The latest culture tips from around Slovakia and the world.
Džem Festival Unites Eastern Slovakia’s Creative Scene
Košice is set to host a fresh wave of creativity as the Džem Festival returns on September 12th and 13th at Tabačka Kulturfabrik. This unique event not only showcases music, fashion, and street art, but also brings together people working in culture across eastern Slovakia.
Friday begins with discussions on creative roots and the voice of Generation Z, followed by a lively evening of DJs, local designers, second-hand markets, and live performances.
The night wraps up with Maslo x Džem, the official afterparty, featuring jam sessions and top local DJs.
Rosary of Music Full of Beethoven
On September 13th, the Dolná Krupá chateau will host Rozárium hudby — the Rosary of Music — in collaboration with the international festival Konvergencie/Convergence. Renowned Slovak and international musicians will perform works by Ludwig van Beethoven, who once stayed at this country manor while teaching piano to the daughter of its owners, the Brunswick noble family. The 2025 concert will also feature a piano quintet by Robert Schumann, a great admirer of Beethoven. Notably, Beethoven’s famous Moonlight Sonata was published in 1821 — the same year his student Josephine Brunswick tragically passed away.
The lineup includes Natacha Kudritskaya from Ukraine, Mi-Sa Yang from Korea, and Slovak artists Michaela Hrubá, Martin Ruman, and Jozef Lupták. In addition to performances, the event offers guided tours of the late Baroque manor house, which houses the Music Museum — one of Europe’s few museums dedicated to the history of music and musical instruments. Visitors can also enjoy guided tours of the surrounding park and listen to excerpts from letters exchanged between Josephine Brunswick and Beethoven himself.
Mrvenica Festival
The one-day traditional culture festival Mrvenica kicks off on Saturday, September 13th, in Žilina. Now in its fourth edition, the festival will be held for the first time in the garden beneath the Rondel overpass. The program is family-focused and features folk music, dance, visual arts, and theater. It will include dance schools, creative and music workshops encouraging active participation from both parents and children, puppet theater, and performances by children’s folklore ensembles Hajovček and Kelčovan. Additionally, craft workshops, a photo exhibition, and an event titled Ten Truths About the Fujara will be part of the day’s attractions.
60th Bratislava Music Festival
The prestigious Bratislava Music Festival celebrates its 60th anniversary starting September 19. The festival will bring to the Slovak capital two of the world’s top ten orchestras — the Vienna Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. Other world-class performers appearing through October 5 include the Constellation Choir & Orchestra, Prague Philharmonia, L’Orchestre National de France, WDR Funkhausorchester Köln, and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra Hamburg — the latter conducted by internationally acclaimed Slovak maestro Juraj Valčuha.
The opening concert honors the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Alongside works by Joseph Haydn and Leonard Bernstein, the program will feature the premiere of a new composition commissioned from internationally renowned Slovak composer Peter Breiner, inspired by the iconic song We’ll Meet Again.
World Music Festival Bratislava
From Friday, September 19th through Sunday the 21st, World Music Festival Bratislava will bring top stars of world music to the Slovak capital. Highlights include Finnish trio Värttinä, flamenco rising star María Moreno from Spain, the Syrian Jawa ensemble preserving Aleppo’s musical heritage, and Polish tango orchestra Bandonegro.
A special project called Lenhart Tapes features Vladimir Lenhart, a Slovak minority member from Serbia, alongside experimental violinist and folk singer Tijana Stanković, based on old recordings of Slovak and Serbian traditional music. Serbian folk music will also be showcased by the women’s singing group Izvor, operating under the Association of Serbs in Slovakia.
Slovak performers include Miloš Biháry Django Gypsy Jazz Trio, Samaria Klezmer Band, the Bodnárová-Szabó-Nosál project, and the Štefánik award-winning Suita Almanach, presented as a site-specific performance.
Amplión Festival
The Amplión Festival returns for its 10th edition from September 19th to 21st in the historic town of Banská Štiavnica. This vibrant festival celebrates innovative cabaret theatre and street art, featuring international acts such as Spain’s dynamic music and dance group Sabor, Czech world music band Der Šenster Gob, and Italy’s one-man cabaret star Ennio Marchetto.
Over two days and one night, visitors can enjoy theatre, concerts, street performances, and family-friendly events in the city’s unique historic venues and outdoor spaces. English-speaking visitors are warmly invited to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site and experience this one-of-a-kind cultural event.
Slovak Heritage Festival in New Jersey
The Slovak Heritage Festival in New Jersey will take place on September 21st at the Middlesex County Fair Grounds, marking its 47th year. The event celebrates both traditional and contemporary Slovak dance and music, bringing a vibrant taste of Slovak culture to audiences in the United States. Marek Soltis, the festival’s president, emphasizes its role in connecting the Slovak community abroad and promoting cultural heritage through engaging performances, workshops, and local crafts.
Whether you’re of Slovak descent or simply curious about the culture, this festival offers a lively and welcoming atmosphere for all.
