Culture advent calendar: 25+ tips for holiday music, theater, art, and film in Prague

From Dec. 1 to 23 you can catch the traditional lamp-lighter on the Charles Bridge, lighting the historic gas lamps at 4 p.m. with a burning wick on a long rod near the Old Town Bridge Tower. While these gas lamps now operate automatically, Advent is the only time they are manually lit. The Charles Bridge is the world’s only gas-lit bridge, part of Prague’s historic Royal Route.

Kunsthalle Praha presents The Unsettled Soul, the first Czech solo exhibition by acclaimed Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota, open from Nov. 28 and running through April 28, 2025. Known for her intricate yarn installations, Shiota explores themes of memory, loss, and identity. Spanning works from the 1990s to today, the exhibit offers immersive installations, archival materials, and films, capturing Shiota’s evolution and artistic vision.

Don’t miss festive movie nights every Thursday through Dec. 22 at the Prague Market at 6 p.m. featuring classics like Home Alone 2 and Three Nuts for Cinderella paired with mulled wine. Sunset Cinema’s Christmas Story magical wardrobe is now offering a range of holiday favorites and refreshments, from Love Actually to The Grinch through Dec. 22.

The Identity project encompasses a documentary film, an exhibit at Prague’s Museum Kampa, and a book devoted to over a hundred years of Czech visual mastery (now in English translation). The exhibit, covering three floors of the museum, runs until Feb. 2, 2025. You can purchase the book in the gift shop.

St. Mikuláš (St. Nicholas) will visit children throughout Czechia as part of St. Nicholas Day celebrations on Thursday, Dec. 5. Prague will see several public events where children get a sweet treat or a lump of coal, depending on whether they have been naughty or nice this year. The upper part of Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square will have festive events, as will Malostranské náměstí.

The Bethlehem Yurt at Prague Castle’s Riding School, hosted by the Forman Brothers’ Theatre, is open throughout Advent. Visitors can explore illuminated statues of pilgrims and the Three Kings outside, then step into the yurt to view a carved nativity scene. Inside, enjoy a tea corner, board games, and mechanical dioramas. On weekends, art workshops are held on the first floor, offering an immersive holiday experience. Through Jan. 1.

On Dec. 7, 2024, at the Prague Congress Center a live orchestra will accompany a screening of Love Actually. The 60-piece orchestra will enhance the romantic comedy’s heartwarming stories of love, friendship, and Christmas spirit. With a star-studded cast including Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson, the event blends cinema and live music for a perfect holiday experience.

The Nutcracker ballet kicks off its holiday run at Prague’s Vinohrady Theater on Dec. 8. The production blends neoclassical choreography by Adéla Abdul Khaleq and direction by Štěpán Benyovszký. Featuring Czech ballet stars and students and exquisite costumes by Josef Jelínek, it reimagines the classic with added depth and dynamic storytelling.

In the satirical tale Corporate Hell by Unhinged Theatre, also on Dec. 8 at Rock Café, an Angel and a Demon, demoted to a lower department of Hell, must guide Honza through his first 9-5 job. They encounter familiar corporate horrors—micromanaging bosses, lazy coworkers, sexist attitudes, and indifferent HR staff.

On Dec. 9, The Young Gods will perform their final interpretation of Terry Riley’s iconic composition In C at Prague’s Akropolis Palace. Fusing rock, electronica, and minimalism, the Swiss band reimagines Riley’s 1964 piece with their unique sound, blending guitars, drums, and electronic instruments.

As part of the Italian Film Festival, the Italian Cultural Institute has opened a photo exhibition, Fotogrammi di moda italiana (Frames of Italian Fashion) at the Italian Cultural Institute. Open through Jan. 18 and curated by Stefano Dominella, the exhibit showcases iconic dresses worn by legendary actresses such as Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Monica Bellucci, and Gina Lollobrigida.

This year’s Old Town Square market has expanded the cultural program, with daily performances near the Jan Hus statue on a large stage. See Folklore groups, choirs, dance performances, and charity events with highlights including the Advent and Christmas Music Festival, the Czech Christmas Mass, and the Three Kings Parade on Jan. 3. See the full program of events here.

Every Advent Sunday, the Golden Portal in Prague Castle's Third Courtyard will echo with Christmas carols sung by pupils from Prague’s elementary art schools. Accompanied by Band of the Castle Guard members, the performance takes place in front of St. Vitus Cathedral. Join in for a magical moment of music and tranquility on Dec. 8, 15, and 22 at 2 p.m.

Experience an exclusive Prague premiere of Bruce Weber’s Oscar-nominated documentary Let’s Get Lost on Dec. 13 at Kino Lucerna. This restored black-and-white film delves into the twilight years of jazz legend Chet Baker, blending intimate storytelling with stunning visuals. Weber’s retrospective photography exhibition, My Education, accompanies the screening and runs at U Kamenného zvonu until January 19, 2025.

Celebrate the longest night of the year at Troja Castle with a stunning light event on Dec. 13-14 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event features video mapping by Ondřej Rakušan, David Böhm, and Jiří Franta, accompanied by music from Aid Kid. In addition, the underground gallery will showcase other light installations from the GHMP collections. This cultural experience is free of charge.

A new interpretation of the Nutcracker will be staged at ARCHA+ opens on Dec. 14. After sold-out performances last year, choreographer Jana Burkiewiczová’s innovative interpretation brings the classic story to life with breathtaking choreography, moving 3D effects, and a live orchestra. The final performance is on Dec. 27.

The National Gallery’s École de Paris exhibit celebrates Czech artists active in Paris’ interwar art scene, particularly in Montmartre and Montparnasse. It highlights cultural exchanges that shaped the avant-garde era, featuring works by Georges Kars, Othon Coubine, François Maurice Eberl, and more, alongside icons like Modigliani and Soutine. Coubine’s landscapes and newly displayed works from Leo Stein’s collection are also featured. The exhibit runs at Waldstein Riding School through March 2.

In Flow, Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis crafts a silent, visually stunning animated tale of survival and unity. As a great flood devastates the world, a solitary cat joins diverse species on a small boat, navigating mystical landscapes and dangers in a wordless odyssey. Combining video game-inspired aesthetics and universal themes, Flow captivates audiences of all ages with its unique approach to storytelling. See it at Edison Filmhub’s Movie Barf Monday on Dec. 16 with a live Q&A with Zilbalodis.

Vojtěch Kubašta's Fairytale Christmas exhibition at Prague's Galerie Mánes through Jan. 15, 2025, exhibits Kubašta’s iconic spatial books and nativity scenes. Celebrated for blending architecture with artistry, Kubašta’s works are internationally renowned. The exhibition will feature moving 3D books, rare titles, and enlarged publications, allowing a closer look at his intricate techniques. Visitors can also purchase books and artifacts.

Prague Shakespeare Company and Národní divadlo present a festive double bill at the Estates Theater, premiering Dec. 27 (buy tickets now before they sell out!). The evening features A Christmas Carol, a heartwarming musical adaptation of Dickens’ classic, and A Midwinter Night’s Dream, a wintry reimagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Both family-friendly performances are staged in English with Czech surtitles.

The Prague Philharmonic Choir’s Advent Concert on Dec. 19 and 20, 2024, at Žofín Palace features Poulenc’s vibrant Gloria and Jan Ryant Dřízal’s evocative Christmas Cantata, blending traditional themes with global influences. Performed by the Prague Philharmonic Choir and Prague Philharmonia under Lukáš Vasilek, with acclaimed soloists Pavla Vykopalová, Karolína Levková, Pavel Černoch, and Roman Hoza.

Experience a magical rendition of Jakub Jan Ryba’s Czech Christmas Mass at the Municipal House on Dec. 19. Directed by Matěj Forman, this performance combines orchestra, choir, and soloists with a captivating puppet show, bringing the journey to Bethlehem to life. The unique production offers a fresh take on this beloved Czech Christmas tradition, with additional performances on Dec. 20 and 21.

The Spiritual Prague exhibition at Hybernia Theater immerses visitors in Prague’s history through stunning animations, effects, and historical artifacts. Directed by Maria Krajplová, it explores key events like medieval floods, the plague, and the Thirty Years’ War, blending Christian symbolism and modern technology. The exhibition is enhanced by sensory effects and includes a rooftop tour offering spectacular views of Prague. Runs through the end of January.

Through Feb. 2, 2025, the Prague Botanic Garden hosts Crystal Garden 2024, a light exhibition featuring artistic glass plants and animals created by Jiří Pačinek and his team. Visitors can admire glass flora, including a large illuminated Christmas tree and a crystal nativity scene. Interactive elements, a light and audiovisual show, and the soothing sounds of a glass harp enhance the experience, blending art, light, and music.

The Parnassus Ensemble is hosting Christmas gala concerts at the Liechtenstein Palace throughout December, featuring timeless classical music by renowned composers such as Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach, Dvořák, and Smetana. Held in the Galerie and Bohuslav Martinů halls beneath Prague Castle, the performances showcase the virtuosity of the Parnassus Ensemble, one of Prague’s leading chamber orchestras.

On Dec. 24 a Christmas concert will be held at the Basilica of St. George in Prague Castle. The program features classical works such as Charpentier’s Te Deum Prelude, Handel’s Largo from Xerxes, Mozart’s Ave Verum, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Corelli’s Christmas Concerto Grosso, alongside beloved carols like Silent Night and Adeste Fideles.

On Dec. 24, Petra Ernyeiová will perform with her Christmas Trio at a special concert featuring songs by Jewish authors. The program includes jazz, Sephardic, and Hebrew classics like Papa Can You Hear Me and Hine Ma Tov Umanaim. Petra, a Prague native with a rich musical background, has performed in various ensembles and projects.

The year's Christmas concert at Prague’s Rudolfinum on Dec. 25, features classical pieces by Smetana, Mozart, Bizet, and Rossini, performed by award-winning mezzo-soprano Barbora de Nunes-Cambraia, renowned flutist Žofia Vokálková, and the Prague Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jan Šrámek. The performance takes place at 8 p.m. in Dvořák Hall, offering a beautiful holiday experience with timeless music.