26th

international bagpipe festival Strakonice

20th - 23rd August 2026

25th

international bagpipe festival Strakonice

22nd - 25th August 2024

ABOUT FESTIVAL

The festival is one of the most important folklore festivals in the world in terms of its scope and quality. Each year of the festival is an opportunity to meet and get to know each other’s ensembles and individuals who present bagpipes. The performers are united by their love of tradition and folk art. For the 26th time, bagpipers and bagpipe ensembles from various countries of the world will gather in Strakonice to play, sing, dance and together create the International Bagpipe Festival. The audience will have the opportunity to admire the beauty and diversity of the costumes and musical and dance traditions of different nations. Over time, the Bagpipe Festival has become one of the main pillars of cultural events in Strakonice and plays an irreplaceable role in the presentation of our town and Czech folklore throughout the world.

The International Bagpipe Festival (MDF) is organized by the Strakonice Municipal Cultural Centre and the Town of Strakonice, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the South Bohemian Region.

The event is held under the auspices of the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, the Minister of Culture, Oto Klempíř, and the Governor of the South Bohemian Region, Martin Kuba.

opening words of the mayor
Opening words by the Chairman of the Programme Board

Previous years

1967
1967
1968
1968
1969
1969
1972
1972
1975
1975
1978
1978
1980
1980
1983
1983
1986
1986
1989
1989
1992
1992
1994
1994
1996
1996
1998
1998
2000
2000
2002
2002
2004
2004
2006
2006
2008
2008
2010
2010
2012
2012
2014
2014
2016
2016
2018
2018
2022
2022

ENSEMBLES

CZECH

Czech ensembles with a long tradition that regularly perform at the bagpipe festival.

LIST OF BANDS

FOREIGN

Foreign ensembles with a long tradition regularly return to the bagpipe festival.

LIST OF BANDS

CHILD'S

Children's ensembles are a regular revival of piping and a contribution of the younger generation.

LIST OF BANDS

INDIVIDUALS

Every year we also welcome individual bagpipers, who add variety to the traditional parade.

LIST OF INDIVIDUALS

OTHERS

Traditionally, we also try to introduce you to alternative bagpipe music or the production of the bagpipes themselves.

LIST OF OTHERS

PROGRAMME

parade map
program for download
THURSDAY - 20th August
FRIDAY - 21st August
SATURDAY - 22nd August
SUNDAY - 23rd August
AKCE NA HRADĚ
AKCE U MARKÉTY
AKCE U PIVOVARU
AKCE NA LETŇÁKU
PROGRAM ČTVREK 22.8.
PROGRAM PÁTEK 23.8.
PROGRAM SOBOTA 24.8.
PROGRAM NEDĚLE 25.8.

TICKETS

Admission except VIP seats to the Open-air Cinema is FREE!

VIP Seating: 350 CZK (other areas free of charge).

These events are highly popular and venue capacity is limited. To guarantee a seat, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance. All other seating and standing areas are free until capacity is reached. By purchasing a pre-sale ticket, you guarantee your entry, skip the queues, and avoid the risk of the venue being fully booked.

Pre-sale ends on August 16, 2026.

TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON AT www.meks-st.cz

THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY

CONTACT US

  • www.meks-st.cz
  • +420 380 422 737
  • +420 380 422 744

Municipal Cultural Centre

František Christelbauer

festival director

Dana Skoupilová

festival tenant

Zdeněk Vejvoda

chairman of the programme committee

Do you have a question?

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Czech ensembles

Prácheňský soubor písní a tanců Strakonice

Mladá dudácká muzika Strakonice

Pošumavská dudácká muzika

Strakonická dudácká muzika

Dudácká muzika Pod Rumpálem

Dudáci ze Strakonic

Švandova dudácká muzika

Elčovická dudácká muzika

Stay tuned for more!

Foreign ensembles

Scotland

Skotská vlajka

NEILSTON DISTRICT PIPE BAND
Russel Mechan – group leader

  •  

Austria

rakouská vlajka

WINKELTANZ 
Michael Vereno – group leader

STEYRISCHE BORDUNMUSIK

Sepp Pichler – group leader

Greece

řecká vlajka

CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF FILYRO – GROUP OF TRADITIONAL DANCES

Konstantinos Lazaridis – group leader

  •  

Slovakia

slovenská vlajka

FS GYMNIK

Kristína Šatánková – group leader

Poland

polská vlajka

Zespół Pieśni i Tańca “Żeńcy Wielkopolscy”

Rafał Rosolski – group leader

Hungary

madarská vlajka

VIRTUS HUNGARIAN BAGPIPE ENSEMBLE
DÁVID KIRÁLY – group leader

Georgia

gruzínská vlajka

GEORGIAN CHOREOGRAPHIC ENSEMBLE “JVARULI”
SALOME BANETISHVILI & LEVAN TABATADZE – group leaders

Belgium

belgická vlajka

c’Eolis

Pol Ranson – group leader

Spain

španělská vlajka

REAL BANDA DE GAITAS

Vedoucí souboru: Xosé Lois Foxo

Mallorca

španělská vlajka

Xeremiers de Mallorca

Cassandre Balosso-Bardin / Càndid Trujillo – group leader

France

francouzská vlajka

BAGAD PLOUGASTELL

Nolwenn Smetryns – group leader

Netherlands

nizozemská vlajka

HAILANDER
JEROEN DE GROOT – group leader

Turkey

turecká vlajka

RAKSAN ANADOLU

Suat Aydın – group leader

Germany

německá vlajka

SERBSKA REJOWANSKA SKUPINA SMJERDŹACA

Gabriel Schneider – group leader

Bulgaria

bulharská vlajka

PHILIP KOUTEV” NATIONAL SCHOOL OF FOLK ARTS

Maria Gradeshlieva – group leader

Children's ensembles

Dětský národopisný soubor Brněnský Valášek

Folklorní soubor Ondrášek, z. s., Frýdek-Místek

Dětský folklorní soubor Prácheňáček

 

… Stay tuned for more!

Individuals

To Be Announced

To Be Announced

Others

To Be Announced

To Be Announced

Programme for Thursday, 20 August 2026

20:00 – 22:00 | International Bagpipe Soiree

(Castle Courtyard – P. Ředina)

 

ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMME

    • Bagpipes and Bagpipe Traditions – Permanent exhibition at the Museum of Central Otava (Open 09:00–17:00)

    • The Beauty of Bagpipes – Exhibition in the Chapter Hall, Museum of Central Otava (August 2026)

    • Bagpipe Symposium – Museum of Central Otava (August 19 – 20, 2026)

    • Old Czech Fair at the castle below Jelenka (August 20 – 23)

    • European Meeting of Bagpipe Makers in the 3rd Castle Courtyard (August 22 – 23)

    • Nobody knows like me, how to mow the meadow… – Association of Czech Mowers: mowing of the meadow near Manor Garden / Panská zahrada (August 22, 09:00–11:30)

Programme for Friday, 21 August 2026

10:00 – 17:30 | Open Stage

(Manor Garden / „Panská zahrada“)

10:30 – 12:00 | When the Prácheňáček Ensembles Members Meet

Program for the 45th anniversary of the ensemble (Castle Courtyard – S. Svobodová)

13:00 – 14:30 | Musical Visiting Card of Foreign Guests

(Castle Courtyard – Z. Vejvoda)

15:00 – 16:30 | In Strakonice the Bagpipes are Roaring…

Vojtěch Hrubý (1915–2006). A musical look back at an exceptional bagpipe and pedagogical personality (Knight’s Hall – P. Eremiáš, presented by Kamil Jindřich)

16:30 – 18:00 | When Bagpipes Resound Through the Countryside

Program of bagpipers and bagpipe bands of Southwest Bohemia for the jubilee of Miroslav Stecher (Castle Courtyard – I. Novotná)

17:00 – 18:00 | Gajdy in Slovakia – Slovak Bagpipe Traditions

(Knight’s Hall – B. Garaj)

18:30 – 21:00 | Gala Concert of Foreign Ensembles

(Open-air Cinema – D. Pavlíček)

21:30 – 22:00 | Grand Opening of the Festival

(Katovická St., J. Palach Bridge, Brewery Footbridge)

22:30 – 00:00 | Bagpipe Nocturno of the Pilsen Region Folk Instrument Orchestra

A cheerful memory of Zdeněk Bláha (1925–2005) (Castle Courtyard – Z. Vejvoda)

 

STAGE BY BREWERY

14:30–15:00 Dudácká muzika ZUŠ Strakonice

15:30–16:00 C’eolis (Belgium)

16:30–17:00 Mallorca

17:30–18:15 Nektarka (Strakonice)

18:30–19:00 Úsvit (České Budějovice)

19:30–20.00 Chodský soubor (Mrákov)

20:30–21:00 Mladá dudácká muzika

 

ST. MARGARET’S STAGE

11:00–11:30 Schmerlitz (Upper Lusatia, Germany)

12:00–12:30 Diavlos (Georgia)

13:00–13:30 Gymnik (Slovakia)

14:00–14:30 Philip Koutev (Bulgaria)

15:00–15:30 Neilston and District Pipe Band (Scottland, GB)

16:00–16:30 Bagad Plougastell (Brittany, France)

17:00–18:00 Shivers (Strakonice)

18:30–19:30 Tempus (Kyjov) 19

20:00–21:30 Triddana (Argentina)

22:30–00:00 Celtica (Austria)

 

ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMME

    • Bagpipes and Bagpipe Traditions – Permanent exhibition at the Museum of Central Otava (Open 09:00–17:00)

    • The Beauty of Bagpipes – Exhibition in the Chapter Hall, Museum of Central Otava (August 2026)

    • Bagpipe Symposium – Museum of Central Otava (August 19 – 20, 2026)

    • Old Czech Fair at the castle below Jelenka Tower (August 20 – 23)

    • European Meeting of Bagpipe Makers in the 3rd Castle Courtyard (August 22 – 23)

    • Nobody knows like me, how to mow the meadow… – Association of Czech Mowers: mowing of the meadow near Manor Garden / Panská zahrada (August 22, 09:00–11:30)

Programme for Saturday, 22 August 2026

09:30 – 11:00 | Concert of Spiritual Music

(St. Margaret’s Church – T. Spurný)

10:00 – 12:00 | In no other place and no other zone, will you hear more bagpipe’s tone.

Regional program of ensembles and bagpipe bands from the Strakonice region (Castle Courtyard – M. Rusek & I. Novotná)

13:00 – 15:00 | Dance Card of Foreign Ensembles

(Castle Courtyard – Z. Vejvoda)

13:00 – 14:00 | Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter: Singing songs makes life much better.

Playful program for children and parents (Maltese Hall – I. Novotná)

13:00 – 14:30 | When the Musette Dances

Baroque music and dance with court bagpipes (St. Margaret’s Church – K. Hodinová)

15:00 – 16:00 | Magic on the Bagpipes

Showcase of domestic and international bagpipe soloists (Knight’s Hall – P. Ředina)

15:00 – 16:30 | Bagpipes in World Music

(Manor Garden – M. Vaváček)

16:00 – 17:30 | In Strakonice Behind the Altar

Program of ensembles from Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia (Castle Courtyard – Z. Vejvoda)

16:00 – 17:30 | When the Musette Dances – Repeat performance

(St. Margaret’s Church – K. Hodinová)

18:30 – 21:00 | Hear the bagpipe whistle play, at the Strakonice Gala today

Gala concert of (not only) foreign ensembles (Open-air Cinema – M. Rusek)

21:30 – 23:30 | Medieval Bagpipes in the Castle and the Castle Grounds

(Castle Courtyard – M. Vaváček)

22:00 – 01:00 | Bagpipe Ball with Dance Lessons for Everyone

(Culture House – I. Novotná, J. Bašta)

ST. MARGARET’S STAGE

09:30-17:00 (TBA)

17:30 Bajadéra Joy | 19:00 Moravian Bastards | 20:30 Arcus Chomutov | 22:30 Skiltron

ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMME

    • Bagpipes and Bagpipe Traditions – Permanent exhibition at the Museum of Central Otava (Open 09:00–17:00)

    • The Beauty of Bagpipes – Exhibition in the Chapter Hall, Museum of Central Otava (August 2026)

    • Bagpipe Symposium – Museum of Central Otava (August 19 – 20, 2026)

    • Old Czech Fair at the castle below Jelenka (August 20 – 23)

    • European Meeting of Bagpipe Makers in the 3rd Castle Courtyard (August 22 – 23)

    • Nobody knows like me, how to mow the meadow… – Association of Czech Mowers: mowing of the meadow near Manor Garden / Panská zahrada (August 22, 09:00–11:30)

Programme for Sunday, 23 August 2025

10:00 – 11:30 | How the Bagpiper Went into the World

(Castle Courtyard – S. Svobodová)

10:00 – 11:00 | Contrasts

Bagpipes in various musical genres (Knight’s Hall – I. Novotná)

11:30 – 12:30 | The Secret of Making Bagpipes

Historical crafts and bagpipe makers of European regions (Third Courtyard – M. Vaváček)

13:00 – 14:30 | FESTIVAL PARADE Through the Town

14:30 – 15:00 | Meeting of Bagpipers from All Corners of the World

Entry into the Czech Book of Records

(Open-air Cinema)

15:00 – 17:30 | Final Gala Concerts of Foreign Ensembles

(Open-air Cinema, Castle Courtyard – D. Pavlíček, Z. Vejvoda)

ST. MARGARET’S STAGE

09:00 – 10:30 International Bagpipe Mass

ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMME

  • Bagpipes and Bagpipe Traditions – Permanent exhibition at the Museum of Central Otava (Open 09:00–17:00)

  • The Beauty of Bagpipes – Exhibition in the Chapter Hall, Museum of Central Otava (August 2026)

  • Bagpipe Symposium – Museum of Central Otava (August 19 – 20, 2026)

  • Old Czech Fair at the castle below Jelenka (August 20 – 23)

  • European Meeting of Bagpipe Makers in the 3rd Castle Courtyard (August 22 – 23)

  • Nobody knows like me, how to mow the meadow… – Association of Czech Mowers: mowing of the meadow near Manor Garden / Panská zahrada (August 22, 09:00–11:30)