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The Bratislava summer of culture will be dominated chiefly by music. The string of big concerts was kicked off in mid May by Bobby McFerrin. The progressive music festival Wilsonic will spread its marquees along the south bank of the River Danube at the beginning of June. Wilsonic is a unique music festival that promotes current musical trends from advanced, urban & electronic genres. Wilsonic itself elegantly combines the world of concerts with the club and dance party atmosphere. Wilsonic represents the very best of modern music in Central and East Europe, with no lack of big world names. Performers the likes of Raz Ohara from Germany or the French darlings of the festival Nôze have already confirmed.

There are two major concert experiences to be had in the second half of June. Firstly, the football stadium in Petržalka will be the venue for Lenny Kravitz’s first ever visit to Bratislava (24 June), followed two days later in a different stadium by the legendary Carlos Santana. The first half of July will see two of the biggest summer rock festivals in Slovakia take place, both nearby Bratislava. Firstly at the airport in the spa town of Piešťany, less than an hour’s drive from Bratislava, the now renowned Hodokvas festival will see performances from no other than the Sex Pistols or Cypress Hill to mention just a few. Two weeks later at the airport just a few kilometres further up the motorway in Trenčín, music lovers can look forward to the twelfth year of the biggest summer festival in the country - Pohoda, which this year welcomes artists like Fat Boy Slim, The Streets, Editors and The Wombats, for instance.

At the end of July Bratislava’s historical centre will see rock replaced by classical, but with a modern feel. 10 quality concerts from the Viva Musica! Festival will be given on and around Hlavné námestie (Main Square). This modern festival of classical music was created four years ago at the initiative of the civil association Orfeo and it has brought artists the likes of Kyle Eastwood, Adriana Kučerová or The World Quintet to Bratislava. This year will be no exception when it comes to a generous helping of quality classical music in modern arrangements from top world artists in Bratislava city centre. If that wasn’t enough, it’s for free!

For lovers of classical music, especially operatic art, Bratislava has left two special treats for the month of September. Firstly on 14 September the Grassalkovich Gardens of Presidential Palace will be the venue for an exceptional project, which will culminate the 100th anniversary celebrations of the birth of one of the most famous Slovak composers, Eugen Suchoň. Two weeks later one of the most dazzling operatic divas Edita Gruber will adorn the grand premises of Bratislava Castle with a performance. Decades ago she started conquering the scene of the most prestigious theatres in the world right here in Bratislava. Her recital devoted to her birthplace Bratislava is an experience not to be missed, not just for lovers of operatic aria.

It is definitely worthwhile coming to Bratislava and the surrounding region this summer. Apart from music projects, locals and visitors can enjoy a whole range of other attractive events. Now in its 33rd year, the Cultural Summer and Castle Festival offers 250 independent projects at 20 venues throughout the city. The Coronation Festival in the first weekend of September will commemorate once more Bratislava’s proud history as a coronation city of Hungarian kings between 1563 and 1830. The event Days of Masters at the Castle provides an excellent opportunity to become acquainted with the master crafts of Slovak artisans and take home some unique handcrafted souvenir, the likes of which your neighbours won’t have. Festival Devín in the last weekend of August at the ancient castle ruins above the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, offers a visually exciting display of historical fighting, crafts, music and dance.

For more information on all the cultural projects taking place in Bratislava this summer, see the official city website at visit.bratislava.sk/en/ or call the hotline of Bratislava Cultural and Information Centre (BKIS) on +421 2 16186.