Each summer, Olomouc transforms as the International Festival of Sacred Music unfolds in its historic outdoor venues, weaving ancient melodies into the city’s open-air theaters and plazas. This festival offers a rare chance to engage with sacred music traditions from around the world, performed beneath vast skies that listen as intently as the audience. The outdoor concerts harness the natural acoustics of Olomouc’s Renaissance courtyards and leafy squares, where every note reaches out like a whispered secret between stone and air.

Olomouc, a city shaped by centuries of spiritual and cultural exchange, provides the perfect ground where this festival’s sound meets its place. The outdoor settings invite spectators to experience music in conversation with the environment—birds joining in, the cool evening breeze carrying chants, and the fading light casting long shadows. The program spans Gregorian chants, Sufi songs, Orthodox harmonies, and other sacred genres, each offering a distinct voice in the festival’s chorus.

Planning your visit demands attention to timing and logistics. The festival typically runs from mid-June through July, so secure tickets and accommodations well in advance to avoid last-minute surprises. Most concerts start in the early evening, allowing you to explore Olomouc’s cobblestone streets and historic landmarks by day.

The venues vary, from the open courtyard of the Archbishop’s Palace to the tranquil passageways of fortified gardens, each location with unique seating arrangements and sound dynamics. Outdoor seating means comfort depends on appropriate attire and bringing layers for fluctuating temps after sunset.

Preparation is practical: take a bottle of water (festival vendors are available but having your own ensures constant hydration), wear sturdy shoes to navigate cobblestone surfaces comfortably, and consider a light travel blanket or portable seat cushion for the stone benches.

The festival is accessible, blending expert musicianship with a warm atmosphere that welcomes both casual listeners and seasoned aficionados. It challenges you to engage with music not just as entertainment, but as a lived cultural and spiritual experience, supported by an environment that is fiercely itself—unfolding, alive, and welcoming.

Visitors find the festival’s outdoor concerts a way to expand their understanding of global sacred traditions while basking in the vibrant pulse of a city that balances heritage with modern life. Amid Olomouc’s evening air, music doesn’t just fill the space; it moves through it, inviting every listener to be part of something enduring and profoundly human.