Pilsen will come alive with history and experiences during the Liberation Festival, with a convoy of 300 historic vehicles

The traditional Sunday Convoy of Liberty will offer an attractive spectacle, led by the combat formation of the 16th Armored Division and almost 300 historical vehicles, during the Freedom Celebrations in Pilsen this year. On display on May 3, the legendary M24 Chaffee tank, M4A4 Sherman and M36 Jackson will be on display, while iconic historical aircraft including the P-51D Mustang will dominate the sky. The Freedom Celebrations will take place from May 1 to 6, 2026. Their program includes live military camps, an interactive program for visitors of all generations and a rich gastronomic offer.

Convoy of Liberty
The traditional Sunday Convoy of Liberty will once again offer an above-standard spectacle this year. At the head of the column of approximately 300 vehicles will be a battle formation simulating the arrival of the 16th Armored Division. After a long break, the American light tank M24 Chaffee returns to Pilsen, joined by the iconic M4A4 Sherman "George Thompson" and the M36 Jackson tank destroyer. The aircraft in the sky will also provide a dynamic spectacle. Historical gems such as the P-51D Mustang, Harvard Mk.II or Boeing B 75 Stearman will fly over the convoy. These aircraft will be introduced to the audience on Friday, May 1, at the opening ceremony, when they will perform flyovers over the area behind the Plaza shopping center.

Military historical camps
Military history will also come to life in individual camps in the city center. The life of the American units that first entered Pilsen will be presented by the 16th Armored Division of the US Army in Křižíkovy sady. Visitors will see dozens of pieces of light and heavy armored equipment. In addition to equipment, the camp will reveal the logistical facilities of the army, such as a fully functional field workshop for repairing equipment, military quarters, a military police station and an authentic field kitchen with complete period equipment. The Czechoslovak Independent Armored Brigade camp will commemorate the heroism of our soldiers fighting alongside the Allies. The exhibition in the park behind the Plzeň Plaza shopping center will offer British period equipment with which Czechoslovak soldiers returned to their homeland. The program is designed as living history with rich interactive content. There will be an infirmary, field workshops and period catering. Visitors can look forward to guided tours, shooting demonstrations and regular soldier training. A special section will focus on life in the protectorate and a fashion show of the time. Young people can try out a special training course for recruits or complete a route, for which every child will receive a well-deserved reward.

In the neighboring camp dedicated to the British Royal Air Force (RAF), visitors will have a unique opportunity to look into the background of Czechoslovak airmen, as well as into the lesser-known history of the women's auxiliary corps. The program will offer a combination of educational exhibitions and dynamic demonstrations that will bring to mind the tension and everyday life at wartime airfields.
The program of this year's Liberation Festival also includes the final participation of the Raiders camp, which is concluding its presence at the Pilsen celebrations after 15 years. As part of the 2nd Infantry Division exhibition, visitors will have the last chance to see a unique presentation of this scale under the auspices of the JFT Raiders military history club. The camp will offer a detailed insight into the functioning of the modern American army, through a comprehensive display of period and contemporary equipment, weapons and heavy equipment.

Hurvínek Trail and Josef Skupa during World War II
This year, the Hurvínek Trail will be an extraordinary part of the liberation celebration program, revealing the lesser-known history, the resistance activities of the creator of the Hurvínek puppet, Josef Skupa, during World War II, and his imprisonment in the Nazi “Matylda”. Young participants will discover how powerful puppet theater was during the occupation and why Skupa’s performances were a thorn in the side of the Gestapo. The city, in cooperation with the Spejbl and Hurvínek Theater, is including the trail in the program in connection with the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Hurvínek puppet. The authors are the theater’s artist and set designer David Janošek in cooperation with artist Kateřina Coufalová.

Rich gastronomic offer
The extraordinary atmosphere of the Liberation Festival will be supported by a rich gastronomic offer. This year, the celebrations of the liberation by the American army will be enriched by a special batch of Veterán beer, which is an unfiltered 10° special Indian Pale Lager from the experimental brewery Elektrárna. This unique drink was created for the fourth time as part of international cooperation with the American brewery Three Taverns from Atlanta under the leadership of brewers Lenka Straková and Neal Engleman. The beer is brewed from the limited hop mixture Veteran Blend and part of its sales goes to support war veterans. The special beer can be tasted in the stands behind the Plzeň Plaza shopping center from Friday, May 1, 2026, the ceremonial tapping of the keg and tasting will take place in the local park on Saturday, May 2 at 5 p.m. The CrossCafe chain will offer relaxation with coffee and refreshments, both in its nine Pilsen cafes and in special stands in the U Branky area and in the park behind OC Plaza. The offer will be complemented by the popular Farmer's Markets and Slow Market in Smetanova Street and U Branky, souvenir sales in the information center on Náměstí Republiky and at the stand behind SC Plzeň Plaza.

During the weekend, a catering tent will be available in Šafaříkovy sady under the direction of the Na Spilce restaurant, while other gastronomic zones will be prepared at U Zvonu and behind the Plzeň Plaza shopping center. Military souvenirs will be sold in front of the Patton Memorial Plzeň museum, which can be visited only until the end of May. Saturday's program will be enriched by a retro hairdressing salon for ladies in the Nava passage. The partner of the Liberation Festival in Pilsen is the Plzeň Region. It has arranged for popular rides on the historic train called Šlechtičná at the Liberation Festival from May 1 to 3. Details of the timetable are available on the website www.idpk.cz.