Bohemian Crown Jewels to Go on Display Free of Charge at Prague Castle in September

The crown, sceptre and orb will briefly return to public view in September. This year, the Bohemian Crown Jewels will be accompanied by the coronation robe dating from 1653 and other rare historical exhibits.

Contrary to the original announcement, the Bohemian Crown Jewels will not go on display on 18 September, but from 19 to 28 September 2026 in Vladislav Hall at the Old Royal Palace within Prague Castle. Admission will once again be free of charge this year.

On Monday, 14 September, the seven key holders will ceremonially remove the crown, sceptre and orb from the Crown Chamber in St Vitus Cathedral. Registered school groups will then be the first to view the regalia before the exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, 19 September.

“The figures speak for themselves. I am delighted by the interest Czechs have in their own history and statehood. Above all, it confirms my belief that the decision to display the Crown Jewels every year is the right one,” Czech President Petr Pavel said.

Foto: Pražský hrad | Zuzana Bönisch

Exhibition Held Under the Theme ‘Habsburgs 500’

The exhibition concept changes each year to present new historical perspectives and connections. This year, it is entitled ‘Habsburgs 500’, marking the 500th anniversary of Ferdinand I of Habsburg’s accession to the Bohemian throne in 1526.

Visitors will learn more about the fate of the Bohemian Crown Jewels from the beginning of Habsburg rule until the end of the 18th century. The exhibition traces their journey from their storage at Karlštejn Castle in the 16th century and their relocation to Vienna during the Thirty Years’ War to their ceremonial return to Prague in 1791.

Royal Coronation Robe on Display Again

Particular attention will be paid this year to the richly decorated royal sceptre and orb. Ferdinand I commissioned both pieces of regalia from the Augsburg goldsmith Hans Haller in 1533. They originally served as the monarch’s personal symbols of power. In the 17th century, however, they replaced the older Gothic regalia and became part of the Bohemian Crown Jewels.

The royal coronation robe dating from 1653, which was used at the coronations of Bohemian kings in the 18th century, will also be displayed for the first time in many years.

Further exhibits document the storage and protection of the Crown Jewels. These include the historic keys belonging to the guardians of the Crown Archive, which were once used to lock the archive’s two doors near St Wenceslas Chapel.

Interest in the Crown Jewels has continued to grow in recent years. In autumn 2024, 46,609 people visited the exhibition. A year later, the number had risen to 51,553 visitors, including numerous school groups from across the Czech Republic.