18th | České Budějovice (Czechia)
The 18th Culture Next Conference will take place in České Budějovice (Czechia), between 10-12th of March 2027.
The Conference
Culture for Planet
The 18th Culture Next Conference will take place in Budweis (České Budějovice), Czechia, from 10–12 March 2027, under the theme “Culture for Planet”.
What can culture do for the planet?
Rather than looking at sustainability only through the lens of greener cultural organisations, Culture for Planet asks a broader question: how can art, creativity and cultural institutions help us change the way we relate to one another, to the places we inhabit and to the living systems around us?
Over three days, Culture Next members and guests from across Europe will come together in České Budějovice for a programme built around CARE – CONNECT – CREATE. We will move from listening and changing perspectives, through connection between cities, artists and cultural practitioners, towards ideas, tools and actions that can continue beyond the conference.
The programme will combine keynote perspectives, artistic interventions, case studies, discussions and hands-on experiences. We will explore how culture can respond to planetary challenges, how artists can help us imagine different futures, and what role cultural organisations, cities and networks can play in turning these ideas into practice.
The conference will also open up České Budějovice and its cultural ecosystem to our European guests. Participants will have the opportunity to meet local artists, cultural organisations and partners and to experience the city and its surroundings through a programme of encounters, visits and shared experiences.
Alongside the Culture Next programme, 10 March will be a dedicated local day, focused on the cultural community of České Budějovice and the region. While this day is primarily designed for local cultural actors, Culture Next participants arriving early are very welcome to join.
Three days to listen, connect and imagine what culture can do for the planet.
See you in Budweis!
Culture Next
Culture Next is an informal, friendly and relaxed network dedicated to mutual support and collaboration between European cities which are current or former candidates for the European Capital of Culture title, awarded or not.
Seven years after its founding în Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Culture Next involves around 40 cities on the continent. În 2021 the network received a grant from the Creative Europe programme of the European Commission to scale-up Culture Next and improve its capacity to work with more European cities.
Interested to become a member?
Register nowMember Cities
Our members are cities or organizations representing various cities: former and future title holders, cities which continued their cultural programmes even without being selected aș ECoCs and cities which intend to do this.
Many of our members represent cities which are current candidates, interested în developing European connection and sustainable cultural programmes which can be implemented independently of the jury decision.
Registrations Open
Apply HereAccomodation
Clarion Congress Hotel České Budějovice
address: Pražská tř. 14 370 04 České Budějovice
check in: 14:00 – 0:00
check out: 7:00 – 12:00
Conference participants will stay at Clarion Congress Hotel, located in close proximity to the historic city center.
Additional options of accommodation:
check in: 15:00 – 21:30
check out: 07:00 – 10:30
To get a 15 % discount for your stay, contact the hotel directly (e-mail: info@bohemiacb.cz)
address: Hroznová 25, České Budějovice, 37001, Česká republika
check in: 14:00 – 18:00
check out: 07:00 – 11:00
Please contact the hotel directly (e-mail: hotel@hotelklika.cz)
Travel Information
Getting to České Budějovice
The nearest international airports are:
We recommend flying to Prague, as it offers the quickest and most convenient connection to České Budějovice.
From Prague Airport to České Budějovice
Train (the best option!)
Travel time: approximately 1 h 40 min – 2 h
Travel from Prague Airport to Railway station (Praha hl.n.)
- Airport Express (AE) bus
- Public Transport of Prague – Bus 59 (Nádraží Veleslavín) – metro line A (Muzeum) – metro line C (Hlavní nádraží)
- Taxi, Uber, Bolt: usually around 700 CZK
Train from Railway station Praha hl.n. to České Budějovice
- Usually every hour, operated by České Dráhy
- You can buy tickets online (here) or in the app Můj Vlak.
- Best trains to use: Jižní expres (Ex7), Vltava (R17), Pendolino (Ex7)
- ! PROTIP: Book your own seat in advance!
Bus
Travel time: approximately 2 hours
Direct buses operate from:
Tickets available at flixbus.com or regiojet.com
To get there use the Public Transport of Prague or Taxi, Uber, Bolt
Vienna → České Budějovice
Direct bus
Travel time: approximately 4.5 hours
- Direct FlixBus connections operate from Vienna Airport to České Budějovice.
- FlixBus – tickets available at flixbus.com
Bus from other stops
For example: Vienna Central Station, Vienna Erdberg (VIB)
FlixBus – tickets available at flixbus.com, duration: approx. 4 h
Train
Train from Vienna Airport (Flughafen Wien) to České Budějovice
Travel time: approximately 4 h 20 min
- We suggest using IDOS, ÖBB app or Můj vlak to find the right connection
- The easiest route: Flughafen Wien → Linz Hbf and Linz Hbf → České
Budějovice - It is also possible to transfer at Wien Hbf and then at Linz Hbf
Recommended apps:
- Jízdní řády IDOS (also website: link) – public transport timetables and
tickets - PID lítačka (link) – timetables and tickets for Prague Public Transport
- Můj vlak (link) – České Dráhy app, timetables of trains, tickets
- ÖBB app (link) – Trains and train timetables operated by ÖBB (Austria)
Getting around České Budějovice
- Public Transport – tickets on buses or from ticket machines, 30 CZK for 60
min, 115 CZK for 24 h, IDOS for timetables - CB Kolo (link) – Bikesharing, travel as locals in České Budějovice
Practical information
- Weather: 16 – 19°C, night time 5 – 10°C (you can check the weather here)
- Timezone: Central European Time (CET)
- Language: Czech / English (please be patient with locals and talk slowly 🙂)
- Currency: CZK – Czech Korunas (card payments are accepted almost everywhere)
Contacts
Emergency contacts:
General Emergency 112
Medical Rescue Service 155
Fire and Rescue Service 150
Police 158
Municipal Police 156
Hospitality and Guest Service Manager
Tereza Chovancová
email: tereza.chovancova@budejovice2028.cz
