The Czech Dreams in Lviv 2026 festival will take place from 16 to 18 September, following the Summit of Local Leaders, organised by the Partnership Foundation as part of the Partnership for the Sustainable Recovery of Ukraine programme. Three days of culture, encounters, education and Czech-Ukrainian cooperation await us. Each festival day will have its own theme, reflecting the values we aim to support through Czech Dreams – sustainable development, cooperation and networking, and education.

Wednesday, 16 September, will be dedicated to sustainable development. The programme will follow up on the Partnership Foundation’s summit before moving to Dzyga in the evening, where a photography exhibition by Majda Slámová will open, followed by concerts by Jan Fic (CZ) and Josyfovych Live (UA). The first day of the festival will thus bring together the themes of sustainability and recovery with culture and opportunities to meet and connect.

Thursday, 17 September, will focus on cooperation and networking. The morning will begin with the conference “Czech-Ukrainian Networking and Opportunities for Cooperation”, creating a space for sharing experiences, making new connections and further developing cooperation between Czech and Ukrainian partners. Thursday’s programme will also include an interactive presentation dedicated to Leoš Janáček for students of School No. 27 in Lviv.

One of the main highlights of the entire festival will be Thursday’s opening of New Mythologies, an exhibition bringing together the Czech and Ukrainian contemporary art scenes. The exhibition will present works by Markéta Hlinovská, Petr Válek and Sofiia Korotkevych, curated by Barbora Kundračíková. The opening will also feature a sound performance by Petr Válek and Miloš Vojtěchovský. The exhibition will remain on view at the Dzyga gallery until 1 October 2026. The evening will continue with a musical programme featuring Cimbálová muzika Antonína Stehlíka (CZ), Leleka i Paporot (UA) and Ametyst Group (CZ).

Friday, 18 September, will be dedicated to education, sharing experiences and mutual inspiration. The programme will include a showcase by the Lesia Ukrainka Theatre as well as other educational activities. Music will once again take over for the final festival evening, with performances by Cimbálová muzika Antonína Stehlíka (CZ), DJ Lawrin (UA) and Ventolin (CZ), who will bring the three-day programme to a close.

Czech Dreams will also leave a visible mark on Lviv’s public space. Brno-based street artist, poet and graffiti artist Timo will create a new mural – a large-scale artwork painted directly in a public space. The work will gradually take shape throughout the festival, and we will also share the finished mural online.

But Czech Dreams in Lviv is more than a cultural festival. Through educational activities, round-table discussions, working meetings and cooperation with local institutions, we aim to create a space for dialogue, the exchange of experience and the development of new Czech-Ukrainian connections. Bringing culture together with sustainable development, cooperation and education is one of the central ideas of this year’s festival.

Czech Dreams in Lviv also takes place within the framework of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Music Network. Special thanks go to the Brno – UNESCO City of Music office for its support of this year’s edition.