The tuning meeting in Čakovice was an unauthorised gathering of enthusiasts of modified cars held on 2 October 2026 in the car park of the Globus hypermarket in the Prague district of Čakovice. According to a rough police estimate, up to a thousand cars arrived at the site and about 2,500 people turned up, mostly young [1][2]. The event was part of a cross-border activity referred to on social networks as “Europe illegal season end 2026”, under which a gathering of tuned vehicles was planned for that day in Prague and for Saturday in Brno [1][2]. At the event in Prague the police dealt with 176 misdemeanours and fines amounted to about 272,000 crowns [4][5][6][8].
Course of events in Čakovice
The car park by the hypermarket was completely filled with people, cars and motorcycles, and some motorcyclists revved their engines. The participants, who often arrived at the site on foot, looked at the cars, photographed them and filmed them on mobile phones [1][2]. Traffic was blocked from the Letňany ice stadium, the passage of city public transport buses was also complicated, and customers of the hypermarket complained about the event because it made their departure difficult [1][3]. According to Seznam Zprávy, all routes to the car park except one entrance and exit were blocked, and dispatchers of the Prague public transport company also came to Čakovice and, together with the police, coordinated public transport [2]. During the evening participants also moved to car parks in Zličín, Strahov and Čestlice and, according to Michaela Richterová, spokeswoman for the Central Bohemian police, were also at Konopiště Chateau [6].
Police intervention
The police knew about the planned gathering in advance, obtained information mainly from social networks, and already on Tuesday 29 September announced extensive security measures ahead of the event [1][2][4]. At the site, officers checked drivers leaving the car park and their documents, and a police helicopter patrolled the area [1][3]. Prague police spokesman Jan Daněk said during the event that the police had so far recorded no major problems and that the police presence had apparently discouraged participants from unlawful behaviour [1][3]. Jozef Bocán, spokesman of the Police Presidium, pointed out that similar gatherings in previous years in other European countries had been accompanied by extensive endangering of road safety and public order, including illegal races, blocking of motorways, attempts to block police vehicles, theft of traffic signs and the use of pyrotechnics [1][2]. The police therefore deployed officers from all motorway units, regional road supervision units, traffic inspectorates and the nationwide Special Supervision Unit for Bohemia and Moravia, involved mobile patrols of the foreign police and planned to use drones and a helicopter with a thermal camera [1][2]. In the end almost 400 officers took action in Prague, assisted by staff of the Road Transport Inspectorate, the customs administration and the municipal police [4].
Results of the checks
Officers in Prague checked 1,707 people, of whom 168 were foreigners, and 1,215 vehicles [4], and dealt with 176 misdemeanours [4][5][6][7][8]. They imposed fines totalling 271,900 crowns in 143 cases, reported thirteen cases to the competent administrative authority, prevented seven vehicles from continuing and towed two [6]. They collected 116,700 crowns in arrears on earlier fines, seized registration plates in four cases, collected a deposit of 25,000 crowns once and recorded six offences against public order [6]. One driver was detained on suspicion of a criminal offence consisting of driving despite a court ban, five people were restricted in their personal freedom because of a misdemeanour, and drugs were found in the bodies of two drivers [6]. Central Bohemian police recorded more than 80 misdemeanours and seized twelve vehicle registration certificates and one driving licence [4].
The Prague police described the security measures as successful: according to its statement, there was no serious traffic accident involving injury or death at the meeting, nor any major disruption of public order or traffic [9].
Border checks and the planned move to Brno
The police also strengthened patrols at border crossings and major access roads. South Moravian police announced on the day of the meeting that near the border they had ended the journey of two foreigners heading to the meeting: from one they took the vehicle registration certificate because of unapproved modifications, and the other, aged seventeen, was driving without a driving licence [1][2][3]. On Saturday 3 October participants were to move to Brno [4][7]. South Moravian police spokesman David Chaloupka said that, besides the main roads, rest areas, petrol stations and other places where short-term gatherings of participants could be expected would be monitored. Increased police supervision in South Moravia had been in force since Thursday, particularly on the D1, D2 and other major roads [1][2][3].
Chronology
- — At an illegal car-tuning meeting in Prague, police dealt with 176 misdemeanours, and the fines imposed amounted to roughly 272,000 crowns. ČTK / České noviny Pražská Drbna
- — Hundreds of cars gathered in the car park of a hypermarket in Prague's Čakovice for an unauthorised tuning meet; according to a police estimate up to a thousand cars and 2,500 people came, the police monitored the event, which was due to move to Brno on Saturday. ČTK / České noviny Seznam Zprávy
- — Police announced extensive measures ahead of an illegal gathering of thousands of tuned cars and may close roads preventively. ČTK / České noviny Blesk.cz
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 2 October 2026
- Seznam Zprávy — 2 October 2026
- iDNES.cz — 2 October 2026
- ČTK / České noviny — 3 October 2026
- Pražská Drbna — 3 October 2026
- Novinky.cz — 3 October 2026
- ČT24 — 3 October 2026
- Blesk.cz — 3 October 2026
- Policie České republiky — 3 October 2026