You might not consciously register his name, but the chorus from Sweet Chilli or Slzy playing from the radio over your breakfast - you almost certainly know that. And here's something you probably don't know about him: before he started selling out stadiums, he competed in snowboarding, and later became a European champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. If you've landed here with the query Ben Cristovao Kolín, I have good news and less good news. I'll start with the less good news right below the first heading, so I don't keep you in suspense. The good news is that you'll find out who you're dealing with and where you can realistically catch him this year, even if it's not in Kolín.

Ben Cristovao Kolín: what's confirmed and what isn't

In short: there is currently no confirmed standalone date for Ben Cristovao Kolín in our calendar or in the singer's official listings. Don't rely on capacity figures circulating without a source.

Let's be fair. If you go through public concert listings, Ben's announced dates for 2026 point elsewhere than Kolín, whether for summer festivals or indoor events. The biggest confirmed event on the horizon so far is a return to the arena: after 2025, in which Ben Cristovao sold out Eden and released the album SEPTUM nominated for the Ceny Anděl awards, he has announced a major indoor concert on 1 October 2027 at the O2 Arena in Prague. If you come across a specific date or capacity figure for Kolín anywhere, treat it with caution for now and verify it with the organiser. We will add the Ben Cristovao Kolín date to our events calendar as soon as it's in black and white, and likewise to the concerts section. Until then, it makes more sense to head for what's certain.

From seventh place in SuperStar to stadiums

In short: he started as the seventh finalist in SuperStar in 2009 and worked his way up through sheer effort to become one of the most-listened-to Czech artists of all time.

Ben da Silva Cristóvão, known as Ben Cristovao or Benny Cristo, was born on 8 June 1987 in Plzeň to an Angolan father and a Czech mother. He came to wider public attention in a way that sounds almost like a cliché today, but back then it was a launchpad: in 2009 he was a finalist in the talent competition Česko Slovenská SuperStar, where he finished in 7th place. Nobody celebrated seventh place, yet that's exactly where he launched from.

What's interesting is how long the scene couldn't pigeonhole him. The kid who was barely understandable because of his rapid-fire delivery initially relied more on dancing and charisma than on his voice. But instead of burning out quickly, he started putting in the work. Albums followed: he released his debut Definitely Different a year later, then the records Benny Cristo (2011) and Made in Czechoslovakia (2014), which features the hit Bomby. And the awards came. In 2016 he won the Český slavík award in the most-streamed Czech track category for the song ASIO, but did not collect the award in person and told the media that he did not want to be in the same room as the band Ortel because of their xenophobic lyrics. That gesture says more about him than many an interview.

Today's numbers show this is no fringe affair. On Spotify, Ben Cristovao has passed the one million monthly listeners mark. And he's doing well beyond Czech borders too: the French version of the track Brighter Day made it into the TOP 40 of French radio airplay. In the Czech Republic he has recently been accompanied by a pair of albums with Sofian Medjmedj. Together they released two records (KHAOSAN, DENPASAR), which they launched at the end of the year at two sold-out concerts at the O2 Universum in Prague.

Snowboard, tatami and microphone: a double life

In short: Ben isn't a singer who goes for the occasional jog. He was a competitive boarder and a medal-winner on the mat, and the discipline that comes with that is audible at his concerts too.

This part never gets old for journalists, and rightly so. In his youth he competed professionally in snowboarding, and in 2006 he managed to win the Czech Cup 4x4, which was his greatest achievement in his sporting career. Injury cut his boarding short, but Ben wasn't the type to sit still.

He switched to a combat sport and started winning again. He worked his way through tournaments: in September 2016 he won bronze in the middleweight category at the Asian championship, in November 2016 gold at the international Madrid Open tournament, and in 2017 he won the title of European champion in jiu-jitsu. Today it's no casual evening hobby: he holds a fourth-degree black belt. That sporting, disciplined approach is audible in his live performances too. It's no coincidence that elite sport took notice of him and vice versa: he presented the track Future Champ together with Polish producer Tribbs as part of the gala opening of the European Games at the stadium in Kraków.

His lifestyle is part of the picture too. Ben actively fights for animal rights, having collaborated with the organisation OBRAZ among others, and is a committed vegan. And a small family detail that few people know: his sister Bianca has made it far across the ocean. Bianca Cristovao lives in the USA and is among the world's top stand-up comedians.

Eden, three O2 Arenas and the scale he's used to

In short: Ben is one of a handful of Czech artists who can fill a football stadium today. If the Kolín event were confirmed, he knows what a show for tens of thousands of people looks like.

Just to be clear about the scale we're talking about. To mark ten years on the scene, he performed a concert at the O2 Arena in Prague in 2019, attended by almost 15,000 people. He then managed the arena again and again: he has sold out the O2 Arena a total of three times. But the highlight of his career so far was last year's stadium concert. He performed his biggest concert to date on 7 June 2025 at the Fortuna Arena (known as Eden) in Prague, which has a capacity of up to 35,000 people, and the tickets were sold out.

The scale of that production gives an idea of what Ben means by a stadium show. The football pitch disappeared from the floor, equipment and materials were transported by sixty lorries including from abroad, and the stadium sound was handled by the German company L-Acoustic, which also took care of the sound for Adele during her engagement in Munich. More than 350 people were involved in preparing the stage. Incidentally, the desire to conquer stadiums had been gnawing at him since childhood. For his eighth birthday his parents gave him tickets to a Michael Jackson concert, and he later had the memory printed on T-shirts he sold to fans with the words "Mum, I'm going to be a singer and one day I'll sell out a stadium". He kept his promise.

What you'll hear live: from Bomby to Slzy

In short: expect a cross-section of fifteen years of career, from the older hit Bomby through the streaming hit ASIO and Sweet Chilli to newer material from the albums Zvíře and SEPTUM.

Ben's repertoire is varied and that's a big part of his pull on audiences. He made a music video for the song Bomby that was nominated in the music video of the year category at the Český slavík poll. Add the streaming smash ASIO and the radio hit: Sweet Chilli topped the charts on several radio stations for several weeks. That's the backbone the audience can sing from memory.

From his more recent output he's riding the wave of two successful albums. The album Zvíře brought the viral hit Nemusim nic, and he then scored on domestic radio with the single Slzy, which he recorded together with Sofian Medjmedj. And then there's the international dimension through Eurovision. With the song Kemama he was nominated in 2020 as the Czech Republic's representative at the later-cancelled Eurovision final; a year later he represented the country with the song Omaga in the second semi-final, but did not advance to the final after receiving 0 points from viewers and 23 points from the juries.

In recent years he's also been running in tandem with Sofian, whom you may know from the radio too. Their collaboration has received critical recognition as well: for the album SEPTUM and the track Dlouhá noc with Sofian, Ben received two nominations at the Ceny Anděl 2025. If this wave appeals to you and you want something from a similar world live sooner, check out his partner's tour 26SUNSET TOUR Sofian Medjmedj, which has a stop on 24 July 2026 in Benešov. You can also find the profile of Sofian Medjmedj on our site.

Kolín and the surrounding area: where to go until something is confirmed

In short: until a specific date appears, the region is still alive - from a local narrow-gauge railway in Kolín to a big summer festival within reach.

Kolín itself has things to offer that don't compete with a big concert show but rather complement it. Families and nostalgia fans will enjoy the Diesel service on the Kolín Sugar Beet Railway (22 July 2026) - a different kind of experience, but exactly the type of event you'll find around Kolín. Anyone in the mood for a big festival format who doesn't mind travelling can head to Benátská! s Impulsem 2026 in Vesec near Liberec (from 23 July 2026), where a fine selection of the domestic scene gathers.

And if you want to stick with bands that fill similarly large venues to Ben, browse profiles like Chinaski, Lucie or MIG 21. A complete overview of names can be found in the artists section. Either way, as soon as there's clarity around a possible Kolín date, you'll hear it from us first.

Frequently asked questions

When and where is the Ben Cristovao Kolín concert?

As of today we have no confirmed standalone Ben Cristovao Kolín date in our calendar, and it does not appear in the singer's official listings either. As soon as the organiser announces a date and venue, we will add them. Until then, verify information directly with the organiser and on the artist's official channels.

Where did the figure of 25,000 seats come from?

We have no verified source for a specific capacity for Kolín, and therefore we do not state it as a fact. For comparison, what Ben can handle: last year he sold out the Prague Eden with a capacity of up to 35,000 people and the O2 Arena three times.

What songs does Ben Cristovao play live?

Live he draws on a cross-section of his entire career. Older hits like Bomby feature alongside the streaming favourite ASIO and the radio hit Sweet Chilli, plus newer material from the albums Zvíře and SEPTUM including the single Slzy with Sofian. The show tends to be energetic and close to dance, with a visible influence from his sporting background.

Is Ben Cristovao really a former elite athlete?

Yes, and in two disciplines at that. In 2006 he won the Czech Cup 4x4 series in snowboarding; after an injury he moved to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and in 2017 became European champion. He now holds a fourth-degree black belt.

Where to go if the Kolín concert isn't happening yet?

Closest to Ben's world is the tour of his frequent collaborator Sofian Medjmedj, who is touring the Czech Republic in summer 2026. Beyond that, the region offers festivals and local events that you can find in our calendar.

Sources

  • Ben Cristovao - Wikipedia (biography, discography, awards, Eurovision)
  • osobnosti.cz - profile and sporting career (snowboarding, jiu-jitsu)
  • rapzzz.cz - discography and hits (Bomby, ASIO, Sweet Chilli)
  • Headliner.cz and REFRESHER.cz - Eden concert 2025, capacity and production
  • Blesk.cz and Deník.cz - details of the stadium show and stage preparation
  • Muziker and Ticketmaster.cz - albums Zvíře and SEPTUM, collaboration with Sofian, announced O2 Arena 2027
  • festivaly.eu, kultura365.cz and Songkick - overview of announced concerts
  • kdykam.com - 26SUNSET TOUR Sofian Medjmedj, Diesel service, Benátská! s Impulsem 2026