The exhibition of the Czech coronation jewels in Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle ran from 15 to 29 September 2026 and was visited by about 36,600 people.
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The exhibition of the Czech coronation jewels, subtitled “The Habsburgs 500”, was held in Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle from 15 September to 29 September 2026. According to the Prague Castle communications department, about 36,600 people visited it over 14 days, including roughly 9,000 schoolchildren, for whom the first four days were reserved. Ten days were intended for the public, with 27,606 visitors. In 2025 the exhibition was seen by 51,553 visitors.[1] On 18 September the exhibition was closed for about half a day because of the state visit of King Abdullah II of Jordan.[1]
Contents of the exhibition
The display recalled the story of the jewels, from their deposit at Karlštejn in the 16th century and their move to Vienna during the Thirty Years' War to their transfer to Prague in 1791. It also included objects connected with the administration and protection of the jewels, for example the historic keys of the guardians and a coronation robe from 1653. Portraits and period depictions presented the connection with the Habsburg dynasty, whose first monarch became Ferdinand I of Habsburg in October 1526.[1]
Storage of the jewels
The coronation jewels consist of the Crown of Saint Wenceslas, the royal sceptre and orb, leather cases, the cushion for the crown, and the coronation mantle with accessories. President Petr Pavel decided in 2024 that they would be exhibited every year. They are kept long-term in the Korunní komora in St Vitus Cathedral and can be taken out only in the presence of all seven key holders: the president, the prime minister, the chairs of the Senate of the Czech Republic and of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, the Archbishop of Prague, the mayor of Prague and the dean of the chapter at St Vitus. They were returned to the chamber on Tuesday morning.[1]
Related articles: Petr Pavel, Prague Castle
Chronology
- — The exhibition of the Czech crown jewels at Prague Castle ended; the key-holders returned them to St Vitus Cathedral. ČTK / České noviny ČTK / České noviny
- — Seven key holders returned the coronation jewels to the Korunní komora of St Vitus Cathedral after an exhibition that about 36,600 people visited in two weeks. ČTK / České noviny ČTK / České noviny
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Storage of the jewels and attendance
Seven key holders placed the coronation jewels back in the Korunní komora in St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle after the exhibition ended. According to Blesk.cz this took place on 29 September 2026; the headline of the report names President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.[2]
The exhibition, subtitled “The Habsburgs 500”, was open to the public from 19 to 28 September 2026 in Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle, with about 36,600 visitors, of whom about 9,000 were schoolchildren. The first four days were reserved for schoolchildren. In 2025 it was visited by more than 51,500 people.[2]
The key to the Korunní komora is held by the president, the prime minister, the chairs of the Senate of the Czech Republic and of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, the Archbishop of Prague, the mayor of Prague and the dean of the Metropolitan Chapter of Saint Vitus.[2]
Storage of the jewels and attendance at the exhibition
On 29 September 2026 seven key holders placed the coronation jewels back in the Korunní komora in St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle. The key to the chamber is held by the president, the prime minister, the chairs of the Senate of the Czech Republic and of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, the Archbishop of Prague, the mayor of Prague and the dean of the Metropolitan Chapter of Saint Vitus.[2][3]
According to Blesk, the exhibition subtitled “The Habsburgs 500” in Vladislav Hall was visited by about 36,600 people, of whom about 9,000 were schoolchildren. The first four days, from 15 September, were reserved for schoolchildren, and the exhibition was open to the public from 19 to 28 September. Attendance was lower than in 2025, when the jewels were seen by more than 51,500 people.[2] The display also included objects connected with the administration and protection of the jewels, for example the historic keys of the guardians of the crown archive and of the coronation jewels, and a coronation robe from 1653.[2][3]
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 29 September 2026
- Blesk.cz
- Pražský deník — 29 September 2026