On 28 October 1918 Czechoslovakia was declared an independent state in Prague. The day, known in Czech as Den vzniku samostatného československého státu, is the country’s main state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday 28 October. For visitors it is a good day to see inside buildings that are usually closed, but you need to plan around the shops. See our public holidays guide for the rest of the year.
What Opens Free
| Senate open day Wallenstein Palace, Valdštejnské náměstí 4, Malá Strana |
The Wallenstein and Kolowrat palaces open from early morning until 17:00. You can see the halls of the palace, the debating chamber and rooms not normally shown to the public. Free entry; expect queues. |
| Chamber of Deputies open day Sněmovní 4, Malá Strana |
09:00–16:00. The state rooms, the main debating chamber and some committee rooms. Free entry. |
| National Gallery Prague various buildings |
10:00–18:00, free entry to selected permanent exhibitions, including Old Masters, Medieval Art in Bohemia and Central Europe, Art of the Long Century and the First Czechoslovak Republic display. Temporary exhibitions are not included. |
Ne Beklemeli
Official commemorations usually include wreath-laying at the National Memorial on Vítkov, a ceremonial changing of the guard at Prague Castle, and the president presenting state honours at the Castle in the evening. The honours ceremony is by invitation only and broadcast on television. The 2026 programme had not been published when we checked. The Czech history timeline explains what happened in 1918 and after.
Practical Notes
- Shops: By law, shops with more than 200 m² of sales floor, including supermarkets and shopping centres, must close on 28 October. Small shops, petrol stations, pharmacies and shops at stations and the airport can open.
- Getting there: The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies are both a short walk from Malostranská (metro line A).
- Go early: Queues build quickly, especially at the Senate.
- Museums: The National Museum is not free on 28 October; its next free day is Sunday 1 November.
[…] Free days: National Gallery free-admission days usually cover the permanent collections only. This exhibition is not on the published list for 28 October. […]