May 5–9, 2027: Five Days When Pilsen Remembers
You will know it the moment you step onto náměstí Republiky: the low rumble of a restored military vehicle idling at the edge of the square, the smell of grilled sausages and dark beer drifting from the stalls, the press of crowds who have come from across Czechia and from the United States to stand in the same square. This is the Liberation Festival Pilsen — Slavnosti svobody — held in 2027 from May 5 to 9, the city's annual commemoration of the liberation of Pilsen and southwestern Bohemia by US forces at the end of the Second World War. The festival is organized by the Municipality of the City of Pilsen and the Pilsen Region, and the atmosphere is part street party, part living history lesson, part reunion.
Stand Where the Liberation Happened
The heart of the festival is the city center, and the natural place to begin is náměstí Republiky, where the festival's own offices sit at number 16. Come here first to orient yourself, pick up program information, and feel the scale of the event before you wander.
- Walk the square and the surrounding streets as the commemorative events unfold — this is where the city gathers.
- Watch for the veterans. The festival honors veterans of the US 2nd Infantry Division and 26th Infantry Division, along with other WWII Europe veterans, and their presence is what gives the weekend its weight. The 2nd Infantry Division liberated Pilsen and southwestern Bohemia.
- Keep an eye out for the restored military vehicles and period encampments that traditionally accompany the commemoration — check the official program pages under slavnostisvobody.cz/en/program/ for the specific 2027 lineup as it is published.
Concerts, Ceremonies and the Evening Sky
The five-day program runs from morning ceremonies to late-night music. The festival's published materials confirm the overall dates and the program section of the website; individual concert times, parade routes and fireworks slots for 2027 are published there rather than fixed far in advance. Plan your days around the program once it drops.
- Expect official commemorative ceremonies honoring the liberation and the veterans — these are the fixed points of the weekend.
- Expect concerts and public celebrations in the city center across the five days.
- Expect a fireworks display as part of the festival's closing celebrations — confirm the exact evening on the official program.
- Check slavnostisvobody.cz/en/program/ before you travel and again on arrival; the program is the authoritative source for times and venues.
Eat and Drink Your Way Through the Festival
Pilsen is the home of Pilsner Urquell, and the festival is a good excuse to drink it where it is made. The city center fills with market stalls and food stands during Slavnosti svobody.
- Order a tankard of Pilsner Urquell — this is the city that gave the world the pilsner style.
- Look for the festival food stalls around náměstí Republiky and the adjoining streets: grilled sausages, hearty Czech dishes, and street food served throughout the day and into the evening.
- Use the daytime lull to sit down properly at a restaurant in the center — the festival crowds thin between the afternoon ceremonies and the evening program.
When to Go and How to Plan Around It
The 2027 festival runs May 5–9. Early May in Pilsen is mild and green, and the city is at its most animated during these five days. Because this is a commemorative event as much as a festival, the schedule mixes solemn ceremonies with street celebration — build in time for both.
- Book accommodation in the city center well ahead; the festival draws visitors from Czechia, the Pilsen Region, and the United States.
- Contact the organizers directly for program questions: náměstí Republiky 16, 306 32 Plzeň; tel. +420 378 032 506; email slavnostisvobody@plzen.eu.
- Follow the festival's news section for announcements about veterans' visits and program additions in the run-up to May.
Beyond the Festival: Pilsen as Your Base
The Liberation Festival is the reason to come in May 2027, but Pilsen rewards a longer stay. Use the mornings before the program begins to explore the city center on foot, and let the festival's own geography — the square, the surrounding streets, the official venues — be your map. The Pilsen Region is a partner in the festival, and the surrounding countryside of southwestern Bohemia is the landscape the liberation itself moved through.
Start with the dates: May 5–9, 2027. Check the official program at slavnostisvobody.cz/en/program/, book a room near náměstí Republiky, and give yourself at least one full day on either side of the festival to walk the city that the 2nd Infantry Division reached in 1945 — and that fills its square every May to remember it.