Saturday – Bratislava Coronation Days Programme
From 24 to 26 July 2026, Bratislava, the former coronation city of the Kingdom of Hungary, will transform into a vibrant stage of royal history. The city’s historic centre will come alive with the unique atmosphere of coronation traditions, stories of monarchs, and events that shaped the history of the region.
Saturday, 25 July 2026 – Coronation Day and the Royal Procession through the City
Saturday is the main day of the Bratislava Coronation Days. The programme begins at Bratislava Castle, continues with a ceremonial coronation procession through the historic city centre, and culminates in the reenactment of Maria Theresa’s coronation at the Main Square. Throughout the day, visitors can also enjoy lectures, guided tours, creative workshops and other accompanying events.
9:00 – 11:30 | Opening of the Presbytery of St. Martin’s Cathedral
A unique opportunity to visit the presbytery where Hungarian monarchs were crowned, as well as the crypts beneath the cathedral.
10:00 – 10:30 | Kakaw Co+ – Maria Theresa’s Cocoa
A lecture on the history of cocoa combined with a tasting of a special cocoa inspired by the era of Maria Theresa.
10:30 – 10:45 | Franz Xaver Messerschmidt Café
A short guided tour dedicated to the life and work of the renowned sculptor Franz Xaver Messerschmidt.
11:00 – 12:30 | Monastery Brewery
The lecture The Fate of Maria Theresa’s Monument in Bratislava presents the history of one of the city’s most significant monuments.
12:00 – 14:00 | Slovak National Gallery
The creative workshop Discover the Crafts of the Royal City and Create with Us at SNG offers children and adults the opportunity to explore historical crafts and create their own historically inspired item.
12:30 – 15:30 | Bratislava Castle – Living History at the Castle
Before the coronation procession departs, the eastern terrace of Bratislava Castle will come alive with a historical programme.
Programme:
12:30 Opening
12:40 – 13:25 Falconia Falconers – The Noble Art of Hunting
13:25 – 13:45 Drumming Performance – Banda Allegra
13:50 – 14:05 Performance by Historical Flag Bearers – Flag Art Mondaria
14:10 – 14:15 Sword Fighting Demonstration – A.R.G.O. (The Ambush of Baron Trenck)
14:20 – 14:30 18th-Century Military Training – Abbaca
14:40 – 15:10 Juggler PET
Coronation Procession
🕞 15:30
In the afternoon, the historical procession sets off from the castle towards the city centre. Along the route, it will be accompanied by music, drums and costumed performers.
Main Square
🕓 16:00 – 18:00
The programme continues at the Main Square:
16:00 Opening of the programme
16:20 Arrival of the coronation procession
16:40 Sword fighting duels, flag performances and historical dances
17:10 Maria Theresa’s ceremonial coronation ceremony on stage
17:30 Photo opportunity
18:00 End of the programme
After the coronation ceremony, visitors can take photos with the performers.
20:00 – 21:00 | Coronation Concert
At St. Martin’s Cathedral, works by Mozart, Liszt, Bach, Vivaldi and Schneider-Trnavský will be performed by organ, violin and soprano in the unique atmosphere of the coronation cathedral.
Accompanying program
10:00 – 20:00 | Kakaw Co+, Jesenského 7
Maria Theresa cocoa tasting
Discover a unique cocoa inspired by a recipe from the time of Maria Theresa. The mildly spicy drink with cinnamon combines historical flavors with a modern cocoa ritual. Just say the phrase “AHOJ KAKAO”.
10:00 – 17:00 | Historical Museum of the Slovak National Museum, Bratislava Castle
Hungarian Royal Crown Back in Bratislava
In the Historical Museum you can see a faithful copy of the St. Stephen’s Crown, one of the most important symbols of the Hungarian monarchy. The entrance fee also includes a tour of the museum’s exhibitions.
10:00 – 17:00 | Historical Museum of the Slovak National Museum, Bratislava Castle
From the Levant to the Euro
The exhibition presents the development of money from coronation medals and historical coins to today’s euro through rare exhibits from the collections of the Slovak National Museum and the Museum of Coins and Medals.
Notice
During the event, photographs and video recordings may be taken for documentation and promotional purposes. By attending the event, visitors agree that these materials may be used in the organiser’s promotional and communication materials.
More information about personal data processing can be found in the Privacy Policy (GDPR).
Programme subject to change.
