On 17 November, the Czech Republic commemorates not only the Velvet Revolution (sametová revoluce) of 1989 but also the arrest and execution of Czech students under Nazi occupation in 1939.
The 1989 protests, known as the Velvet Revolution, led to the establishment of the country’s first non-communist government in over four decades and the election of Václav Havel as the last president of Czechoslovakia.
The largest organized event in Prague is Korzo Národní, held on Národní třída (National Avenue)—the site of the student demonstration that ignited the Velvet Revolution. A highlight of the celebrations is the premiere of a short film with the same name, exploring the perception of freedom across generations.
In addition to Korzo Národní, the Festival of Freedom (Festival svobody) coordinates events throughout the Czech Republic. You can find a full overview of activities here.
17 November also serves as a reminder of the tragic events of 1939. On this day, 50 years before the Velvet Revolution, the Nazis arrested more than a thousand university students and teachers following the closure of Czech universities. Nine student leaders were executed.
Each year, Czech students and lecturers gather at Albertov in Prague’s second district to honor these events and celebrate International Students’ Day. Commemorative events are also held at Hlávkova kolej, where Jan Opletal, one of the victims, lived.
Another major highlight is the Concert for the Future (Koncert pro budoucnost), celebrating democratic values, freedom, and the legacy of the Velvet Revolution. This five-hour concert begins at 16:30 on Wenceslas Square—the site where the communist regime’s final collapse began 35 years ago.
