September 2024: Everything you need to know this month in Czechia

Starting Sept. 1, 2024, Ukrainian refugees will receive humanitarian accommodation for a shortened period (90 days) after obtaining temporary protection. After this period, they must either leave or pay rent. Vulnerable individuals, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly, will no longer receive special exceptions but will still be considered for adjusted humanitarian benefits. Ukrainians using state humanitarian accommodation for 90 days (or longer) on Aug. 31 will no longer be allowed to use this accommodation free of charge, according to the government.

Starting Sept. 1, Czech banks will introduce new rules for early mortgage repayment, with a fee of 0.25 percent per year during a fixation (fixed-rate) period, capped at 1 percent of the outstanding amount owed. These terms apply to new mortgage contracts and existing ones with a new fixation period set after Sept. 1. Early repayment remains fee-free in specific cases, such as at the end of the fixation period. This generally means that Czech banks will be able to charge clients significantly more for early mortgage repayment during the fixation period.

An amendment to Czechia’s Insolvency Act, coming into effect on Sept. 1, allows for debtors to have their financial obligations forgiven, similar to the recent grace summer program. It shortens the relief period to three years – from five – for all debtors, following an EU directive for entrepreneurs. The rule that considers debt relief fulfilled when 30 percent of creditors' claims are satisfied will be removed. Instead, the insolvency court will now set an individual rate, taking into account the debtor's abilities, circumstances, and financial situation.

Starting Sept. 1, first- and second-emission-class boilers across Czechia will be banned, and fines will be handed out for non-compliance. Applications for boiler subsidies or the New Green Savings program are due by Aug. 31. The Air Protection Act prohibits non-compliant solid fuel boilers in residential and recreational buildings. People are able to apply for subsidies to install energy-efficient boilers, but these will be markedly lower in September than in August and the months prior. The new regulation affects landlords; tenants and renters are safe from fines. A Ministry of Environment webpage has more information.

The National Theatre in Prague will enter its 142nd season in September 2024. It will prepare a total of 21 premieres for its 2024-25 season, and it will offer another 66 productions in its repertoire. Other theaters will also launch their annual seasons. Check out our guide to English-friendly theaters in Prague.

September sees the peak of the wine harvest season – people in the Czech capital have a range of wine festivals to visit, such as the Vinohrady Wine Festival (Sept. 13-14), the St. Clara Wine Festival (Sept. 14-15), and the Grébovka Wine Festival (Sept. 21).

The Mafra group publishing house will stop publishing the printed version of the Lidové noviny (LN) newspaper from September. It was founded in 1893. The news website Lidovky.cz will continue with expanded content, with an emphasis on opinion pieces. An LN supplement, Orientace, will become part of the Mladá fronta DNES daily from September. Mafra took the decision due to market developments and the rise of modern technologies.

Prague’s public transport services will return to their regular schedules following the summer break. However, be aware that some bus routes and new school buses will cause additional changes in the region. Check and plan your journey on the English-friendly Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) site.

The majority of children in state schools across Czechia go back to school on Monday, Sept. 2. Dates may differ for private schools. Universities in Czechia will have different start dates, depending on their schedules and faculties. Schoolchildren will have their first day off (during the Monday-Friday week) in late October.

And from the start of the 2024-25 academic year, one school in the Czech city of Vsetín (Zlín) has decided to ban phones throughout the school day in its local primary schools. This is a development to watch – other schools may follow suit and a precedent may be set.

Starting in September, the Ministry of Education will introduce new measures to enhance Czech language instruction for school pupils whose first language is not Czech. These changes aim to increase the number of Czech lessons, with up to 400 teaching hours planned over a two-year period. Additionally, Czech language instruction will be incorporated into preparatory classes for preschool children in primary schools.

Residents of, and visitors to, Prague will be acutely aware of the mass tram disruption in and around the center of the Czech capital due to construction work. From Sept. 2, trams between the Strossmayerovo náměstí to Výstaviště route will resume normal operation, and as the month progresses more routes will resume standard service. Full information can be found on the DPP site.

Sept. 14 will see the annual, colorful neighborhood block party on Prague 2’s Americká Street in Vinohrady. The celebration of Mexican and Latin American culture will constrain street food, Mexican bands, live music across different stages, and even the breaking of a piñata.

During Sept. 16-29, individuals and companies are invited to participate in Czechia’s nationwide bike-to-work (Do práce na kole) initiative.

Participants are encouraged to use sustainable forms of transportation and reduce pollution by signing up online and recording their physically active commutes. Companies can support their employees by covering the entry fees. The challenge offers participants the chance to compete for various prizes. Sign up here.

The Czech crown jewels will be displayed at the annual exhibition on St. Wenceslas Day, which also marks Czech Statehood Day on Sept. 28. The exhibit will run from Sept. 17 to Sept. 30 at the Vladislav Hall of the Old Royal Palace by Prague Castle, and will be free for viewing. This exhibition will now be held every September in accordance with the decision of the head of state.

The Czech Association of Breweries and Malthouses hosts the Days of Czech Beer nationwide event from Sept. 25 to Sept. 30. Shops, pubs, and breweries will promote draft beer and may temporarily offer alternative beers for sale or tasting. Tours may also feature. This event, honoring St. Wenceslas, promotes draft beer and the traditional Czech pub, a tradition established by the association in 2013.

This world-famous acrobatics and theater production comes to Prague for the first time ever, putting on a show for five nights (Sept. 25-29) at Prague’s O2 Arena.

Sept. 28 will see Czechia celebrate the public holiday of St. Václav (Wenceslas) and Czech Statehood Day, which will see many changes to day-to-day business and culture operations in the country. Shoppers will only have access to small shops for their groceries; stores over 200 square meters in size will need to close.

Czech Statehood Day marks the Open Day of the Ministry of Culture, which opens the doors of the Nostitz Palace to visitors and welcomes both adults and children with a host of special programs. The Ministry of Finance and the Straka Academy are also open. Czech St. Wenceslas Day cultural celebrations will take place nationwide.

You have until the end of September to see American director Tim Burton’s colorful exhibition at Prague's Municipal House. The extensive display features more than 600 works from the filmmaker’s career, including drawings and sculptures of the characters from the Mars Attacks! film, the skeleton dancers from The Corpse Bride, and the Oompa Loompas from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).

The immersive experience features more than 600 items from Burton's career, including storyboards, sketches, scene designs, puppets, photographs, and much more.