The 10 best things to do in Prague this weekend: Jan. 19–21, 2024

Two film festivals, SCANDI 2024 and ÍRÁN:CI, commenced in Czechia this week, featuring around 30 contemporary films from Scandinavian countries and Iran. SCANDI 2024, celebrating its 10th year, presents premieres and special screenings showcasing Nordic cinema excellence. Notable films include the historical drama The Promised Land. ÍRÁN:CI, in its 11th year, focuses on Iranian cinema, aiming to shed light on lives affected by political and social injustice in the Middle East. The festival includes appearances by Iranian director Sepíde Farsí and powerful films like Shajda and Infinite Border. Read our full story for dates and programs.

Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, born Adam Mcllwee, began as a member of Tigers Jaw but left in 2013 for a solo career blending hip hop, emo, and witch house. Wicca will showcase his diverse music influenced by electronica and rap in Prague at Bike Jesus on Jan. 19.

The Underground Youth hits Café V lese on Jan. 19 with its blend of psychedelic rock, post-punk, and darkness. Originating from Blackpool, England, the band is touring in support of its latest recording Nostalgia's Glass, released in 2023.

The Bohemia After Dark band will perform a jazz concert at U Malého Glena on Jan. 20. The program features classic compositions from the bebop era (1940s) to the emergence of hard bop (mid-1950s), including works by iconic figures like Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and Cannonball Adderley. Admission is 350 CZK.

The Letenské prase (hog feast) and Letenský Masopust events at the National Agricultural Museum in Prague on Jan. 20 offer a glimpse into the atmosphere of an old Bohemian slaughterhouse. Attendees can taste slaughterhouse specialties, witness traditional butchery demonstrations, purchase butcher's specialties, and enjoy talks about masopust (the Czech Mardi Gras) customs and the history of the butcher's guild.

Prague's O2 universum hosts the Battle of the Chefs on Jan. 20-21 featuring TV Nova's Battle on a Plate live. Attendees can taste and judge dishes from top chefs like Přemek Forejt and Zdeněk Pohlreich. The event includes a full-day program with talks, workshops, autograph sessions, and a children's area. The entrance fee for this winter indoor food festival is CZK 690, covering CZK 300 worth of food and drinks.

The NEW PET TROPICANA exhibition at the Prague Botanical Garden, by sculptor Veronika Richterová, showcases colorful sculptures made from recycled PET bottles. Inspired by tropical flora, the exhibition features fantastic plants, orchids, strelitzia, lotuses, and animals like crocodiles, swans, and butterflies. Visitors can explore dry plants, tropical rainforests, and mountain regions, with sculptures floating above, and near water features. The exhibition runs from Jan. 19 to April 7 and is included in the standard entrance fee to the botanical garden.

As an added weekend, tip Prague Castle has announced that it'll extend its exhibit of the St. Vitus Cathedral stained glass through Jan. 28.

Black and white photography goes on bold display in Prague with photographer Josef Vrážel capturing the depth of the Wallachian countryside with emotionally rich and well-composed human photographs at Leica Gallery Prague. Meanwhile, Lukáš Prokůpek's moody Transformations of the Night sets the scene for the winter season at Josef Sudek Atelier.

The first premiere of 2024 on the cutting-edge stage of Jatka 78, housed in a former slaughterhouse, brings the Ostrava platform Cirkus, to present its Erlend – Foreigner from Jan. 20-21. The physical theater project was inspired by Albert Camus' The Stranger. It explores the isolating impact of solitude, depicting a character named Erlend who resides in a world separate from societal norms.

Reconstruction of the Žižkostel will be marked by a celebration with music, theater, and food on Jan. 20. The event schedule includes an opening of premises, a guided tour, performances by the Homeless Musicians and Flowers bands, hanging acrobatics plus a DJ dance afterparty. Attendees can enjoy a guided tour of the new premises, unique performances, refreshments, and a rich bar. The event is supported by Žižkov Night, and tickets are available online.

The Red Bull Maxspace Pragovka hosts its SK8 workshop on Jan. 20 designed for beginners and intermediates, with two one-hour lessons, a break, competitions, and free skate time. Participants, aged 8 and above, must bring their skateboard and sign a participation form at their own risk. Helmets are mandatory for those under 15. The event fosters skill development and a positive skateboarding experience in a fun atmosphere.

The ROYAL Theatre & Club Chic event hosts a 3-hour French Afternoon program on Jan. 21 with a film screening, Galette des Rois, a sword fighter demonstration, and a costume contest with a musketeer theme. The movie D’Artagnan: Three Musketeers goes on at 4 p.m. and is screened in the original French with Czech subtitles. A family-friendly event.