Prague’s biggest music and arts festival takes place this week

Metronome Prague, the city’s biggest annual music and arts event, starts this Wednesday, June 21, and runs until June 24 at Výstaviště Holešovice. The sixth edition of the festival will bring international music stars, a podcast festival, a program for the whole family, enhanced public transportation, and a new comfort zone.

The first day will be a bit of a preview event, with just two bands – the Queens Orchestra from Ukraine and Czech music star David Koller. Queens Orchestra, composed of 17 women, will be in Prague for the first time. They play jazz, rock, and modern interpretations of classical music. They hope to use culture to remind people that the conflict in Ukraine is still going on.

David Koller has also been active in supporting Ukraine and has personally participated in humanitarian work. He recently released an album of new material. Tickets to the first evening are separate from the main festival tickets.

The main part of the festival takes place June 22 to 24 on seven stages and will feature 80 performances. Acts include big names from both the international and domestic music scenes, such as Jamiroquai, ZAZ, Moderat, Aurora, M83, Editors, Tove Lo, J.I.D, White Lies, Kelvyn Colt, Frosti, Jana Kirschner, Zrní, Midi Lidi, Supercrooo, PSH, and more. Over 25,000 people are expected to attend.

“This year's edition is the most prepared we've ever been, and it will run exactly as we originally envisioned,” festival co-organizer David Gaydečka, said, adding that there will be some surprises as well.

Organizers have continued to fine-tune the gastronomy, services, facilities, and accompanying activities. Refreshments will be in two zones with a more varied international selection of food than for the previous editions, plus beer from Pilsner Urquell and the Proud brewery in Vinohrady, and of course Czech and imported wine and non-alcoholic beverages.

Payment will again be cashless, but people won’t need to get special chip bracelets, which complicated purchases in the past. Standard credit or debit cards, smartphones, and smartwatches can be used.

In the Škoda Auto chill-out zone, people can charge mobile phones while relaxing at charging stations. Next to that area, a new comfort zone was created in partnership with mobile operator T-Mobile. The comfort tickets allow for faster entry to the festival through additional entry points and let people use a partly covered comfort zone that offers 20 percent off on beverages. T-Mobile customers can get comfort zone tickets at a discount.

Metronome Prague will not only be about music. The accompanying program includes outdoor art installations, exhibitions, an adventure escape game, workshops, film and theater productions, a sports zone, a cache hunt, and a hip-hop dance school. A children's program includes theater, dance, and art workshops, a skatepark, a photo corner, and other entertainment.

One of the biggest draws will undoubtedly be a unique realization of the iconic Alien sculpture by artist H.R. Giger, which Metronome has prepared in cooperation with the Aleš South Bohemian Gallery. Another is podcasters who will be recording their festival specials, and in some cases allowing people to join in on the debate.

The Czech Olympic Committee is preparing a special zone about courage, dedicated to Czechoslovak gymnast Věra Čáslavská. There will also be space for non-profit organizations to share their current projects.

People will also be able to support the children's charity project Pomozte dětem (Help the Children) by donating back the deposit on returnable beverage cups. The symbol of the charity is Kuře, a baby chicken. The mascot will be present at the festival. The project helps children with medical disabilities, socially excluded children, and children who are at risk from their surroundings.