Václav Havel (1936-2011) was a Czech playwright, essayist and dissident whose absurdist theatre - from The Garden Party to Largo Desolato - earned him international recognition long before he entered politics. A co-founder of Charter 77, he spent over four years in communist prisons. After the Velvet Revolution of 1989 he became the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic, serving until 2003.
As part of the HAVEL90 project, on April 23, 2026, over 90 Czech libraries participated in a nationwide happening "Reading Havel", commemorating the dramatist's 90th birthday.
The National Theatre is preparing a Czech premiere of an original production based on Havel's essay "The Power of the Powerless" for September 2026 at Prague Crossroads.
The Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize for 2025 was awarded by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to Ukrainian journalist Maksym Butkevych - for the first time in the history of the prize, it was won by a Ukrainian.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in January 2026 at the World Economic Forum in Davos publicly paraphrased Havel's essay "The Power of the Powerless".
Prague 14 held on May 14, 2026 a special program for the 90th anniversary of Havel's birth with debates, a film and an exhibition at the Plecharna leisure center.
A four-day festival featuring over 60 bands at its traditional venue in Trutnov, dedicated to Václav Havel. The programme includes music, open-air services, debates, exhibitions, and workshops.
A new Laterna magika production inspired by Václav Havel's libretto, exploring courage and resistance against tyranny. Premiering 10 September 2026 at Palác Akropolis.
A theatrical performance dedicated to the life and work of Václav Havel, presented by the Triarius group.
A feature-length documentary about gymnast Věra Čáslavská, the most successful Czechoslovak sportswoman of all time, whose signature on the Two Thousand Words manifesto made her a symbol of her era.
An interactive literary evening celebrating Václav Havel with readings from his works and dramatic performance. A tribute to his 90th birthday.
The second part of Tomáš Sedláček's cycle on Václav Havel's philosophy. This evening explores Europe's spirit, its future, and geopolitical visions within Havel's intellectual tradition.
The world's largest Romani festival, Khamoro, returns to Prague with a rich programme of concerts, theatre performances, workshops, and exhibitions. This three-day celebration of Romani culture and art will attract thousands of visitors from around the globe.
Václav Havel's absurdist one-act play about a brewmaster and an intellectual writer meeting in a small brewery, where a philosophical discussion about the meaning of life unfolds.