Lucasfilm announced that Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu will arrive exclusively in theaters on May 21, 2026. The new film will follow the heroic Mandalorian and young Grogu as they embark on their most thrilling mission yet in the continuation of the popular Star Wars saga. The movie represents the next chapter in the beloved franchise that has captivated audiences worldwide.
A special edition Slovak postage stamp has been named the most beautiful stamp of the year by the Slovak public. The winning stamp also claimed the award for most beautiful first day cover envelope, achieving success in both major categories of the annual postal design competition. The awards recognize excellence in postal design and artistic achievement in Slovakia's philatelic offerings.
The World Theatre in Trnava has announced the second edition of Teen Theatre Fest 2026, an international theatre festival designed primarily for young audiences. The festival, operating under the motto "We are back! And we are not alone!", promises a bold program that challenges viewers to see the world and themselves from entirely new perspectives. The event represents Trnava's growing role as a cultural hub, bringing international theatrical productions to Slovakia's youth theatre scene.
Television moderator Branislav 'Bruno' Ciberej criticized Slovak Television (STVR) for restricting freedom of expression after the state broadcaster chose not to air the Slnko v sieti film awards ceremony that he hosted in April. Ciberej, a 47-year-old media personality, said he was not surprised by STVR's decision to block the broadcast, suggesting the move was part of broader limitations on free speech at the public broadcaster. The Slnko v sieti awards ceremony, which Ciberej moderated, apparently contained content that STVR deemed unsuitable for broadcast, though specific details about what triggered the censorship were not disclosed.
Martin Novák, a prominent Slovak chef known for his strict on-screen persona, has revealed a softer side in a recent interview, sharing his love for books that can keep him reading until 3 AM. The chef, who appears demanding and uncompromising on television cooking shows, describes a different image of himself at home - relaxing with a headlamp, wine, and a good book. Novák discussed which stories have captivated him most, shared details about creating his own cookbook, and teased information about a new book project he's currently keeping under wraps.
The Bratislava Region hosted regional rounds of two national amateur theater competitions from May 7-10, 2026, at the Municipal Cultural and Information Center in Stupava. The event, called "Theater Confrontations," featured non-professional theater groups from the Bratislava region competing in the FEDIM and Belopotocký Mikuláš competitions. These annual competitions provide a platform for amateur theater companies to showcase their work and advance to national-level contests.
A political cartoon by artist Mikuláš Sliacky has been published depicting a hypothetical meeting between Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's conservative opposition party CDU, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. The cartoon appears to be commentary on potential future political interactions between the two leaders, though no actual meeting has been announced. Fico leads Slovakia's ruling Smer-SD party and has been prime minister since October 2023, while Merz heads Germany's Christian Democratic Union and is positioning himself as a potential challenger to current German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in upcoming elections.
Slovak influencer Veronika Rajek has revealed the gender of her expected baby through an unconventional video announcement. The social media personality, known for her modeling career and large international following, chose a non-traditional approach to share the news with her audience. Rajek has gained significant attention in recent years as a Slovak model and influencer with millions of followers across social media platforms.
The Slovak National Museum (SBM) is organizing a special guided tour of its exhibition featuring Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. The exhibition's author will personally lead visitors through the gallery spaces and reveal details of their long-term work on the project. The guided tour will provide visitors with insider insights into the creation and curation of this cultural exhibition focusing on one of the most famous works in art history.
Slovak public television is implementing new visual branding that differs significantly from the designs the institution officially submitted for registration. The broadcaster is changing its logos while already in operation, creating what observers describe as visual chaos in the public media organization. The discrepancy between the registered designs and the actual logos being used raises questions about the planning and coordination of the rebranding effort at the state-funded television service.
Slovakia will participate in the annual Museum and Gallery Night, a Europe-wide cultural event that offers the public unique and experiential ways to explore cultural heritage. This year's program will include rides on a historic train as part of the special activities designed to make museums and galleries more accessible to visitors. The event takes place across Europe each year with the goal of bringing cultural institutions closer to the public through original and engaging experiences.
A previously unreported final interview with John Lennon has emerged, containing personal reflections from the Beatles musician shortly before his death. In the interview, Lennon made candid admissions about his personal struggles, including his statement that he "never knew how to approach women." The revelation coincides with renewed attention to comments made by the judge who presided over the case of Lennon's killer, who had opposed the murderer's release from prison. Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment building in December 1980 by Mark David Chapman, who remains incarcerated.
A previously unreported interview with John Lennon before his 1980 murder has surfaced, revealing the Beatles musician's personal admissions about his difficulties with relationships. In the interview, Lennon confessed "I never knew how to approach a woman," offering intimate insights into his private struggles. The revelations have gained renewed attention following comments from the judge who presided over his killer's case, with the judge's earlier statements about refusing parole for Lennon's murderer now being validated by the interview's content.
A new LEGO-themed podcast called 'Brickmic' has launched, featuring content that spans from distant galaxies to Middle-earth fantasy worlds. The podcast appears to focus on large-scale LEGO creations and builds, covering themes from science fiction to fantasy genres.
Olbia, a coastal city in northern Sardinia, is being promoted as a destination in its own right rather than merely a transit point for tourists heading to the Costa Smeralda region. The city offers visitors a blend of Roman historical sites and access to the turquoise waters of the famous Costa Smeralda coastline. Tourism promoters are encouraging travelers to explore Olbia's attractions, including its historical heritage and local culinary offerings, as part of experiencing the Italian concept of 'dolce vita' or the sweet life.
The village of Čataj in Bratislava region marked a century of folklore tradition on Saturday, May 16, 2026, with a day-long celebration. The event showcased the community's cultural heritage through traditional costumes, music, dance, and remembrances of the generations who have kept the village's folk traditions alive over the past 100 years.
Researchers Noah Charney and Svetlana Slapšak have drawn attention to the relatively unexplored world of Slavic mythology, describing Slavs as among the least researched ancient peoples. The scholars are working to illuminate the lesser-known realm of Slavic myths and cultural traditions. Their research addresses a significant gap in academic understanding of ancient European civilizations, as Slavic cultural heritage has received far less scholarly attention compared to Greek, Roman, or Germanic mythological traditions. This academic focus comes at a time when there is growing interest in preserving and understanding diverse cultural heritages across Europe.
Museums and galleries across Slovakia hosted special nighttime programs, offering visitors unique cultural experiences after regular hours. The events featured diverse attractions including exhibitions of flying cars, rare Bibles, and historical alchemy displays at pharmacy museums. The Night of Museums and Galleries initiative allowed the public to explore cultural institutions during evening hours with special programming designed to attract visitors who might not typically visit during daytime operations.
Bulgaria achieved its first-ever Eurovision victory when singer Dara won the 70th anniversary edition of the song contest with her performance of "Bangaranga." The Bulgarian artist dominated the competition held at Vienna's Stadthalle, securing 516 points in a decisive victory. The win marks a historic milestone for Bulgaria, which had never previously claimed the top prize in Europe's premier song competition since joining the contest.
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna was marked by controversy as Israel received 220 points from viewer voting to take the lead in preliminary rankings, sparking unrest in the Stadthalle venue. The jubilee edition of Europe's premier song competition had been overshadowed by mass protests against Israel's participation even before the final. While the streets of Austria's capital were decorated with the event's official logos, private residences displayed protest banners from windows, highlighting the deep divisions surrounding the competition. The tensions underscored how the traditionally apolitical music contest has become entangled in geopolitical disputes, with Israel's participation drawing significant opposition from protesters who gathered in Vienna during the event.