Czech actor Daniel Krejčík, who traded a career in his family's funeral business for life on the stage, says the two professions are not as far apart as one might think. In an interview, Krejčík reflects that both actors and undertakers work with human emotions — one providing a final farewell, the other offering audiences a two-hour illusion that life still makes some kind of sense.
The organizer of Slovakia's Pohoda music festival has accused the country's Defense Ministry of attempting to impose restrictions on what can be said or performed at the event, raising concerns about freedom of expression at one of Central Europe's most prominent cultural gatherings. Michal Kaščák, the founder and director of Pohoda, says the festival received a new contract proposal from Letecké opravovne Trenčín — the state-owned aircraft maintenance company that owns the airfield in Trenčín where the festival is held — which contains clauses limiting the content permitted at the event. Because the Defense Ministry holds a stake in Letecké opravovne Trenčín, Kaščák has framed the move as government interference in artistic and editorial freedom. He stated he would never submit to restrictions on free expression. Pohoda, held annually at Trenčín Airport in western Slovakia, is one of the largest and most internationally recognized music and arts festivals in the region, attracting tens of thousands of attendees and major international headliners. The festival's future at its longtime venue is now uncertain, as the contract dispute leaves open whether Pohoda will be able to return to Trenčín next year. Kaščák indicated the festival has contingency plans. The event is also grappling with the death of one of this year's headline performers and ticket price increases.
Slovak news outlet Denník N published a new installment of its comic strip 'Shooty,' titled 'Matrika.' No substantive content was available for translation or reporting.
Víno Matyšák, a winery based in Pezinok — a town in the Small Carpathian wine region just northeast of Bratislava — has been named Winery of the Year 2026, earning 301 points in the competition. The Small Carpathian region is Slovakia's most prominent wine-producing area, and the annual Winery of the Year title is among the most prestigious recognitions in the Slovak wine industry.
The Slovak Film Institute will present a selection of classic films at Art Film Fest, including a revival screening of a detective film by renowned Slovak director Dušan Hanák, known as Solana's detective story, alongside films featuring famous music legends of the 1980s. Art Film Fest is Slovakia's prominent international film festival, traditionally held in the spa town of Trenčianske Teplice, dedicated to art-house and auteur cinema. The Slovak Film Institute, the country's national film archive and cultural institution responsible for preserving and promoting Slovak cinematographic heritage, is using the festival as a platform to reintroduce classic works to new audiences.
Rail enthusiasts and tourists in western Slovakia can explore the Nitra region in an unusual way this season, as the historic railway line between Nitra and Radošina hosts a series of themed excursion rides. The special journeys combine train travel with theatre performances, cycling, and wine tasting, offering passengers a cultural and recreational experience along the rural route. The Nitra region, located in southwestern Slovakia, is known for its agricultural landscapes and winemaking traditions, making the combination of rail travel and local culture a natural fit for leisure tourism.
A commentary published in Slovak outlet Denník N reflects on the anxieties of modern life, warning that society risks becoming overwhelmed by the breakdown of established certainties. The piece calls for the exploration of new spiritual paths as a response to widespread unease, drawing on imagery ranging from the wonder of a dewdrop to broader social engagement.
Sabina Lipková, the winner of the Slovak reality television show 'Ruža pre nevestu' (The Bachelorette), says she is ready to prioritize love over her career. Speaking as a guest on the online talk show Closer Talks, Lipková said she is prepared to relocate to Dubai, suggesting her romantic relationship following the show has had a significant impact on her personal priorities.
The town of Modra, located in the Small Carpathian wine region west of Bratislava, will host a themed outdoor picnic on Saturday, June 27, 2026, transporting visitors back to the elegant "belle époque" era. The event will feature local Modra wines, period-accurate costumes, vintage bicycles, and silent film screenings, recreating the atmosphere of Harmónia — a once-celebrated resort destination that flourished during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The picnic aims to blend regional cultural heritage with a festive, nostalgic experience for families and history enthusiasts alike.
Slovak satirical cartoonist Mikuláš Sliacky published his latest political cartoon in the Slovak daily SME, titled 'Like Father, Like Son' — a phrase commonly used to draw comparisons between a parent's and child's character or behavior. The cartoon's subject appears to reference a political or public figure, consistent with Sliacky's regular commentary on Slovak affairs.
The SOWA awards ceremony, a Slovak entertainment gala, is facing growing public criticism over its partnership with a gambling company. A prominent television presenter has joined an influencer in publicly condemning the association, adding to a chorus of well-known Slovak public figures who say the sponsorship is inappropriate. The controversy centers on the ethics of linking a high-profile entertainment event, which draws wide public attention, with the gambling industry — a sector that critics argue can cause social harm. The backlash reflects broader public sensitivity in Slovakia around gambling advertising and its perceived normalization through celebrity-endorsed platforms.
František Kornaj has officially stepped down as acting director of the Fund for the Support of Arts (FPU), Slovakia's main public body responsible for funding cultural and artistic projects. Kornaj, who held the position for one year in an acting capacity, departed amid sharp criticism from the arts community. The initiative FPU Slobodne — a civic group advocating for the fund's independence — stated that Kornaj leaves behind what it described as "complete devastation," citing severe personnel instability and significant backlogs in the fund's operations. The FPU plays a central role in distributing state support to artists, cultural organizations, and creative projects across Slovakia, making its effective functioning a matter of broad concern for the country's cultural sector. Kornaj's departure raises questions about the fund's leadership stability and its ability to process grant applications in a timely manner, with the search for a permanent director expected to follow.
František Kornaj has stepped down as acting director of the Slovak Arts Support Fund (FPU, Fond na podporu umenia), ending a one-year tenure that critics say left the cultural institution in disarray. The FPU is a state body responsible for distributing public grants to artists, cultural organizations, and creative projects across Slovakia. Kornaj served in an acting capacity rather than as a fully appointed director, a status that itself reflected ongoing instability at the institution's leadership level. The advocacy initiative FPU Slobodne, which monitors the fund's operations, issued a statement accusing Kornaj of leaving the organization in a state of severe personnel breakdown and significant administrative delays, describing the situation as "complete devastation." The group's criticism points to unresolved staffing problems and a backlog in grant processing that threatens to disrupt funding for Slovakia's arts sector. The departure raises fresh concerns about the management of one of the country's key cultural funding bodies, and it remains unclear when a permanent director will be appointed or how quickly the institution can address the operational problems left behind.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took an interest in a photography exhibition by Slovak photographer František Kulisev. Kulisev, who holds the distinctions of Master QEP and Fellow of the British Institute of Professional Photography (FBIPP), is regarded as one of the world's leading nature and landscape photographers.
The Pohronské Museum is currently displaying graduation works by students from a local arts school (ZUŠ — základná umelecká škola, a Slovak institution providing supplementary arts education to children and young people). The exhibition, showcasing the final projects of graduating students, is being held at the museum for the third consecutive time, reflecting an ongoing partnership between the educational institution and the regional cultural venue.
The 32nd edition of the IFF Art Film festival will feature an international short film competition in Košice, Slovakia's second-largest city, running from June 19 to 25, 2026. The competition spans six screening blocks and includes fiction, documentary, animated, and experimental films from around the world. Among the works competing for the Blue Angel award for best short film are films exploring themes such as a dictator watching a fellow autocrat's downfall on live television, online grooming seen through a child's perspective, resistance to artificial intelligence set in India, and paintball with a nude artist as a form of contemporary art therapy. The Blue Angel is the festival's top prize in the short film category.
Latin pop superstar Enrique Iglesias is set to return to Bratislava, bringing his global tour to the Slovak capital. Over a career spanning three decades, Iglesias has sold millions of albums and sold out stadiums around the world, establishing himself as one of the biggest names in Latino pop music. The Spanish-born singer, who began writing hit songs as a teenager, has spoken in recent interviews about the importance of family and what continues to drive his passion for music after so many years in the industry.
Slovak satirical cartoonist Shooty has published a new illustrated strip titled 'Transport Fantasies,' featured in the independent Slovak daily Denník N. The cartoon appears to comment on transport-related themes, a recurring subject in Slovak public debate given the country's ongoing challenges with road infrastructure, public transit, and urban mobility planning.
While Slovakia's broader cultural sector has been fighting for survival for more than two years amid funding pressures, the western Slovak city of Trenčín is experiencing a wave of internationally renowned artwork thanks to its designation as a European Capital of Culture. Artist and curator Jaro Varga has been placing works by world-class artists in unconventional public spaces across the city — including a bus station, a hospital, a retirement home, and even the tables of the local municipal office — deliberately situating art where people least expect to encounter it. Trenčín holds the title of European Capital of Culture (ECOC) for 2026, a prestigious designation awarded by the European Union that provides cities with funding and a platform to stage major cultural programming. The initiative is intended to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures. Varga, who serves as curator for part of the program, says the project has provoked critical reactions from members of the public and faced outright refusals from some state institutions, underscoring his view that art retains its power to challenge and unsettle. The contrast between Trenčín's cultural moment and the wider state of Slovak culture is stark. The country's cultural institutions and independent arts organizations have spent over two years navigating a difficult environment, struggling with reduced state support under the current government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, which critics say has deprioritized arts funding. Against that backdrop, Trenčín's European Capital of Culture status has provided a rare opportunity for ambitious, internationally connected cultural programming to reach Slovak audiences.
The Modra manor house, a cultural venue in the Bratislava Region of western Slovakia, is hosting a series of events during the third week of June, including an art exhibition titled 'Under the Skin,' which runs from June 5 to July 4, 2026, with free voluntary admission. The exhibition is held in the castle's gallery spaces, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with contemporary visual art in a historic setting.