From 12 to 15 September, Trenčín will transform into a city that is not afraid to be curious and ask questions. The Festival of Curiosity will offer a rich cultural and social programme that will connect different parts of the city, stories and generations.
The festival as a dress rehearsal for the European Capital of Culture
The Festival of Curiosity is a preview of 2026, when Trenčín will fully present itself as the European Capital of Culture. For four days, the city will turn into an open platform full of music, art, history and experiences for all ages. “The Festival of Curiosity is an invitation to everyone who wants to discover Trenčín through different eyes. It is our dress rehearsal for 2026 – a test of how we can connect the stories of the city with people and their curiosity,” says Stanislav Krajči, director of Trenčín 2026.
The event will start on Friday, 12 September at 5 p.m. Throughout the festival, “Curiosity Studios” will be open in the city centre, where visitors will be able to try out music, puppet theatre and visual experiments.
A wide range of experiences
The mayor of Trenčín Richard Rybníček sees the festival as an important test of the city’s readiness: “This will be the biggest test for us before 2026 – during one weekend, Trenčín will host several different types of events for different audiences. I believe that thanks to the close cooperation between the institutions involved, we will be able to prepare an interesting and high-quality programme for every visitor.”
Institutions administered by the region will also be involved in the programme – Trenčín Castle has prepared an event for Saturday afternoon combining crafts, folklore, tastings and knighting for everyone who completes the Považská Castle Trail. “I am delighted that our regional cultural institutions are actively involved in the programme, as well as the regional tourism organisation Trenčín Region. Thanks to the Považská Castle Trail project, the festival is naturally spreading throughout the region and helping to fulfil our goal of supporting the development of tourism in the region,” adds Jaroslav Baška, President of the Trenčín Self-Governing Region.
More than a dozen concerts by young performers with the potential to become stars of the Slovak and European music scene will be offered by Garáž, the flagship of support for emerging musicians. A three-day showcase of young bands in M. R. Štefánik Park (12–14 September) will feature concerts, workshops and meetings between music professionals and new talent. Lovers of circus arts will be thrilled by the new circus street performance Propane Punk Show, which will transform Mierové námestie into a night-time stage full of fire, acrobatics and adrenaline on Saturday 13 September at 8 p.m.
The celebration of the iconic KKC Hviezda building will bring a programme dedicated to its 85th anniversary from Friday to Sunday, including creative workshops and exhibitions. The highlight will be Saturday’s concert by Fvck_Kvlt and Dušan Vlk at 8:30 p.m., followed by a concert by the Bratislava Hot Serenaders on Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
The FORMAAT Gallery will host the Autoreport exhibition, which will be presented by the curator during a guided tour on Sunday, 14 September at 5:30 p.m. In addition, there will be a series of community events called Živé susedstvá (Living Neighbourhoods), which will connect city neighbourhoods through shared breakfasts, barbecues, folklore flavours and a cake picnic throughout the week.
The programme will also include the tenth anniversary edition, which will take place over two weekend days – Saturday, 13 September and Sunday, 14 September 2025, at Námestie Rozkvet in Trenčín on Sihoti. The main protagonists on Saturday afternoon from 2 p.m. will be Tomáš Oravec & Cimbalowica, and on Sunday, Trenčín native Štefan Skrúcaný will welcome Marcela Laiferová and Natália Hatalová.
The festival is part of the preparations for the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 project. The event is financially supported by the city of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The European Union is a partner of the project.
