Czech President Pavel and Former Slovak Leader Čaputová to Appear Together at Pohoda Festival 2026

Czech President Petr Pavel and former Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová will appear together at the 30th anniversary edition of Slovakia's Pohoda music and arts festival in 2026. The two will participate in a joint discussion titled "Identity at the Heart of Europe," exploring questions of national and personal identity amid growing social polarization and a shifting geopolitical landscape. Pohoda, held annually near the western Slovak city of Trenčín, is one of the largest and most prominent cultural festivals in Central Europe. Čaputová, who served as Slovakia's president from 2019 to 2024 and was widely regarded as a pro-European liberal voice, left office last year and has remained a respected public figure internationally. Her appearance alongside the Czech head of state signals continued cross-border dialogue on democratic values at a time when both Slovakia and the broader Central European region face significant political tensions.