Žatecká Dočesná 2026

Žatecká Dočesná is the largest hop and beer festival in the European Union and the longest-running of its kind in the Czech Republic. Its 69th edition takes place on 4 and 5 September 2026 in the historic centre of Žatec. The festival originated as a celebration of the final hop harvest and has grown into a major cultural event. The main organiser is the Městské divadlo Žatec (Žatec Municipal Theatre), with the City of Žatec as the main partner.

The programme runs across several stages — in the historic centre on both Friday and Saturday, and at other venues on Saturday only. Visitors can enjoy performances by bands from a wide range of genres on two main stages, take part in traditional competitions (hand-picking hops, dancing with a beer mug balanced on your head), and sample beers from around 50 breweries from across the country and abroad, including a professional tasting session.

The programme also features a historical theatre sketch culminating in the knighting of a selected hop grower, the ceremonial tapping of a beer barrel, and the pulling of the last hop bine. The supporting programme includes activities at the Chrám chmele a piva (Temple of Hops and Beer), the tongue-in-cheek Muzeum Homolupulů exhibition featuring the world's oldest brewer Lojza Lupulín in the Hussite Bastion, and an hourly historical show with medieval music, dancing, jugglers, swordsmen, and a fire show.

Entry to most stages is free; the open-air cinema stage requires a ticket.