – 10:00 PM Thermal Beer & Grill Fest
Mill Colonnade
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Cantate Carlsbad 2026
International Choir Festival; the program will feature 2 choirs from the Czech Republic, 1 choir from Switzerland, and 3 choirs from Germany.
Dvořák Park
5:00 PM Máchův Máj (free)
Imperial Spa
6:30 PM Gala Evening with the Presentation of City Awards and Honorary Citizenship
(this event is for a private group)

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Area in front of the Thermal Hotel
9:55 a.m. Festive parade to the Mill Colonnade (majorettes, brass band, period costumes)
11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Thermal Beer & Grill Fest

Thermal Hotel Embankment
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM 13th Annual Mattoni Grand Drink World Championship in Non-Alcoholic Drink Mixing

Mill Colonnade
10:15 AM Opening of the ceremonial blessing of the springs (speech by the mayor, fanfare)
11:00 AM Kynšperk nad Ohří Town Band
12:30 PM Riccio Quartetto
2:00 PM KARLOVARKA Brass Band
3:30 PM Arrival of the Charles IV procession
4:00 PM Luhačovice Girls’ Saxophone Orchestra

Church of St. Mary Magdalene
11:00 AM Festive Mass

Sadová Colonnade
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Dyleň Song and Dance Ensemble

Market Colonnade
11:00 – 18:00 Žíželeves Manor Association – strolling in Biedermeier attire and 19th-century historical dance

T. G. Masaryk Avenue and Smetana Park
10:00 – 14:00 Barrel organ player
11:00 – 18:00 Falconer and birds of prey
12:45 – 13:00 Performance by the Milites flag and drum corps
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM KVeen: Queen live experience
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Kalandr and Revival Band
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Charles IV’s historical encampment
Demonstration of the historical encampment and weapons, opportunity to take photos with knights and ladies.
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Charles IV’s Banquet
Knights, jugglers, dancers, and actors perform for King Charles IV and his court.
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM P.S. Iveta (Šárka Vaňková & Fredy Bittner Band) – Iveta Bartošová’s greatest hits
8:00 PM – 9:15 PM Ray Wilson & Band: Genesis Classic

Elizabeth’s Spa
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Open House
Come take a look at the history, present, and future of the spa industry in Karlovy Vary. Throughout the day, you can visit an area dedicated to the spa’s history, tour the spa facilities, and try out selected treatments.

Charles IV Park
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Imperial Picnic
3:00 p.m. Start of the Charles IV Parade
Parade route: Charles IV Park, Festival Bridge, Peace Square, Stará Louka, Market Square, Lázeňská Street, Mlýnské Embankment, Dvořák Park, Hotel Thermal, Post Office Bridge, Smetana Park.

Husovka Theater
6:00 PM Mácha’s May (free)

Karlovy Vary City Theater
6:00 PM A Deep Wrinkle
Theater artist Jiří Suchý will soon celebrate his 95th birthday, and the Karlovy Vary Elementary and Arts School has decided to join the audience in commemorating the tremendous body of work he created together with Jiří Šlitr and Ferdinand Havlík. This new four-part program aims to pay tribute to the Semafor Theater, whose history continues to resonate across generations to this day. (Admission: 150 CZK, 120 CZK, 100 CZK)

Sunday, May 3, 2026

T. G. Masaryk Street and Smetana Park
10:30 AM – 5:00 PM free attractions for children
Bouncy castle, face painting, live animals from the DDM Karlovy Vary Animal Center, skill stations, and a “lucky prize” for everyone who completes all the skill stations.
12:30 – 1:30 PM Clown Legrácka
2:00 – 3:00 PM Fontána Dance Studio
3:45 – 5:20 PM Thom Artway
5:50 PM – 6:30 PM Monika Bagárová

Mill Colonnade
2:00 PM Jiří Štrunc’s Collegium Vocale

St. Linhart Complex
3:00 PM 10th Sinatra Festival (free)