Those first piano notes, the choral harmonies, Brian May's wall of guitar - even if you don't follow the band closely, you know that sound. And chances are Bohemian Rhapsody or Don't Stop Me Now gives you goosebumps. If you are searching for Queen Brno today, there is one detail most people don't know: the event at the BVV exhibition centre won't feature just a handful of the biggest hits. It will feature the complete setlist from one specific concert - the legendary Queen show at Wembley in London in 1986, song by song. In the summer of 2026, exactly 40 years will have passed since the Magic Tour, Queen's last concert tour with Freddie Mercury. And there is one catch: it won't be Brian May on stage, but Czech band Queenie.

Queen Brno 18 August: what is happening at BVV exhibition centre

In short: the search term Queen Brno on 18 August 2026 refers to the concert QUEENIE 2026 - 20 LET TOUR at the BVV exhibition centre. It is not the original Queen, but a tribute show whose summer tour is built entirely around a tribute to Wembley 1986.

Let's be clear from the start so nobody leaves disappointed. Freddie Mercury died in 1991 and the original Queen in that line-up no longer performs. So when you are looking for a live Queen experience in Brno, we are talking about a tribute band - and in the Czech Republic the most prominent one is Queenie. Their August stop at the BVV exhibition centre in Brno is part of a tour the band has conceived as a double celebration. They are marking 20 years of their own existence and at the same time commemorating 40 years since the legendary Magic Tour, Queen's last tour with Freddie Mercury.

What does that mean for you as an audience member? No random selection of hits. Frontman Michael Kluch promised that at every concert they will perform the setlist from the iconic Queen show at Wembley in London in July 1986 - a concert that is still ranked among the greatest live rock shows ever. The evening's programme therefore mirrors the actual band at its peak, not a playlist of the most-streamed singles.

Why Wembley 1986 and not any other concert

In short: Wembley 1986 is not a random choice. It was the peak of the band just before the end, and one of the few Queen concerts that exists in a complete, professionally filmed form.

The Magic Tour grew out of the momentum Queen had built the year before at Live Aid. The 1986 tour comprised 26 shows and was the band's first concert cycle since their appearance at Live Aid in July 1985, which earned them enormous acclaim and sent their popularity soaring. The peak of those two years was two sold-out London nights. The highlight of the tour was two sold-out concerts at Wembley Stadium on 11 and 12 July; all 72,000 tickets for the 11 July show sold out so quickly that a second date was added for the very next evening.

Looking back today, that whole year has a bittersweet flavour. Nobody knew it at the time, but Mercury was saying goodbye to the big stages. The final concert at Knebworth on 9 August 1986 was added to the tour because the earlier Wembley dates had sold out; after the tour Mercury told his bandmates he no longer wanted to do big shows. A few years later he fell ill and died in 1991. That is why the recording from Wembley is so treasured by fans today - it is Queen at their very peak, captured live and in full glory.

And here is the detail that makes the whole concept work: the second Wembley night was released as an official concert film and album. The second Wembley concert was released several times; the full audio recording came out on CD as Live at Wembley '86 in 1992. There is therefore an exact, documented programme for that evening - from the opening One Vision through Bohemian Rhapsody to the finale. Queenie don't have to guess anything. They have the blueprint of the best possible Queen show and they follow it step by step.

Who is Queenie and why they are more than just a band that plays Queen

In short: Queenie is the best-known Czech Queen tribute band, playing since 2006, and their approach is built on faithfulness - original keys, faithful arrangements and a theatrical approach to the show.

This is the moment where "stand-in for Brian May" turns into an advantage. Queenie are not a group that tries to play a few hits at the weekend. In 2026 the band celebrates 20 years since its formation, and in that time has performed over 1,400 concerts around the world, including seven sold-out shows at the Prague O2 Arena. That makes them one of the busiest Czech concert acts of all.

They don't describe themselves as a revival, but as concert theatre. Unlike many other tribute bands, Queenie strive to make every concert much more than a reproduction of well-known hits; their strength lies in faithfulness to the original arrangements combined with the use of the latest technology. In practice that means songs in their original keys, arrangements worked out to the last detail, and a visual element designed to evoke the stadium shows of the 1980s.

The face of the band is Michael Kluch. He was nominated for the Thalia Award for his performance in the musical "Freddie". The band has also played at venues most revivals can only dream of. They have performed, for example, at the official celebration for Queen Elizabeth II, at the Montreux Jazz Festival and at the Mercury Montreux Memorial. So if the word "tribute" sounds like a cheap substitute to you, here the opposite is true: it is more of a carefully constructed reconstruction that a casual listener with their eyes closed might not be able to tell apart.

What to expect from the evening at BVV

In short: expect a two-hour run through the Wembley setlist - from One Vision to We Are the Champions - in the original keys and with a big production. The BVV exhibition centre is an established concert venue with good transport links.

The programme mirrors the actual 1986 concert, so the structure of the evening is set in advance and has real momentum. Queen at the time included not only new songs such as One Vision and Who Wants to Live Forever but also older tracks and an acoustic rock 'n' roll medley; the end of the show reprised six songs from Live Aid, and the new Friends Will Be Friends was played as a final encore between We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions. You will hear that same arc in Brno.

You will recognise several hits instantly, whether you are a fan or not. One of the most powerful moments of the Wembley concert was Radio Ga Ga, during which the entire stadium clapped in unison, closely followed by Bohemian Rhapsody with its seamless transition from the operatic passage into the hard-rocking finale. With Queenie, Bohemian Rhapsody is also one of the centrepiece numbers and is performed in the original key, which is far rarer among tribute bands than one might expect.

As for the venue: concerts at the BVV exhibition centre in Brno are nothing new - the site regularly hosts large open-air and indoor events and is well connected to public transport. Arriving early is worthwhile for entry and bar queues, not for finding your way around.

Other Queen events in Brno this year

In short: the August BVV show is not the only opportunity. Three different Queen-related events are taking place in Brno this year, each in a different setting and at a different time.

When you type Queen Brno into a search engine, it is worth looking at the full offering rather than just one date. The Brno events calendar this year offers a trio that covers different moods and budgets.

  • 7 August - Queen Revival, PRYGL BAR. A more intimate club-style option by the Brno reservoir, ideal for a summer evening outdoors. A good choice if you don't want a large venue but prefer a relaxed atmosphere with a beer in hand.
  • 18 August - QUEENIE 2026 - 20 LET TOUR, BVV exhibition centre. The main event of this guide: a large open-air show with the full Wembley programme.
  • 8 December - QUEENSHOW Brno, Sono Centrum. An indoor winter option for those who miss the summer or want to experience Queen one more time before the end of the year.

Three dates, three different venues, three different bands - and all united by the music of the same London foursome. If you enjoy comparing how different revivals approach the same material, Brno this year is the perfect laboratory.

Queenie beyond Brno: where else the tour stops

In short: BVV Brno is just one stop on the summer tour. Queenie is taking the Wembley programme to a number of Czech cities, so if you can't make the August date, there are alternatives elsewhere.

The tour spans the whole summer and some dates are outside Moravia. If you are looking for the same show closer to home, you have several options:

The programme is the same everywhere - the stage will feature the setlist from Queen's concert at Wembley in London in July 1986, performed with faithful arrangements and in the original keys. The main differences are the setting and capacity. A full list of dates and other artists can be found in our events calendar.

Frequently asked questions

Is the actual band Queen really playing in Brno?

No. The original Queen in that line-up no longer performs, and Freddie Mercury died in 1991. The search term Queen Brno on 18 August 2026 at the BVV exhibition centre refers to a concert by Czech tribute band Queenie. They interpret Queen's music as faithfully as possible, but they are not the original band.

Why the Wembley 1986 setlist specifically?

Because it marks a symbolic anniversary. In 2026, exactly 40 years will have passed since the Magic Tour, Queen's last concert tour with Freddie Mercury. Wembley 1986 is also one of the best-documented Queen concerts ever, giving Queenie a precise source to work from.

How good is Queenie? Isn't it just an amateur revival?

Definitely not amateur. Since forming in 2006, the band has performed over 1,400 concerts around the world and sold out the Prague O2 Arena seven times. They are committed to faithfulness to the original - they play songs in the original keys and treat the show as concert theatre.

Are there other Queen events in Brno?

Yes, three in total. In addition to the August BVV show, Queen Revival takes place on 7 August at PRYGL BAR and QUEENSHOW Brno on 8 December at Sono Centrum. Each has a different atmosphere and setting.

Where do I buy tickets?

Tickets for all the events mentioned are sold through the official vendor smsticket.cz; the link leads directly from each event's page on kdykam. We recommend buying in advance, as open-air dates with popular artists tend to sell out during the season.

Conclusion: how to find your way through the options

To sum up what you now know: the search term Queen Brno does not refer to the original band, but to a carefully crafted tribute show. The main summer event belongs to Queenie and their Wembley programme at the BVV exhibition centre on 18 August. Alongside that, Brno also offers the more intimate Queen Revival in August and the indoor QUEENSHOW in December - three different moods, the same music.

What to watch out for? For open-air events, keep an eye on the weather and advance sales, buy tickets through the official link on the event page and arrive with time to spare. If you are interested in more bands dedicated to Queen's legacy, check out profiles such as Queenways or QUEENSHOW, or browse more tips among concerts. Either way, you will get to enjoy Queen's music in Brno this year - now you just know which event suits you best.

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