NeverMore 68 Commemorates Victims of Occupation and Exile in Prague on Friday

The NeverMore 68 festival will commemorate the occupation of Czechoslovakia and its consequences at the Prague Exhibition Grounds on Friday. The focus will be on the lives of those who were forced into exile after 1968.

On Friday, the Prague Exhibition Grounds in Holešovice will commemorate the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops. The fifth edition of NeverMore 68 will focus on those who had to leave their homeland after 1968 – and the long-term consequences of their departure for society.

Under the motto “Stories of Those Who Were Missing”, the festival will examine not only the events of 21 August 1968, but also their impact on culture, science, education and public life. Hundreds of thousands of people went into exile following the suppression of the Prague Spring, including scientists, doctors, artists, athletes, journalists and teachers.

For many, emigration was not a free choice. The political situation and the subsequent period of so-called normalisation made it impossible for them to live according to their own convictions. In addition to highlighting individual stories, NeverMore 68 therefore aims to show what their departure meant for Czechoslovakia at the time.

Video: NeverMore 68 na Výstavišti 2025 (CZ)

Debates, Exhibitions and Eyewitnesses

The programme begins at 2 pm on Friday, 21 August, and continues until 11.30 pm. It will feature discussions, exhibitions, documentary films, live broadcasts and cultural contributions. Admission is free.

Programme highlights include the historical debate “Přepište dějiny”, an edition of “Café Evropa” and a discussion about the so-called Operation Asanace. Through this targeted campaign of intimidation, the communist State Security service attempted to force opponents of the regime to leave the country in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Singer-songwriter Jaroslav Hutka, who was himself forced into exile by the authorities, will also take part in the discussion.

Foto: Na Výstavišti

Several exhibitions will explore the lives of Czechoslovak emigrants, the victims of communist repression and the activities of the Soviet secret police. An international poster exhibition by Belarusian graphic designer Artur Vakarov will also draw connections between the fate of Czechoslovakia and the experiences of other Central and Eastern European countries.

T-55 Tank as a Symbol of the Invasion

A T-55 tank will be displayed outside Křižík Pavilion B. It is intended to recall one of the most visible symbols of the military invasion that fundamentally changed life in Czechoslovakia.

Inside the pavilion, the “Dárek pro Putina” initiative will hold a special programme on the 1968 occupation and the current security situation in Europe from 10 am to 6 pm. Journalists Světlana Witowská and Jindřich Šídlo will serve as moderators.

Foto: Na Výstavišti

“For me, NeverMore 68 is not only about remembering a historic date,” said Tomáš Hübl, Chairman of the Board of the Prague Exhibition Grounds. The event connects the stories of those who were forced to leave with questions that remain relevant today.

Since its foundation, NeverMore 68 has developed into one of the largest public commemorative events marking the occupation of Czechoslovakia. The festival brings together historians, eyewitnesses, cultural and educational institutions, and the public.

Admission to the event on 21 August is free of charge. Further information is available on the website of Prague's Výstaviště Exhibition Grounds.


NeverMore 68
Friday, 21 August, 2.00 pm – 11.30 pm
Výstaviště Praha Holešovice