The 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is opening its anniversary week with more than a celebration in Karlovy Vary. Before the festival formally begins on Friday, July 3, KVIFF will mark the occasion with a symbolic return to Mariánské Lázně, the spa town where the festival began 80 years ago.
On Wednesday, July 1, a KVIFF delegation will present a preview screening of Pedro Almodóvar’s new film Bitter Christmas in Mariánské Lázně. The gesture gives this year’s edition a strong historical frame, connecting the festival’s current international profile with the place where its first chapter was written.
The anniversary carries a double meaning for KVIFF. In 2026, the festival is marking both its 60th edition and 80 years since the first festival was held in 1946. That first edition was organized by Mariánské Lázně and Karlovy Vary, with premiere screenings in Mariánské Lázně and repeat showings the following day in Karlovy Vary.
A Symbolic Start in Mariánské Lázně
By starting the week in Mariánské Lázně, KVIFF is using its milestone year to look back without standing still. The July 1 preview creates a bridge between the festival’s origins and the formal opening weekend in Karlovy Vary, where the anniversary program will continue with a larger public-facing celebration.
On Friday, July 3, the opening night in Karlovy Vary will feature the Vary Special Show, a free concert created for the 60th edition by DJ and producer NobodyListen. The performance will take place in front of the Thermal Hotel at 10:45 p.m., followed by the Allwyn drone show, which replaces the festival’s traditional fireworks display for the first time.
This year’s anniversary edition also brings several visible changes around the festival site. KVIFF has announced a larger and longer red carpet at the Thermal Hotel, a new public Allwyn Terrace, the BADEN powered by Visa festival club, a new affordable hostel near the Thermal Hotel, and a Zalando Booth open daily during the festival.
Beyond the opening-week events, KVIFF is also extending the anniversary into its programming and public history. The festival has created the short-video series KVIFF Since 1946, while the outdoor exhibition KVIFF 60/80 (1946–2026) will be displayed between the Pupp and Thermal hotels. The Out of the Past archive section will also focus on films that have helped shape the festival’s identity and reputation.
For KVIFF, the 60th edition is therefore not only a landmark number. It is a way of reintroducing the festival’s history to today’s audience, beginning in Mariánské Lázně before the spotlight shifts to Karlovy Vary for the official opening weekend.
