Czechia in 30 minutes

The Babiš government’s fast-tracking of legislation to end license fees and fund Czech Television and Czech Radio from the state budget sparked protests at the weekend. Ian Willoughby discussed the situation in Pundit series with political scientist Jiří Pehe and Vít Pohanka prepared a report from demonstrations in two of the country's biggest cities.

In the weekend edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, we revisit two reports recorded during the COVID pandemic, exploring the distinctive character of two very different Czech cities. Singer-songwriter Jaromír Nohavica reflects on his hometown of Ostrava, its industrial heritage and transformation. In picturesque Český Krumlov, artist Jana Pešková and radio documentary maker Ivan Studený recall how mass tourism changed their town and its atmosphere.

Gratias Agit Awards 2026: from preserving veterans’ legacy to promoting Czech music, Unsound Siblings: 1970s Egon Bondy novel gets English translation, More than tricks: How Czech freeskiers built a community on and off the slopes

News, unprecedented El Niño to hit Czechs in the wallet, Ji.hlava at 30: Documentaries that changed the world, Kingdom Come: Deliverance star Luke Dale on becoming a Prague “innkeeper”

News, Czech galleries explore art’s potential to improve mental health, Czech crop invention heads to European farms through British partnership

News, historic Spitfire returns to Czechia after decades abroad, exhibition documents Sigmund Freud’s childhood in his hometown of Příbor, Moravia

ANO failed to take a single constituency in second round run-offs to one-third of the seats in the Senate, virtual reconstruction of the Rolava-Sauersack tin mine and the history and future of one of the most distinctive and unique features of Czech public life: 11 million inhabitants divided into more than 6,200 municipalities.

How did Václav Havel lead, and did power change him? In the weekend edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, Alexander Vondra recalls the dissident playwright who became president—and the friend he knew after his years at Prague Castle. Marking what would have been Václav Havel’s 90th birthday, we return to our interview in a longer version, exploring his character, his painstaking approach to speeches and the demands of political life.

Health Ministry planning financial incentive for preventive screenings, critics skeptical, “It’s unbelievable”: Pavel Haas Quartet wins latest Gramophone prize with Martinů: String Quartets, “There was no censorship”: Tomki Němec on photographing Václav Havel

Many in culture sphere in Czechia angered over new state arts policy; parrot breeding success for Prague Zoo.