Programme
DOXYGEN: Identity Crisis?
Vratislav Maňák, Linda Bartošová, Miroslav Harant
A breath of fresh air on the DOXYGEN programme for a young audience on the eve of the FALL Festival. This time, DOXYGEN is dedicated to the current ANDROS exhibition and will explore the forms that male identity can take today, and the uncertainties and expectations associated with it.
Opening: FALL 2026 / Argus & Medusa
Alberto Manguel, Marie NDiaye, Marek Šindelka, Sofi Oksanen, Paata Shamugia, Hana Varadzinová, Vojtěch Procházka, Kubo Ursiny & Provisorium
The opening night of the FALL 2026 festival will feature a discussion with writers and the opening of the main autumn exhibition Argus & Medusa: On Hope in Dark Times. The evening will conclude with a concert and the traditional bonfire in the DOX courtyard. Free entry.
Guided Tour of the Argus & Medusa Exhibition
Michaela Šilpochová, Otto M. Urban, Leoš Válka a umělci
Curators Michaela Šilpochová, Otto M. Urban, and Leoš Válka will lead a guided tour of the exhibition Argus & Medusa, with selected artists in attendance: John Beard, Wolfe von Lenkiewicz, Tom de Freston, Conrad Botes, Martin Gerboc, Sylvie Choisnel, and others.
Literary Critics Award Debate
Barbora Vacková, Kryštof Mec, Jan Musil
How rosy or hopeful is contemporary Czech prose and poetry? This debate among the younger generation of literary critics: Barbora Vacková, Kryštof Mec and Jan Musil. Hosted by Blanka Činátlová.
Poet on the Front Lines
Paata Šamugia, Michal Tallo
Paata Shamugia, one of Georgia’s most renowned poets, has been actively speaking out in support of the massive anti-government protests that Georgian civil society has been organising continuously for more than six hundred days. Slovak poet and writer Michal Tallo will speak with him about poetry, hope, and the role of artists and poets in a country where democracy is fighting for survival.
Back in the Day
Oliver Lovrenski, Jonáš Zbořil
Oliver Lovrenski published his debut novel Back in the Day at the age of nineteen. Dubbed “Trainspotting for Gen Z”, it tells the story of a group of Norwegian teenagers growing up in a world full of anxiety, drugs, and hope. Lovrenski will discuss the novel, which became a bestseller in Scandinavia, in an interview with poet and journalist Jonáš Zbořil.
Same River, Twice
Sofi Oksanen, Jitka Hanušová
Occupation, violence, the female body, and power. Sofi Oksanen, one of the most prominent authors in contemporary Finnish and European literature, will speak with literary critic Jitka Hanušová about Putin’s war on women and more.
Cartografia Sonora Imaginária
Companhia de Música Teatral
The audio-visual performance Cartografia Sonora Imaginária by the acclaimed Portuguese ensemble Companhia de Música Teatral takes the audience on a journey through ‘imaginary landscapes’, where music and images intertwine in a dialogue of ideas, visions, memories and reminiscences. This time, the theme is hope.
Faust – Between Text and Image
Radka Bodzewicz, Radek Malý
Inside her current exhibition FAUST, Radka Bodzewicz will lead a discussion with the poet Radek Malý, author of a modern Czech translation of Goethe’s literary opus.
Argus & Medusa – Between Hope and Despair I
John Beard, Martin Gerboc, Wolfe Von Lenkiewicz, Otto M. Urban
Why does Théodore Géricault’s famous painting The Raft of the Medusa continue to inspire contemporary artists even centuries after its creation? And how does it relate to today’s world? A discussion with the artists John Beard, Martin Gerboc and Wolfe Von Lenkiewicz, and the curator Otto M. Urban.
Tenderness in a Time of Algorithms
Marek Šindelka, Jan Němec
About the systems we create to make our lives easier, which then end up oppressing us. Marek Šindelka will discuss his novel Systémy něhy (Systems of Tenderness), which has become this year’s literary sensation, in an interview with writer Jan Němec.
In the Glow of the Lighthouse – Julia and the Shark
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Kiran Millwood Hargrave vás zavede na autorském čtení knihy Julie a žralok na odlehlý ostrov, k majáku a do temných hlubin oceánu. Přijďte si poslechnout napínavý a poetický příběh o moři, rodině, posedlosti a naději přímo od jeho autorky.
The Longest of Journeys
Oksana Zabužko, Marie Iljašenko
Oksana Zabuzhko, the most widely translated contemporary Ukrainian writer and journalist, will discuss her latest book as well as topics such as memory, the strength of language, and the power of literature in times of crisis in a conversation with poet Marie Iljašenko.
Songs of Protest & Hope
Zülfü Livaneli
Composer, writer and film director Zülfü Livaneli is considered one of the most influential authors and intellectuals of his time. He will discuss his artistic work at the crossroads of music, literature and cinema with Petr Vizina.
Uncanny Realities
Marie NDiaye
French author, playwright, and Prix Goncourt winner Marie NDiaye, whose novel The Witch was shortlisted for this year’s International Booker Prize, offers a glimpse into her magical-realist literary universe in an interview with Guillaume Basset.
Monika Načeva
Monika Načeva
A performance by one of the most distinctive figures of the Czech alternative music scene Monika Načeva and an intense fusion of music, poetry, imagery, and light.
The Possibilities of Masculinity – Strength and Fragility
Adam Borzič, Sufian Massalema, Vratislav Maňák
Writer Vratislav Maňák and poets Adam Borzič and Sufian Massalema will present three possible perspectives on the challenges of contemporary masculinity. The series of three readings will take place within the space of the thematically related exhibition ANDROS, which explores the depiction of the male body in contemporary central European art.
Argus & Medusa – Between Hope and Despair II
Tom de Freston, Conrad Botes, Michaela Šilpochová, Otto M. Urban
Why does Théodore Géricault’s famous painting The Raft of the Medusa continue to inspire contemporary artists even centuries after its creation? And how does it relate to today’s world? A discussion with the artists Tom de Freston and Conrad Botes, and the curators Michaela Šilpochová and Otto M. Urban.
A Resilient Society
Alice Koubová, Martin M. Šimečka, Michal Tallo
What makes us a resilient society? And how is resilience connected to hope? The discussion will feature philosopher Alice Koubová, writer and journalist Martin M. Šimečka, and poet and writer Michal Tallo. Hosted by Petr Fischer.
Echoes from a World in Ruins
Missouri Williams, Marek Torčík
A discussion between the British writer Missouri Williams, who lives in Prague, and the writer Marek Torčík. The author caught the attention of the literary world with her Gothically tinged debut novel The Doloriad, and her new novel The Vivisectors – a satirical story about a university graduate who becomes embroiled in a campus conspiracy – was longlisted for this year’s Booker Prize.
Poems of Death, Poems of Hope
Ghájat Almahdhún, Jonáš Zbořil
Palestinian poet in exile Ghayath Almadhoun will present his award-winning literary work for the first time in the Czech Republic in an interview with writer and journalist Jonáš Zbořil.
The Weight of Hope?
Maxim Znak, Zülfü Livaneli, Oksana Zabuzhko, Bill Shipsey, Azadeh Kangarani
Where can we find hope in today’s seemingly hopeless world? The thoughts of Václav Havel and his legacy for the contemporary world through the eyes of foreign dissidents, writers, and artists.
DOXYGEN: Identity Crisis?
Vratislav Maňák, Linda Bartošová, Miroslav Harant
A breath of fresh air on the DOXYGEN programme for a young audience on the eve of the FALL Festival. This time, DOXYGEN is dedicated to the current ANDROS exhibition and will explore the forms that male identity can take today, and the uncertainties and expectations associated with it.
Opening: FALL 2026 / Argus & Medusa
Alberto Manguel, Marie NDiaye, Marek Šindelka, Sofi Oksanen, Paata Shamugia, Hana Varadzinová, Vojtěch Procházka, Kubo Ursiny & Provisorium
The opening night of the FALL 2026 festival will feature a discussion with writers and the opening of the main autumn exhibition Argus & Medusa: On Hope in Dark Times. The evening will conclude with a concert and the traditional bonfire in the DOX courtyard. Free entry.
Guided Tour of the Argus & Medusa Exhibition
Michaela Šilpochová, Otto M. Urban, Leoš Válka a umělci
Curators Michaela Šilpochová, Otto M. Urban, and Leoš Válka will lead a guided tour of the exhibition Argus & Medusa, with selected artists in attendance: John Beard, Wolfe von Lenkiewicz, Tom de Freston, Conrad Botes, Martin Gerboc, Sylvie Choisnel, and others.
Literary Critics Award Debate
Barbora Vacková, Kryštof Mec, Jan Musil
How rosy or hopeful is contemporary Czech prose and poetry? This debate among the younger generation of literary critics: Barbora Vacková, Kryštof Mec and Jan Musil. Hosted by Blanka Činátlová.
Poet on the Front Lines
Paata Šamugia, Michal Tallo
Paata Shamugia, one of Georgia’s most renowned poets, has been actively speaking out in support of the massive anti-government protests that Georgian civil society has been organising continuously for more than six hundred days. Slovak poet and writer Michal Tallo will speak with him about poetry, hope, and the role of artists and poets in a country where democracy is fighting for survival.
Back in the Day
Oliver Lovrenski, Jonáš Zbořil
Oliver Lovrenski published his debut novel Back in the Day at the age of nineteen. Dubbed “Trainspotting for Gen Z”, it tells the story of a group of Norwegian teenagers growing up in a world full of anxiety, drugs, and hope. Lovrenski will discuss the novel, which became a bestseller in Scandinavia, in an interview with poet and journalist Jonáš Zbořil.
Same River, Twice
Sofi Oksanen, Jitka Hanušová
Occupation, violence, the female body, and power. Sofi Oksanen, one of the most prominent authors in contemporary Finnish and European literature, will speak with literary critic Jitka Hanušová about Putin’s war on women and more.
Cartografia Sonora Imaginária
Companhia de Música Teatral
The audio-visual performance Cartografia Sonora Imaginária by the acclaimed Portuguese ensemble Companhia de Música Teatral takes the audience on a journey through ‘imaginary landscapes’, where music and images intertwine in a dialogue of ideas, visions, memories and reminiscences. This time, the theme is hope.
Faust – Between Text and Image
Radka Bodzewicz, Radek Malý
Inside her current exhibition FAUST, Radka Bodzewicz will lead a discussion with the poet Radek Malý, author of a modern Czech translation of Goethe’s literary opus.
Argus & Medusa – Between Hope and Despair I
John Beard, Martin Gerboc, Wolfe Von Lenkiewicz, Otto M. Urban
Why does Théodore Géricault’s famous painting The Raft of the Medusa continue to inspire contemporary artists even centuries after its creation? And how does it relate to today’s world? A discussion with the artists John Beard, Martin Gerboc and Wolfe Von Lenkiewicz, and the curator Otto M. Urban.
Tenderness in a Time of Algorithms
Marek Šindelka, Jan Němec
About the systems we create to make our lives easier, which then end up oppressing us. Marek Šindelka will discuss his novel Systémy něhy (Systems of Tenderness), which has become this year’s literary sensation, in an interview with writer Jan Němec.
Sticker Art
An open family workshop for children and the child within every parent, to accompany the exhibition Radka Bodzewicz: FAUST.
Storyline
An open family workshop for children and the child within every parent, to accompany the exhibition Radka Bodzewicz: FAUST.
The Longest of Journeys
Oksana Zabužko, Marie Iljašenko
Oksana Zabuzhko, the most widely translated contemporary Ukrainian writer and journalist, will discuss her latest book as well as topics such as memory, the strength of language, and the power of literature in times of crisis in a conversation with poet Marie Iljašenko.
In the Glow of the Lighthouse – Julia and the Shark
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Kiran Millwood Hargrave vás zavede na autorském čtení knihy Julie a žralok na odlehlý ostrov, k majáku a do temných hlubin oceánu. Přijďte si poslechnout napínavý a poetický příběh o moři, rodině, posedlosti a naději přímo od jeho autorky.
Songs of Protest & Hope
Zülfü Livaneli
Composer, writer and film director Zülfü Livaneli is considered one of the most influential authors and intellectuals of his time. He will discuss his artistic work at the crossroads of music, literature and cinema with Petr Vizina.
Uncanny Realities
Marie NDiaye
French author, playwright, and Prix Goncourt winner Marie NDiaye, whose novel The Witch was shortlisted for this year’s International Booker Prize, offers a glimpse into her magical-realist literary universe in an interview with Guillaume Basset.
Monika Načeva
Monika Načeva
A performance by one of the most distinctive figures of the Czech alternative music scene Monika Načeva and an intense fusion of music, poetry, imagery, and light.
The Possibilities of Masculinity – Strength and Fragility
Adam Borzič, Sufian Massalema, Vratislav Maňák
Writer Vratislav Maňák and poets Adam Borzič and Sufian Massalema will present three possible perspectives on the challenges of contemporary masculinity. The series of three readings will take place within the space of the thematically related exhibition ANDROS, which explores the depiction of the male body in contemporary central European art.
Argus & Medusa – Between Hope and Despair II
Tom de Freston, Conrad Botes, Michaela Šilpochová, Otto M. Urban
Why does Théodore Géricault’s famous painting The Raft of the Medusa continue to inspire contemporary artists even centuries after its creation? And how does it relate to today’s world? A discussion with the artists Tom de Freston and Conrad Botes, and the curators Michaela Šilpochová and Otto M. Urban.
A Resilient Society
Alice Koubová, Martin M. Šimečka, Michal Tallo
What makes us a resilient society? And how is resilience connected to hope? The discussion will feature philosopher Alice Koubová, writer and journalist Martin M. Šimečka, and poet and writer Michal Tallo. Hosted by Petr Fischer.
Dark Light Dark
An open family workshop for children and the child within every parent, where you can take part in a ‘mini blackout poetry’ workshop with Lukáš Hamáček.
Storyline
An open family workshop for children and the child within every parent, to accompany the exhibition Radka Bodzewicz: FAUST.
Echoes from a World in Ruins
Missouri Williams, Marek Torčík
A discussion between the British writer Missouri Williams, who lives in Prague, and the writer Marek Torčík. The author caught the attention of the literary world with her Gothically tinged debut novel The Doloriad, and her new novel The Vivisectors – a satirical story about a university graduate who becomes embroiled in a campus conspiracy – was longlisted for this year’s Booker Prize.
Poems of Death, Poems of Hope
Ghájat Almahdhún, Jonáš Zbořil
Palestinian poet in exile Ghayath Almadhoun will present his award-winning literary work for the first time in the Czech Republic in an interview with writer and journalist Jonáš Zbořil.
The Weight of Hope?
Maxim Znak, Zülfü Livaneli, Oksana Zabuzhko, Bill Shipsey, Azadeh Kangarani
Where can we find hope in today’s seemingly hopeless world? The thoughts of Václav Havel and his legacy for the contemporary world through the eyes of foreign dissidents, writers, and artists.
Exhibitions on view
Argus & Medusa: On Hope in Dark Times
The Argus & Medusa exhibition shows how the work The Raft of the Medusa (1818–1819) by the French artist Théodore Géricault sparks the imagination of contemporary visual artists, thus reflecting the reality of today’s world. A moment between hope and despair.
2 Oct 2026– 4 Apr 2027
ANDROS
The ANDROS group exhibition explores artistic depictions of the male body within the broader regional context, presenting works by artists from Germany, Austria, and the Visegrad countries alongside those of Czech artists.
4 Sep 2026–24 Jan 2027
Radka Bodzewicz: FAUST
Radka Bodzewicz has long drawn inspiration from literary sources – from poetry, prose, and even scholarly or philosophical texts. The FAUST exhibition offers an artistic reflection on another iconic literary work, Goethe’s Faust.
19 Jun–8 Nov 2026
Point of View 4: Resilience
The fourth instalment of the long-term project Point of View once again presents an exhibition and a classroom in one. The artistic approaches here open up a space to slow down and pay attention – a space for shared experience. They allow us to linger with uncertainty, to think and feel at the same time, and to seek strength in fragility.
14 May 2026–25 Apr 2027
Do not miss
Archive of Fine Arts book bazaar
A selection of antiquarian books, art catalogues, and publications from Archive of Fine Arts.
4. & 5. 10. | 11–19
Bendox bookshop
With books on art, architecture, design, or photography, you can extend your journey through DOX by as many pages as you want. You'll find a great selection of titles in English and Czech, for adults and children alike – and especially festival titles.
2. 10. | 11–21
3. & 4. 10. | 11–20
5. 10. | 11–19
DOX Café
Do you need to catch your breath after all those astonished gasps? Stop by the DOX Café for a coffee, a fizzy drink, or a snack. The café, which is located on the second floor, is handicap accessible and has free Wi-Fi.
1.–3. 10. | 11–22
4. 10. | 11–21
