Prague Pride festival to make a splash in the Czech capital this week

The 13th edition of the Prague Pride festival is poised to kick off tomorrow, promising a diverse musical lineup and a variety of events across the city. A total of 190 activities will take place at 45 different locations throughout the week.

As in past years, this year's festival will take part with full support of the city of Prague despite some recent concern. Tomorrow's opening ceremony at Pride Village on Střelecký Island will be inaugurated by Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský and Czech Minister of Regional Development and Pirate Party chair Ivan Bartoš.

The opening ceremony at Pride Village will feature performances by Irish musician Ailbhe Reddy, Norwegian DJ iDJa, who is known for embracing the musical heritage of the Sámi people, and Argentine singer Juana Rozas.

The festival's focal points, where numerous events of specific styles converge, have expanded this year. They include:

Prague Pride 2023 will also see ten nightclubs across the city join the program throughout the week with parties encompassing diverse music genres, featuring both Czech and international DJs.

On August 12, Rainbow Saturday will see Pride Parade participants assemble at the lower part of Wenceslas Square at 11:30 a.m., followed by a the start of the parade at 12:30 p.m. The parade route will cross Wenceslas Square, Na Příkopě, Celetná, Old Town Square, Pařížská, Čechův most, and the Letná steps.

The journey through the heart of Prague is one of the highlights of the festival, and made possible by excluding heavy vehicles with trailers and internal combustion engines from the parade procession. Sky stages featuring DJs suspended from above will provide a musical backdrop.

The festival's theme for 2023 centers around traditions, exploring their evolving nature in the face of change. With more LGBT+ individuals in the Czech Republic than residents of the entire Moravian region, this theme questions the notion of what is truly traditional.

Throughout the festival, iconic symbols of Pride will adorn the city: rainbow flags will grace the streets, the Petřín Lookout Tower will be illuminated with rainbow colors, and a rainbow pedestrian crossing will appear in front of City Hall at Mariánské náměstí.

These symbols reflect Prague's commitment to openness and inclusivity, echoing other modern global cities that utilize these symbols to communicate their acceptance of all individuals, regardless of differences. For more information about the festival's comprehensive program this year, visit the official Prague Pride website.