Svatomartinské slavnosti 2026: Tradition, Roast Goose and the First Wine of the Year

The Czech Republic celebrates St Martin’s Day in November with crispy roast goose and young wine. The festival combines centuries-old customs with culinary delights and convivial gatherings.

Around 11 November, St Martin’s celebrations, known as “Svatomartinské slavnosti”, take place across the Czech Republic. They traditionally mark the transition from autumn to winter. Families and friends come together to enjoy a festive meal.

In the past, St Martin’s Day also marked the end of the agricultural year: landowners paid their workers’ wages and treated them to a feast. Today, the focus is primarily on sharing a meal and keeping traditions alive.

Almost every restaurant in the Czech Republic offers a special St Martin’s menu at this time. The centrepiece is roast goose, which has been served on this occasion for centuries. The meal often begins with liver pâtés or rich broths with liver dumplings and noodles. This is followed by traditional roast goose with red or white cabbage and dumplings. Young St Martin’s wines or beers brewed especially for the festival make suitable accompaniments.

Photo: Svatomartinské slavnosti | Prague City Tourism

The First Wine of the Year: Svatomartinské víno

A special moment is the opening of the first bottles of “Svatomartinské víno” on 11 November at 11.11am. The young wines of the new vintage are characterised by fresh, fruity aromas. Grape varieties used include Müller-Thurgau, Roter Veltliner and Moravian Muscat. Before a wine can bear the name “Svatomartinské víno”, it must pass a quality assessment by an independent panel.

This year, a total of 283 St Martin’s wines from 67 wineries passed the Czech Wine Fund’s quality assessment. The most widely represented grape variety is Müller-Thurgau, with 75 wines.

Photo: Svatomartinské slavnosti 2026

Svatomartinské slavnosti a pečená husa | Prague, 14 November 2026

On Saturday, 14 November 2026, the festival “Svatomartinské slavnosti a pečená husa” takes place on Prague’s Vltava riverbank. The event, which begins at 10am, centres on roast goose and St Martin’s wine, attracting both locals and tourists keen to experience this autumn tradition.

Svatomartinský košt | Brno, 11 November 2026

The traditional tasting of young wines from the new vintage takes place in Brno for the first time on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, from 11am. The St Martin’s wine tasting, “Svatomartinský košt”, offers the opportunity to sample around 100 wines from winemakers in Moravia and Bohemia.

Photo: Svatomartinský košt Brno

St Martin’s Day is a feast for all the senses – the perfect opportunity to enjoy a restaurant meal with family or friends or attend one of the many autumn events. An experience that combines culinary delights with the freshness of the new wine vintage.

Svatomartinské slavnosti a pečená husa | Prague
14 November 2026, 10am–8pm | Náplavka, Rašínovo nábřeží
Website | Facebook Event

Svatomartinský košt | Brno
11 November 2026, from 11am | náměstí Svobody
Website