Current culture tips for around Slovakia.
DAAD in Bratislava
Until June 1, the festival Days of Architecture, Design and Film (DAAD) is taking place in the Slovak capital, Bratislava. Featuring lectures, discussions, talks, films, and exhibitions, the festival showcases the best of both the Slovak and international scenes in these fields. For the past 15 years, DAAD has aimed to foster a positive perception of architecture and design in Slovakia.
The main events are being held at the "Bernolák" student dormitories, the Faculty of Architecture and Design at the Slovak University of Technology, and the Primate’s Palace in Bratislava.
International Children’s Day
On Sunday, June 1, people across the country will celebrate International Children’s Day, known in Slovak as MDD (Medzinárodný deň detí). On this day, society pays increased attention to the rights and needs of all children, ensuring peace, healthy development, and good education for all their youngest citizens. Most towns and cities around Slovakia will have various social and sports events organized for children, and small gifts or celebrations in homes and local communities are also a typical part of the celebrations.
The date of the celebration is related to the Geneva World Conference on the Welfare of the Child, which took place on June 1, 1925. In the wake of WWII, the International Democratic Federation of Women officially declared Children's Day in 1949. This holiday was first celebrated on June 1, 1950, in more than 50 countries around the world. It gradually became International Children's Day, still recognized today in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and other countries in Eastern and Southeastern Europe and Asia.
Slovak Heart embraces humanity
The Slovak Heart Festival kicks off on Sunday, June 1, at The Garden – Independent Culture Centre in Banská Bystrica. The opening concert will feature performances by the bands Bez ladu a skladu, Karpatské chrbáty, Chiki liki tu-a, and Škridle. In addition to the music program, the event will also include public discussions. Entry is free.
More than 200 signatories have already joined the Slovak Heart initiative. It is an open call to artists, cultural venues, and institutions to take part in shaping a vision of Slovakia rooted in humanistic values. The initiative will culminate in a nationwide festival running from June 1 to August 29, 2025.
Slovak artists reflect on Jáchymov’s dark past
An exhibition titled Genearcheohistoriography opens on Sunday, June 1, in Jáchymov, Czech Republic—site of a former uranium mine turned concentration camp for political prisoners. Slovak artists Mária Piatriková and Lena Jakubčáková transformed their residency at the site into a photographic exhibition, curated by Czech curator Branislav Štěpánek.
Each artist brings a unique perspective: Piatriková draws on the memories of her grandfather, a former Jáchymov prisoner, while Jakubčáková responds to the atmosphere of the place in real time. The exhibition will run throughout the summer.
Weekend of Open Parks and Gardens
On Friday, June 6, the 17th annual Weekend of Open Parks and Gardens begins across Slovakia. This event offers access to unique and often hidden green spaces, from private gardens to stately châteaux and even abandoned manor houses.
In addition to guided tours, visitors can enjoy lectures, workshops, and family-friendly activities. Last year, 119 parks and gardens opened their gates to the public.
International Theatre Festival in Nitra: Right(s) Here, Right(s) Now!
The 34th International Theatre Festival in Nitra will take place from June 6 to 11, 2025, under the theme Right(s) Here, Right(s) Now! The festival examines a society grappling with multiple crises—both local and global—and seeks to uncover the roots of societal malaise, from ignored issues to misguided decisions.
Highlights include:
* Radical Relax by Budapest’s Katona József Theatre, a thought-provoking piece on digital-age authenticity and intentional idleness.
* Wandervogel by Czech performer Jan Mocek, a performance that seemingly reconstructs 1930s events.
* Works by exiled Russian and Belarusian artists, including Artyom Tomilov and Maryna Yakubovich, who are part of an initiative to support creatives fleeing censorship and persecution.
Slovak companies such as the Ján Palárik Theatre (Trnava), Debris Company, and Anima Act will also take part. Yakubovich’s English-language monodrama Connection will be performed in
English; other shows will feature English subtitles.
An additional one-day festival program, DN Echo, will be presented in Bratislava in Autumn 2025.
Bratislava and Svätý Jur host Days of Early Music
The internationally acclaimed Days of Early Music festival returns in early June to Bratislava and Svätý Jur, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience music from the Renaissance through the 19th century in historically informed performances. Organized by the Music Center and the Center for Early Music, it remains the only festival of its kind in Slovakia.
Now in its third decade, the festival has built a strong reputation, featuring leading ensembles and soloists from both Slovakia and abroad. This year’s program includes modern premieres and compositions connected to the cultural history of present-day Slovakia.
The 2025 edition will open on June 6 at the Klarisky Concert Hall in Bratislava with a performance by the renowned Sollazzo Ensemble. The ensemble will present a unique program based on the Leuven Chansonnier, a Renaissance manuscript discovered in 2015. Musicologists have described the importance of this find as comparable to the discovery of an unknown painting by Peter Paul Rubens.
With its combination of musical excellence, historical insight, and cultural significance, the Days of Early Music festival continues to serve as a key event on the Slovak cultural calendar.
