In April, Prague’s O2 Universum will once again become the centre of Czech gastronomy. Makro Czech Gastro Fest 2026 will offer the most extensive programme in the festival’s history. Across an area of more than 13,000 square metres, there will be nineteen themed zones featuring cooking shows, workshops, tastings and competitions. The festival will once again confirm its role as a unique platform connecting industry professionals with gastronomy enthusiasts.
This year’s programme centres on the theme of freshness—of ingredients, ideas and the energy that contemporary gastronomy requires. The Makro Forum will therefore feature a series of thirty-minute sessions dedicated to current topics, ranging from marketing in the food industry and restaurant ratings in the Czech Republic to a panel discussion titled “Story about Story”. The panel will feature Daniel Khoury, head chef at the Michelin-starred London restaurant Story, alongside Tomáš Ngoc and Kristína Nemčková. They will speak openly about what lies behind the restaurant’s success—from the concept and teamwork to brand building.
On the main Makro Square stage, the programme will transform into a live kitchen. Over the course of two days, Michelin-starred chefs Martin Štangl, Július Löffler and Petr Heneš will take part in the cooking show. World cocktail-mixing champion Martin Vogeltanz will demonstrate how to create a signature drink and explore food-pairing possibilities. The programme will also feature the final of the Makro Gastro Cup competition for culinary school students, and on Saturday the Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender competition will reach its climax.
New zones and new flavours
This year’s edition will also feature several brand-new zones. The makro GEN project will showcase the rising stars of the Czech gastronomic scene through signature tastings included in the ticket price. Among those presenting their concepts will be Ondřej Kurák from the Na Gruntu restaurant, as well as a joint project by Bratrs Bistro and Pedro Street Food. Pastry chef Kateřina Kloudová will also take part with her establishment, The Roses.
Under the auspices of the Czech Bartenders Association, a zone dedicated to hot drinks will be created. It will feature presentations by baristas and tea masters, tastings of various coffee styles, and demonstrations of modern hot drinks. The programme will also include the T-Tender competition, showcasing the precise craftsmanship of tea professionals.
The festival will also expand to include a section of pop-up restaurants serving full meals created in collaboration with the event’s ambassadors. Visitors will be able to sample, for example, Lukáš Hejlík’s kulajda soup or traditional buchtičky se šodó inspired by Kovy’s recipe. This year, the street food area will move in front of the O2 Universum building to a zone accessible from Českomoravská Street, where it will offer a varied selection of quality fast food.
“Gastronomy is mainly about people. That’s why we’re bringing together chefs, restaurateurs, baristas, suppliers and students in one place. For us, Makro Czech Gastro Fest is a platform for long-term collaboration, where new ideas and projects emerge that have a real impact on operations,” says festival director and Makro ČR CEO Jiří Nehasil.
The aim of the festival is for professionals to take away concrete inspiration for the kitchen, service, marketing or team management. For the public, it remains above all a gastronomic experience that showcases the current state of the Czech gastronomic scene in one place.
