„Brno is fully alive in summer – festivals, world-renowned names on stage and on the circuit, award-winning restaurants and architecture that will impress you. Something is happening in Brno at least every weekend, but at the same time, no one will judge you, even if you just enjoy the sea of Brno's gastro gardens in peace. This year’s season is exceptional, and we are happy to show why it is worth exchanging a holiday resort for the center of Brno,“ attracts Jana Janulíková, director of TIC BRNO
Festival after festival – a different rhythm every week
Brno is a UNESCO Creative City of Music, and in summer, everyone who arrives will notice it. The festival calendar is packed from June to the end of August – almost every weekend something is happening, and each event appeals to a different audience.
All summer long, the multi-genre UPROSTŘED Festival (June–August) intertwines, spreading music, theater, and dance right in the heart of the city – you will simply stumble upon it and enjoy it for free. You may also randomly discover the public art festival Brno Art Open (June–October), which will showcase 14 Czech and foreign artists in the Old Brno area. The summer stage Summer at the Bishop's Courtyard (June 6 – August 2) will transform the historic premises of the Moravian Museum under Petrov into an outdoor theater and concert hall at the same time.
In July, a family trip for science will be offered by the popular science Mendel Festival (July 12–19), and on Kraví hora, giant models of celestial bodies will be set up during the Brno Planet Festival (July 6–12 and August 3–9). At the beginning of August, a musical trio arrives: the progressive Pop Messe, the multi-genre Marathon of Music Brno and the International Guitar Festival (all from August 6–8). Špilberk Festival (August 17–23) will close the music season with grand symphonies, operatic arias, and film music under the open sky at the castle.
South American temperament will be brought by Brasil Fest Brno (July 30 – August 2) with a carnival party and flavors of Brazilian cuisine. The 29th edition of the summer folk evenings F SCÉNA at the Bishop's Courtyard (July 23–25) will represent folk tradition. Theater and art will be covered by ProART (July 16–23) and the festival On the Boards, Pavement, and Grass (August 20–23). Brno Day (August 14–16) annually commemorates the successful defense of the city against Swedish armies in 1645.
The summer festival season will be concluded by Štetl Fest (August 26–30) – the largest international multi-genre festival of Jewish culture in the Czech Republic, which brings a rich tradition in all its diversity to the public space.
World sports in Brno – from the Masaryk circuit to volleyball courts
After the successful return of the world championship to the Masaryk circuit last year, the second edition of MotoGP is coming in a new, pre-holiday term: June 19–21, 2026. Last year's edition, which was attended by a total of 219,544 people over three days, confirms that Brno has much to offer as a destination for world motorsport.
However, the sports summer in Brno does not end with motorsport. In July, the city will host the Women's U17 Basketball World Championship (July 11–19). And after a long 29 years, the Women's Volleyball European Championship – CEV EuroVolley (August 21 – September 2) is returning to the Czech Republic – and Brno will be one of the venues. Both events will bring an international audience and a unique sports atmosphere directly to the city center.
The Tugendhat Villa celebrates a quarter-century on the UNESCO list
This year’s tourist season has a clear star: the Tugendhat Villa. The iconic work of architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe will celebrate two anniversaries in 2026 – 25 years on the UNESCO World Heritage List and 140 years since the birth of its creator. The celebrations are spread throughout the year, but the summer highlight will come in August.
From August 7–9, the celebration Light Up Tugendhat will take place, connecting the Tugendhat Villa, the Arnold Villa, and the Löw-Beer Villa. In their gardens, which connect and create a unique whole, mirror surfaces and objects reflecting the surrounding greenery will be installed. After dark, light projections will take over, and laser beams will symbolically connect all three iconic houses.
There are also novelties at Špilberk Castle, managed by the Museum of the City of Brno together with the Tugendhat Villa: from May 1, a new castle restaurant has been in operation, and in August, the first part of the modernized casemates will be opened to the public.
Gastronomy at its peak – Michelin, Gault&Millau, and Gourmet Brno
South Moravia has become a recognized gastronomic destination on a European scale – and Brno is its natural center. The Michelin Guide awarded a total of seven Brno establishments in 2025: the prestigious BibGourmand was awarded to Bar ATELIER & bistro and Valoria, while Kohout NA VÍNĚ, Borgo Agnese, ELEMENT, Pavillon Steak House, and PRIME STEAK made it to the Michelin Selected (recommended restaurants) category. The Michelin star for the South Moravian region then went to the Essens restaurant in the Hraniční Castle in the Lednice-Valtice area.
The Gault&Millau guide, which entered the Czech Republic for the first time in 2025, included dozens of establishments on the South Moravian map – South Moravia ranked second in the entire republic after Prague. Among the awarded Brno establishments are, for example, Atelier cocktail bar & bistro, Valoria, Pavillon Steak House, Soyshi Brno, or Vittorio Restaurant.
Local excellence has been mapped for ten years by the Gourmet Brno project, organized by TIC BRNO. In seven categories – restaurants, bistros, patisseries, cafes, pubs, bars, and wine bars – it independently evaluates the best Brno establishments. It is a reliable guide for gourmets who want to get even more out of their visit to Brno.
Summer terraces and gardens in Brno are not just a trendy affair – they are part of the character of the city. The center is alive, locals spend their free time outside, and the atmosphere of Zelný trh or Jakubské náměstí in summer evenings is unmatched in Czech cities.
Brno's underground: cooling and fascination
Brno's underground is among the most impressive tourist attractions of the South Moravian metropolis – and in summer it offers a welcome refreshment. Whether visitors descend into the monumental Žlutý kopec Reservoirs, the medieval Labyrinth under Zelný trh, the ossuary at St. James, the storied cellars under the New Town Hall full of legends, watermen, and history, or into the raw anti-nuclear shelter Denis under Petrov – everywhere, a stable temperature of around 14 degrees Celsius awaits, along with a dose of mystery that shrouds places hidden from ordinary sight.
The Capuchin Crypt is also worth mentioning and visiting, which is celebrating an anniversary this year: in May, it was 370 years since the consecration of the monastery church of the Finding of the Holy Cross at Capuchin Square. For the anniversary, guided tours and a lecture by Brno underground expert Aleš Svoboda are prepared.
Those who want to experience the underground and other Brno monuments comfortably can use the BRNOPAS tourist card – it offers free entries to top Brno attractions and a number of other discounts throughout South Moravia. More at www.brnopas.cz.
Selection of top summer events 2026:
Festival UPROSTŘED June–August www.festivaluprostred.cz
Brno Art Open June–October www.brnoartopen.cz
Summer at the Bishop's Courtyard June 6 – August 2 www.letonabiskupskemdvore.cz
Brno Brass Fest June 11–15 www.brnobrassfest.cz
MotoGP Brno June 19–21 www.motogpbrno.com
Brno Art Open June 19 – October 11 www.brnoartopen.cz
Brno Planet Festival July 6–12 and August 3–9 www.festivalplanetbrno.cz
Mendel Festival July 12–19 www.mendelje.cz
Women's U17 Basketball World Championship July 11–19 cz.basketball
F SCÉNA – folk evenings July 23–25 www.fosjanosik.cz
Brasil Fest Brno July 30 – August 2 www.brasilfestbrno.cz
Pop Messe August 6–8 www.popmesse.cz
Marathon of Music Brno August 6–8 www.maratonhudby.cz
Light Up Tugendhat August 7–9 www.tugendhat.eu
Špilberk Festival August 17–23 https://filharmonie-brno.cz/festival-spilberk/
Brno Day August 14–16 www.denbrna.cz
On the Boards, Pavement, and Grass August 20–23 www.prknadlazbatrava.cz
CEV EuroVolley (women) August 21 – September 2 eurovolley.cev.eu
Štetl Fest August 26–30 www.stetl.cz
More events at https://www.gotobrno.cz/kalendar-akci/
