This year’s Frankfurt Book Fair - the largest of its kind in the world - holds special significance for Czechia, as it prepares to take over the 2026 Guest of Honour title. Radio Prague International spoke with Martin Krafl, director of the Czech Literary Centre, who is in Frankfurt for the event and knows more.

The Vanished Bells (“Zaniklé Zvony”) project, a collaboration between Czech Radio and Wikimedia Czech Republic, has been launched online to preserve Czech cultural heritage. It focuses on recording and digitizing the sounds of historic bells, many of which are tied to early 20th-century Czech history, including those that were repurposed during the Second World War for the war effort.

Sparks of Freedom — that is the name of a new exhibition at Brno’s Moravian Museum. It tells how British academics and intellectuals reached across the Iron Curtain to support Czech dissidents in the 1980s, focusing on the work of the Jan Hus Educational Foundation and the quiet acts of courage that helped keep independent thought alive under communist rule.

Matyáš Boháček is hailed as one of the most promising figures in Czech AI. He has been described as a genius and a “wunderkind” of Czech science, which comes as little surprise given the achievements of the young AI expert who graduated from high school in Prague just two years ago. In an interview with Radio Prague International, he shares a refreshingly optimistic view of the future of AI.

The popular Signal Festival will once again light up the streets of Prague. Known for its breath-taking displays that bring buildings to life, Signal has become the most visited cultural event in the Czech Republic. Now in its 13th year, the festival will present 20 installations across Prague, combining contemporary visual art with urban space and modern technology. Radio Prague International spoke to the festival’s director, Martin Pošta, about what the festival has to offer.

Czech President Petr Pavel delivered a speech at the Forum 2000 international conference in Prague on Monday. He addressed the security threat posed by Russia, which, according to Pavel, aims to dismantle Europe step by step. “Russia poses a fundamental threat to European freedom, security, and democracy,” the president stated.

Talks on forming a new Czech government have run into serious difficulties over two potential nominees from the Motorists’ party. While the likely future head of government, Andrej Babiš (ANO) would prefer for the party to nominate experts to its four allotted portfolios, the Motorists have made it clear that either their members get posts in the cabinet or the party goes into the opposition - a move that would scupper ANO’s chances of forming a majority government.

A record number of young candidates won seats in the recent Czech parliamentary elections— a fourfold increase compared to the previous term. Why are young people suddenly gaining voter support? And what role do political youth organisations play in this?

The prestigious Bonifantes Boys’ Choir from Pardubice is setting off on a tour of Japan. One of the highlights of the tour will be a performance at Expo 2025 in Osaka, where the choir will premiere Panta Rhei, a composition by Czech composer Jan Jirásek, based on texts from Japanese and Christian liturgy.

The town of Opočno, known for its beautiful Renaissance castle, is hosting the 58th edition of its annual International Falconry Meeting. Organized by the Czech Falconry Club, the event draws falconers from across Europe, filling the skies above the castle and surrounding countryside with majestic birds of prey.