The city of Trenčín will welcome 2026, when it will take on the title of European Capital of Culture, with an exceptional family New Year’s Eve programme in the park. During Family New Year’s Eve, which will take place on 31 December from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in M. R. Štefánik Park, the audiovisual work Zero will culminate in a symbolic countdown, which has been measuring the time remaining until the start of the cultural year for several weeks.
The New Year’s Eve programme is prepared for both children and adults and will offer a combination of music, fairy tales, creative workshops and humour. The Goonies will bring dance energy, Braňo Jobus will entertain with his original fairy tales, the Houže Theatre will perform the tender puppet show “Grandmother,” and Paper Moon Trio will provide an elegant musical finale with vintage jazz and swing. Creative lantern workshops and magical light moments will complement the atmosphere.
Audiovisual premiere
The highlight of the event will be the exclusive premiere of the new animation of the audiovisual work Zero by architect Alan Prekop. The countdown object, which until now has displayed the time remaining until 2026, will symbolically change on New Year’s Eve into an animated invitation to the opening weekend of Trenčín 2026, which will take place from 13 to 15 February 2026. The new video was again created by camerawoman Emma Lea Nikodýmová in collaboration with editor Adam Kubal, who also contributed to the original visual content of the countdown clock.
“The New Year’s Eve programme is dedicated to families with children. That is why we want to show this new animation to the public in the afternoon as an invitation and as a thank you to everyone who contributed to the journey to the title of European Capital of Culture. We will thus symbolically close the year of preparations and open the door to the cultural year 2026,” said Stanislav Krajči, director of the Trenčín 2026 project.
A place where culture, technology and community come together
The Zero building, which has stood in M. R. Štefánik Park since the end of October 2025, is not just a visual work of art. It is a living organism that breathes light, reacts to its surroundings and, thanks to technology, is also sensitive to nature. Its form reflects the values of the Trenčín 2026 project – sustainability, inclusion, and the connection of art with public space and the community.
New Year’s Eve programme as an invitation to the opening weekend
Family New Year’s Eve is also an invitation to the opening weekend, which will take place from 13 to 15 February 2026 and will transform the city into a large stage. On Friday, the programme will be aimed primarily at pupils and students and will take place not only in schools but also in cultural institutions and public spaces. In the afternoon, it will be followed by events organised by local communities, which, together with hundreds of volunteers, form the heart of the Trenčín 2026 project.
Saturday’s programme will enliven the streets and squares – visitors can look forward to a full day of experiences: from breakfast in the city, through a festive parade, to an evening gala performance. Sunday’s activities will be mainly dedicated to families, children and seniors. There will be theatre performances, musical and literary events, discussions and poetry set to music.
Trenčín 2026 is financially supported by the city of Trenčín, the Trenčín Region and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The European Union is a partner of the project.
