Dávka - Your daily dose of Slovak news
Last refreshed: 06/06/2026 10:36 · 51 articles added
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Cuban Band Orishas to Headline Uprising Festival 2026 in Slovakia

Cuban band Orishas will headline the Uprising festival in 2026, marking their first-ever performance in Slovakia. The Latin Grammy-winning group, considered pioneers of Latin urban music, will bring their explosive blend of Cuban rhythms to Bratislava. Orishas helped establish the Latin urban genre by fusing traditional Cuban music with hip-hop and reggaeton elements, gaining international recognition for their innovative sound that bridges Afro-Cuban traditions with contemporary urban beats.

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Culture

Slovak Podcast Features Discussion on Iran and Hope for Slovakia

A new episode of the Slovak podcast "Kde je sever?" (Where is North?) has been released, featuring economists Ivan Mikloš and Tomáš Roháč discussing Iran and prospects for Slovakia. The podcast episode addresses both international developments regarding Iran and domestic Slovak affairs, exploring potential pathways forward for the country.

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Culture

Louvre Crown Jewels Heist to Be Adapted into Film

A major theft of crown jewels worth 88 million euros from the Louvre museum in Paris will be adapted for the big screen. Director Romain Gavras is developing the film project, which promises a thriller storyline based on a new book about the heist. According to French film industry magazine Le Film Français, the project is currently in the preparation phase, with production details still being finalized.

Culture

Historic Car Train Arrives in Humenné for Cross-Country Tour

A special train carrying historic automobiles arrived in Humenné, a town in eastern Slovakia, marking the beginning of a cross-country tour. The collection includes vintage vehicles spanning more than a century of automotive history, with the oldest car dating back 107 years to 1917. The historic automobiles will travel across Slovakia as part of what appears to be a touring exhibition showcasing automotive heritage.

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Culture

Cycling event From Tatras to Danube begins in Zuberec

A cycling event called "From Tatras to Danube" has begun in Zuberec, a village in northern Slovakia near the Tatra Mountains. The cycling group will travel across Slovakia in five stages, passing through various cities and towns. During the journey, organizers plan educational activities, welcome ceremonies, cultural programs, and personal meetings with local residents in each location.

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Culture

Slovak National Theatre Opera Director Threatens to Resign

The director of the Slovak National Theatre's opera company has threatened to resign, according to reports from the institution's leadership. Theatre Director Zuzana Ťapáková, who presented her annual report covering her first full year leading the Slovak National Theatre, declined to comment on the threatened departure. The Slovak National Theatre serves as the country's premier cultural institution, encompassing opera, ballet, and drama companies. Ťapáková's leadership has overseen the institution during a period when internal tensions appear to be affecting key artistic personnel.

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Culture

Slovak National Gallery Director Modifies Financial Report Data Before Public Accountability Session

Alexandra Kráľová, director of the Slovak National Gallery (SNG), quietly changed the timing of a public accountability session and modified data in the institution's annual report before presenting it this year. The session, originally scheduled for earlier in the year, was rescheduled without public notice. During the accountability presentation, Kráľová altered financial figures and other information in the annual report compared to previously published versions. The Slovak National Gallery is the country's premier art institution, responsible for managing the national art collection and major exhibitions. The session ultimately raised more questions than it answered, with concerns about transparency in the gallery's financial management and reporting practices. The modifications to both the timing and content of the accountability session have drawn criticism regarding the institution's commitment to public transparency.

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Culture

New Book Chronicles Decades of Domestic Violence by Slovak Poet and Teacher

A new true crime book titled "Sadist Valerián Čunderlík" documents the violent behavior of a Slovak poet and teacher who engaged in abusive relationships with women from the 1940s to 1980s. The book reveals that one of Čunderlík's relationships ended in death, while at least three other women filed police reports against him for domestic violence. The work draws on police files to examine the criminal's mindset and violent actions, while also providing insight into victim testimonies that illustrate how Čunderlík psychologically manipulated women into submission. The historical account offers a detailed look at patterns of abuse and psychological control spanning four decades of the perpetrator's life.

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Culture

Historic Car Rally Returns to Cross Entire Slovakia in 500-Kilometer Route

The 500 km Slovenských rally is making a comeback, with vintage automobiles set to traverse the entire country. The historic car rally will see veteran vehicles embark on a cross-country journey spanning 500 kilometers across Slovakia. The event marks the return of this traditional automotive competition that showcases classic cars while taking participants on a route that covers the breadth of the Slovak Republic.

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Culture

French Psychological Thriller Exposes Transformation Coaching Industry

A French psychological thriller has turned the practices of transformation mentors into the subject of dramatic entertainment. The production appears to critique the expensive coaching industry, suggesting that the high-priced transformation gurus who claim to help others change their lives may themselves be in need of professional help.

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Culture

Slovakia's Ministry Plans to Relocate Forestry Museum from Zvolen

Slovakia's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has indicated plans to relocate the country's forestry museum from its current location in Zvolen. The ministry, led by Minister Richard Takáč, has signaled that the museum will be moved from the central Slovak city, though specific details about the new location and timeline for the relocation have not been disclosed. The forestry museum serves as a repository for Slovakia's logging and forest management heritage, displaying historical equipment, documents, and exhibits related to the country's extensive forest industry. Zvolen, located in the heart of Slovakia's forested regions, has traditionally been considered a natural home for such an institution given its proximity to major forest areas and its historical connection to timber processing.

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Culture

Children's Day Festival in Prešov to Feature Entertainment and Family Programming

The city of Prešov will host a Children's Day celebration featuring entertainment, music, and extensive programming designed for families. The festivities will begin with a parade of costumed participants through the city streets. The event represents one of the major annual celebrations in Slovakia's third-largest city, located in the eastern part of the country near the Polish border.

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Culture

Bratislava Book Festival BRaK Announces Free Admission to All Events

The Bratislava Book Festival BRaK announced that admission to all accompanying events at this year's festival will be free of charge. Thanks to support from the public, partners, donors and the cultural community, the entire festival will now be open to visitors without entrance fees, continuing the tradition from previous years. The decision ensures the literary festival remains accessible to all attendees across its programming.

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Culture

Jazz Saxophone Legend Sonny Rollins Dies, Last Icon of Golden Age Era

Sonny Rollins, the legendary jazz saxophonist widely regarded as one of the last surviving giants of jazz's golden age, has died. The American musician, who helped define the bebop and hard bop styles, composed numerous pieces that became jazz standards performed by musicians worldwide. Rollins was considered one of the most influential tenor saxophonists in jazz history, alongside John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins. His death marks the end of an era, as he was among the final living links to jazz's most celebrated period in the 1950s and 1960s, when the genre reached new artistic heights through the innovations of Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and other masters.

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Culture

Daily Editorial Cartoon: The Builders

Slovak newspaper SME published an editorial cartoon titled 'The Builders' by artist Mikuláš Sliacky as part of its daily commentary section. Editorial cartoons in Slovak media typically offer satirical commentary on current political or social developments, though the specific subject matter of this particular illustration was not detailed in the source material.

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Culture

Respected Curator Vladimír Beskid Returns to Prepare Exhibition at Slovak National Gallery

The Slovak National Gallery opens a new exhibition on Thursday featuring the work of eastern Slovak artist Adam Szentpétery, titled "Network." The exhibition has drawn attention primarily because it is curated by Vladimír Beskid, a respected figure in the Slovak art world who previously led the Trnava Gallery and served as artistic director for the European Capital of Culture project in Košice. Beskid acknowledges he expects criticism for his involvement but believes the exhibition could contribute to restarting the gallery and returning it to normal operations. The Slovak National Gallery is the country's premier art institution, and Beskid's return to curating represents a significant development in Slovakia's cultural scene, particularly given recent challenges facing the institution.

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Culture

Slovak National Gallery Opens New Exhibition Amid Controversy Over Curator Appointment

The Slovak National Gallery opened a new exhibition on Thursday titled "Network," featuring works by eastern Slovak artist Adam Szentpétery. The exhibition has drawn attention not primarily for the artist's work, but for its curator Vladimír Beskid, a respected figure in Slovakia's art world. Beskid previously led the Trnava Gallery and served as artistic director for the European Capital of Culture project in Košice in 2013. The appointment has generated controversy within Slovakia's artistic community, with some artists expressing disappointment over the gallery's curatorial choices. Beskid acknowledged the criticism, saying he is "prepared for the hate" his involvement might generate. The Slovak National Gallery, the country's premier art institution, has faced internal tensions in recent years over programming and leadership decisions.

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Culture

Slovakia Adds Traditional Sweet Pastries and Lace-Making to Cultural Heritage List

Slovakia has expanded its national inventory of intangible cultural heritage by adding seven new elements representing traditions from various regions across the country. The newly recognized cultural practices include traditional buchty, a type of sweet pastry, and traditional lace-making techniques, alongside other crafts and winter customs. The additions reflect Slovakia's effort to preserve and officially recognize diverse regional traditions that have been passed down through generations. Slovakia's intangible cultural heritage list serves to protect traditional practices, crafts, and customs that are considered important expressions of the country's cultural identity and regional diversity.

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Culture

Cannes Festival Awards Go to Eastern European Films This Year

This year's Cannes Film Festival awards have been distributed to films from Eastern Europe. A winning film from the prestigious French festival has divided critics, with some questioning whether it represents propaganda or hidden satire about progressives. The specific nature of the critical debate centers on the film's content and political messaging, though the exact titles and directors of the awarded Eastern European films were not specified.

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Culture

New Tourist Signage System Installed Along Šariš Castle Route

Implementation teams have completed the installation phase of a new tourist navigation system along the Šariš Castle route in eastern Slovakia. The project adds modern wayfinding elements to help visitors navigate the historic area around one of the region's significant medieval fortifications.

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