Bratislava City Gallery Opens Two Shows in One Day
On Thursday, 14 May, two new exhibitions opened at a single venue. The Bratislava City Gallery is now hosting The Art of Interaction and The Centre is Elsewhere II, both exploring participatory art and broader reflections on mental health and society.
The Art of Interaction focuses on ways audiences can actively engage in the perception, interpretation, and creation of artworks, with a particular emphasis on developments since the 1960s. Visitors can see participatory works by Slovak, Czech, and Polish artists from the collections of the Bratislava City Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové.
The second exhibition, The Centre is Elsewhere II, examines trauma as a consequence of how society functions. Artists Klára Kusá and Andrea Uváčiková challenge the idea that deteriorating mental health is solely an individual failure, instead framing it within wider social contexts.
Both exhibitions will run until the autumn.
Pop Culture Meets Illusion in New Košice Exhibition
An exhibition by artists Boris Sirka and Štefan Sekáč opens in Košice on Thursday, 14 May. Both artists draw on pop-cultural motifs, while critically reinterpreting them through traditional techniques such as ceramics and oil painting.
Sirka’s work often focuses on the human body and landscape, while Sekáč explores themes of botany and abstraction. Together, they examine ideas of illusion and a “fluid” visual aesthetic.
In their works, illusion takes different forms — spatially, in oil paintings where depth appears real despite the flat surface, and materially, in ceramic objects that resemble metal through the use of titanium plating techniques.
Open Culture! Returns in 2026 Amid Growing Debate on Artistic Freedom
The Open Culture! International Conference returns on 19–20 May 2026 to Bratislava, following its inaugural 2025 edition — the first civil society-led conference on cultural policy in Slovakia. Last year’s event contributed to European discussions on artistic freedom, led to the adoption of the Bratislava Declaration, and helped initiate debate around the European Artistic Freedom Act (EAFA).
The 2026 edition will bring together cultural actors, policymakers, and advocates from across Europe to address challenges including censorship, politicization of arts funding, legislative restrictions, and pressure on cultural institutions.
The programme of the conference combines both domestic and European perspectives on artistic freedom and democratic cultural governance.
Night of Literature Brings European Stories to Unusual Venues Across Slovakia
On Wednesday, 20 May, the Night of Literature will present readings from contemporary European literature in Slovak translation at unconventional venues in Bratislava and 16 other cities across Slovakia. The 18th edition will feature well-known actors reading in half-hour intervals (15 minutes of reading followed by 15 minutes for travel between venues). Visitors can choose their own route and decide which locations to visit.
The programme will take place in Bratislava, Žilina, Banská Štiavnica, Dolný Kubín, Levoča, Levice, Poprad, Považská Bystrica, Nové Zámky, Modra, Humenné, Martin, Liptovský Mikuláš, Prievidza, Spišská Nová Ves, Košice, and Trenčín.
Janoshka Ensemble to Perform “Four Seasons” in Vienna
On 21 May, Wiener Musikverein, a legendary music hall, will host a concert by Janoshka ensemble. This acclaimed Slovak born quartet will present their take on iconic piece of classical music, Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”. František Janoshka, a member of this music family, brings introduction to their unique style for English speakers.
Janoshka ensemble
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Freedom, Memory, and Underground Culture Take Center Stage in Banská Štiavnica
SLovO aleBO huDbA, a Czechoslovak dissident and underground festival, opens in Banská Štiavnica on Friday, 22 May, and runs through Sunday, 25 May. The festival focuses on contemporary history and on witnesses of an era that continues to shape our understanding of freedom. This year’s main theme is “DETERMINATION.”
Its Slovak title includes the Slovak word for freedom — a value explored through discussions, author readings, films, exhibitions, and music events. The programme also features Peter Markovský’s underground DJ set, along with concerts by the bands Longital and Neue Welt.
The festival’s motto, “Memories of the 1970s don’t have to be nostalgic,” emphasizes the importance of critically reflecting on the normalization period and recognizing responsibility toward the present, while also addressing other pivotal periods in contemporary history.
Night of Museums and Galleries
On 23 May, the Night of Museums and Galleries will open the doors of cultural institutions to the public from dusk until midnight. Up to 50 museums and galleries across the country will take part, offering guided tours, workshops, live performances, and a range of special events.
To name just a few, the programme includes the Museum of Puppet Cultures and Toys in Modrý Kameň Castle Museum, the Rosenfeld Palace in Žilina, and the Mining Museum in Rožňava, among many others.
