From 1 to 31 December, the Christmas Festival of Bad Habits will once again transform Roman Square (Římské náměstí) in Brno into a space offering an alternative to traditional Advent markets. Instead of the pre-Christmas rush and shopping, we invite you to pause, reflect and take an honest look at yourself.
At last year’s festival, almost 7,000 visitors stepped into the confessionals, leaving behind thousands of bad habits and resolutions. The issues people shared most often have shaped this year’s programme. While last year’s confessionals primarily offered conversations with artificial intelligence, this year you’ll also have a unique opportunity to sit down face to face with therapists, clergy, astrologers, well-known personalities and people who have overcome difficult experiences in their own lives. Whether you leave with a CONFESSION SLIP (SVĚŘENKA), an ACCOUNTABILITY SLIP (ZÚČTENKA) or both is entirely up to you.
This year, a 24-hour Christmas Support Helpline is also available to everyone. You can call at any time, day or night, whether something is troubling you or you simply need someone to talk to. There’s also a special programme of accompanying activities in the Food Zone, Sacred Zone and Info Zone.
FREE ENTRY. LEAVE YOUR GUILT BEHIND.
Find the full programme on our website: www.festivalzlozvyku.cz
FAQ
The main programme takes place in six confessionals and is divided into morning and afternoon sessions.
FACE TO FACE
1–24 December 2026
10 am – 3 pm
Get whatever is bothering you off your chest – whether it’s something that’s been upsetting you, frustrating you or weighing on your mind. The choice is yours. In the mental health confessionals, you can talk to therapists and psychologists; in the spiritual confessional, you can speak with members of the clergy; and in the earthly confessionals, you’ll meet astrologers and well-known personalities.
Each morning until 24 December focuses on a different topic, ranging from stress, addiction and relationships to self-confidence and major life changes.
The suggested topics are simply a starting point – you’re welcome to talk about anything.
JUST YOU AND YOURSELF
1–31 December 2026
4 pm – 10 pm
But what if the person you most need to talk to is yourself? Give your inner voice a chance to be heard. It might help you organise your thoughts and find answers you’ve had within you all along.
There’s also a CHRISTMAS SURPRISE waiting for you! One of the confessionals from the morning programme will remain open, hosting a changing line-up of interesting guests from different walks of life.
For the morning FACE TO FACE programme, advance booking is required for four of the six confessionals. Visit www.festivalzlozvyku.cz for the detailed programme for each confessional, profiles of the participants and a link to the booking form. You can also book a session in person at the festival’s Info Zone.
No booking is required for the afternoon JUST YOU AND YOURSELF programme, which takes place in all six confessionals.
The festival offers a varied programme of additional activities, including:
CHRISTMAS SUPPORT HELPLINE
1–31 December 2026
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
FOOD ZONE: SINS ON A PLATE
1–23 December 2026
4 pm – 10 pm
Top chefs have created a special menu inspired by human bad habits. You can indulge your guilty pleasures here – but strictly without alcohol.
SACRED ZONE
1–23 December 2026
10 am – 10 pm (Monday–Friday)
4 pm – 10 pm (Saturday–Sunday)
Religious services, talks and discussions at the Church of St Mary Magdalene (kostel sv. Máří Magdalény).
INFO ZONE
13 November – 23 December 2026
10 am – 10 pm
Your go-to place for everything you need to know about the festival. You can book a confessional session here and pick up the National Collection of Bad Habits, the 2027 Bad Habits Diary and much more.
The festival takes place at Roman Square (Římské náměstí), right in the centre of Brno. The recommended route through the installation starts from Masarykova Street.
Yes. The installation will be in operation daily from 4 pm to 10 pm, when lighting conditions are suitable for the projections.
Yes. Both the festival entrance and the passageways through the installation, which is made up of large curtains, are wheelchair accessible.
As part of the Fill the Gaps initiative (Zasyp mě), we have improved the surface of the square by filling gaps between the paving stones, making it easier for wheelchair users and others with reduced mobility to get around.
Step-free access is also available through the side entrance to the Church of St Mary Magdalene (kostel sv. Máří Magdalény) and to one of the confessionals.
No, admission is completely free, and you can walk through the festival grounds at any time of day.
Yes, there are no age restrictions.
Aftermovie by Jakub Ondráček and Lenka Karaka