First Czech-Slovak Folklore Festival in the United Kingdom
18.05.2026 / 10:30 | Aktualizováno: 18.05.2026 / 10:34
The very first Czech-Slovak Folklore Festival in the United Kingdom took place on Saturday, 16 May, at the premises of the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in London. The event showcased the richness of Czech and Slovak folk traditions not only to the expatriate community, but also to the wider British public and guests from other countries.
The festival, held with the support of both diplomatic missions, attracted folklore ensembles from various parts of the United Kingdom as well as from abroad.
The programme offered a diverse showcase of folk performances, traditional songs, dances, and crafts. In addition to the ensembles Kvítek, Květinek, and Květ z Okenka, the event featured the Lipa ensemble from Scotland, London-based groups Morena and Sovička, the Citrónek choir from the Czech School Without Borders, as well as other individuals and organisations active within the Czech and Slovak community.
The festival marked the first opportunity for Czech and Slovak folklore groups in the United Kingdom to come together on such a scale. A significant sign of interest in the event was the attendance of representatives from embassies and cultural institutions of other countries, including Italy, Cyprus, Australia, and Poland. The organisers view this participation as an encouraging step towards the further development of the festival and its international reach.
The organisers are already planning future editions and have begun discussions with partners with the aim of further developing and expanding the event.
The first edition has thus laid a solid foundation for a new tradition, with the potential to become an important platform for the presentation of Central European culture in an international environment.