The latest culture tips from around Slovakia and the world.
INTERNATIONAL
Roman Ondak in New York
Until October 25, visitors in New York can view works by Roman Ondak, one of Slovakia’s most internationally acclaimed contemporary artists.
His inaugural solo exhibition at Peter Freeman, Inc. marks his first show in the city since Measuring the Universe at MoMA in 2009. The exhibition features sculptures, paintings, and photographs created between 1992 and 2025.
Titled Roman Ondak: Waiting for Someone to Ring at My Door, the show presents his distinctive reimagining of reality, subtly yet profoundly questioning it — highlighting the blurred boundary between memory and truth.
Ondak was originally scheduled to hold a major retrospective at the Slovak National Gallery in 2026, but he declined the invitation in protest against the actions of its newly appointed management, which he criticised for lacking professional competence. Instead, the retrospective will take place at Kunsthalle Praha in the Czech Republic, opening in November 2025.
Bridging Borders: Slovak Books at Budapest’s Visegrad Stage
From October 3rd to 5th, Budapest will host the 30th anniversary edition of the Budapest International Book Festival — one of Hungary’s most important cultural events, attracting around 70,000 visitors over four days.
This year, three cultural institutes in Budapest — Polish, Slovak, and Czech — have joined forces with civic associations and publishers to showcase the latest Hungarian translations of their literature on a shared platform called the Visegrad Stage.
In addition to presentations of sixteen books, the festival will feature panel discussions, children’s programs, and meetings with authors. Alongside new translations of classics, the latest releases of contemporary literature from the region will also be highlighted.
Slovak authors attending the event include Lukáš Cabala, Soňa Uriková, Ivan Medješi, Marek Hudec, Slavka Liptáková, Diána Maros, Jana Micenková, and Michal Habaj. The works of Etela Farkašová and Dominik Dán will also be showcased.
Renata Deáková, speaking on behalf of the organizers, explained that publishers, NGOs, and cultural institutes collaborated to create a platform for discussions on key Central European values. According to her, contemporary literature is uniquely suited to reflect on issues that affect individuals and society. “Reading translated literature from neighboring countries helps us understand different perspectives on shared topics, opening the door to new questions and answers,” Deáková said.
Author Slávka Liptáková added that while each of the four countries — Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia — is unique, they share a common Central European destiny. “We beat to the same rhythm,” the Slovak writer said.
BRATISLAVA
30th BIB Boycotted by Slovak Illustrators
From October 3, 2025, to January 11, 2026, the Slovak National Gallery will host the 30th edition of the Bratislava Biennial of Illustration (BIB). This international competition and exhibition of original illustrations for children’s and young adult books showcases the best work created in the genre over the past two years.
The exhibition opens to the public on October 4, following the awards ceremony on Friday evening. Held under the patronage of the President of the Slovak Republic, the Culture Ministry, and the Slovak Commission for UNESCO, the event is supported by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
Founded in 1967, BIB is the world’s largest non-commercial event dedicated to children’s book illustration.
However, in its milestone 30th year, the Biennial faces a significant boycott by Slovak illustrators. More than 65 artists have refused to submit their work to the nomination exhibition, which traditionally highlights the best of Slovak children’s illustration.
In a public statement, the illustrators criticized Bibiana – the International House of Art for Children, which organizes the event – claiming it has not operated as a democratic cultural institution for a long time. They are calling for open and transparent selection processes for all professional positions within Bibiana, including the post of General Commissioner of BIB.
“We demand that the selection of illustrations shown at the nomination exhibition — one of the event’s key features — be conducted fairly by a professional jury. This jury should change regularly and must not include artists competing in the given year,” the statement reads.
The illustrators also expressed concern over the participation of certain countries:
“Last but not least, we are not indifferent to what is happening beyond our borders. We therefore demand that countries accused of committing war crimes be uncompromisingly excluded from the Bratislava Biennial of Illustration.”
The boycott was first announced in February by nearly 60 members of the Association of Illustrators of Slovakia (ASIL), and has since gained additional support.
Bratislava Is Lighting Up Once Again!
This weekend, from October 3rd to 5th, the Slovak capital will host the 11th edition of White Night – Biela noc – the largest contemporary art festival in the country.
Over 50 art projects by more than 200 artists from seven countries will transform the city into a glowing gallery of light, sound, and imagination.
Digital art, mappings, light and site specific installations along with concerts, performances and workshops will pop up across the city—from the historic centre to hidden courtyards, even on the Danube, where visitors can take a special evening cruise to see the art from the water.
“This year's White Night is an exploration of the work of Slovak and international artists, bringing up many topics that are currently important in society—ecology, war, interpersonal dialogue, freedom of creation, and public space,” says Zuzana Pacáková, the director of the festival. Most of the 53 exhibits from 10 countries run from 7 PM to midnight. Many are free, though some require tickets.
Bratislava in Movement Hosts World-Class Dance Stars
One of the most important figures in contemporary dance, American choreographer and performer Lucinda Childs, is coming to Bratislava this October.
Miroslava Kovářová, director of the Bratislava in Movement International Festival, shared more about this year’s program:
“The 29th edition of the festival presents the latest developments in contemporary dance, with a special focus on its roots. American choreographers of the late 20th century introduced new aesthetic approaches and discovered a kind of virtuosity in free movement — grounded in the connection between body and mind. Lucinda Childs is a key representative of this period, and we are honoured to welcome her to Bratislava, where she will perform her duet Stein, along with three additional works interpreted by the Dance On Ensemble from Berlin.”
The festival also welcomes acclaimed Spanish choreographers Guy Nader and Maria Campos, whose work is inspired by contact improvisation, a method that also has roots in the United States.
Another major highlight is Trailer Park, a choreography by Moritz Ostruschnjak, performed by the German ensemble tanzmainz.
Artists from Canada, Poland, France, and Slovakia further enrich the program, which Kovářová describes as:
“Visually powerful, expressive, and intense — both in aesthetic and in emotional experience. We believe this is a truly rich and compelling programme for all audiences.”
The Bratislava in Movement Festival takes place from October 6 to 25 at various venues across the city. Everyone is welcome to experience the vibrant world of contemporary dance.
Novotvar: Celebrating New Forms of Literature
The 10th edition of the International Literary Festival Novotvar will take place in Bratislava from October 8 to 11. Dedicated to exploring new forms of literature, the festival offers a diverse programme featuring author readings, discussions, school presentations, video and audiovisual installations, concerts, dance performances, and exhibitions.
Slovak authors and poets will share their work alongside guests from Czechia, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Ukraine.
The star guest of this year’s edition is acclaimed German writer Judith Hermann.
As part of the festival, there will also be presentations of Slovak literature in English and French translation. These books will be available at the Novotvar book market during the event.
REGIONAL
Sour Cabbage Festival? Come to Stupava!
October 3-5, Dni Zelá, one of the most popular festivals of traditional food culture in west Slovak Záhorie region, will be held in Stupava. The event focuses on preserving the customs of the region, promoting the cultivation and processing of cabbage, and showcasing local folklore ensembles, associations, and culinary specialties.
The program includes a three-day craft market and a fruit and vegetable exhibition called Úroda (Harvest). One of the popular accompanying events is the cabbage soup cooking competition "My varíme ze zelá" (We cook from cabbage).
The program culminates on Sunday with a spectacular fireworks display.
Showcase of Slovak Contemporary Theatre Production in Spiš
The Divadelný Spiš festival will take place from October 3 to 10 in a region rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Since its founding in 2008, the festival has served as a platform for Slovak professional theatres to present intimate productions and engage in professional dialogue about theatre-making.
This year’s program features theatre ensembles from Banská Bystrica, Bratislava, Martin, Rožňava, Trnava, and Zvolen, performing plays that have sparked public discussion. One such example is the 1922 play For the Bear! by Chamber Theatre Martin, which features an all-female cast portraying exclusively male characters.
The festival will also host an international guest: the Moravian-Silesian National Theatre from Ostrava.
For the first time in its history, the 2025 edition will include an open-air concert and an acting workshop, expanding the festival’s program beyond traditional theatre performances.
Jazz Fest in Košice
From October 7-9, the International Jazz Festival will be held in Košice. Musicians from Cuba, Great Britain, India, Italy, Israel, and the USA will perform in the downtown section of this city in eastern Slovakia.
