André Rieu brings the waltz back to Prague
André Rieu is coming to Prague's O2 Arena with a concert announced for May 29, 2026 at 19:30, and it is the first of two consecutive performances in the same venue. The next day, May 30, another concert is scheduled, which clearly shows how important Prague is as a stop in the schedule of the Dutch violinist, conductor and entertainer. Rieu performs with the Johann Strauss Orchestra, the ensemble that has built his recognizable concert world: waltzes, opera melodies, music from films and musicals, romantic ballads and lighter popular classics are combined into an evening that appeals not only to a classical audience, but also to visitors who want a festive, emotional and easily understandable concert experience.
Tickets for this event are in demand.
What the audience can expect from the concert
Rieu's format is not a chamber concert in which the audience is kept at a distance. His performances rely on broad gestures, humor from the stage, lavish costumes and an orchestra that brings the classical repertoire closer to the audience without academic stiffness. For the Prague concert, a performance with the 70-member Johann Strauss Orchestra, soloists and guests has been announced, but without a published final setlist. That is why it is safer to speak about the framework of the program: romantic and emotional ballads, famous waltzes, opera motifs, musicals, film music, evergreens and compositions that the audience often recognizes after the first few bars.
For the visitor, this means an evening in which quieter, sentimental moments alternate with parts in which the hall reacts as if to a large shared celebration. Rieu built his career precisely on that combination: he does not hide the classical foundation, but performs it in the format of a major concert event. The violin, the orchestra and the sound of the waltz remain at the center, especially the music of the Strauss family, but the repertoire expands toward melodies that are equally well known to lovers of opera, film music and popular musicals.
The current phase of his career and the new album
The context of the Prague concert is especially connected with the year 2025, when the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss's birth was marked. Rieu followed that anniversary with the album "Thank You, Johann Strauss", a 3-CD and DVD release dedicated to Strauss and his musical family. Among the listed compositions are "Rosen aus dem Süden", "An der Schönen Blauen Donau", "Kaiserwalzer", "G'schichten aus dem Wienerwald", "Wiener Blut" and "Radetzky Marsch". This does not mean that such a list is a confirmed setlist for Prague, but it shows the musical space in which Rieu is currently moving: the waltz as the heart of the program, along with melodies that invite the audience to recognition, rhythm and a shared reaction.
In addition, announcements for the Prague performance also mention the album "The Sound of Heaven", with a selection of classical works, romantic melodies, musicals, film themes and evergreens. In those descriptions, names such as Georg Friedrich Händel, Giacomo Puccini, Andrew Lloyd Webber, ABBA, Charles Gounod and John Williams appear. For an audience that has followed Rieu for a longer time, this is familiar ground: the concert is not designed as a strictly genre-based evening, but as a walk through melodies that sound festive, nostalgic and accessible.
Who will find this concert especially interesting
André Rieu most strongly attracts an audience that loves classical music in a more open, more communicative form. This includes long-time fans of the Viennese waltz and the Johann Strauss Orchestra, but also visitors who otherwise do not follow symphonic concerts. His performances are often a family choice because the repertoire does not close itself within a single age group: older visitors recognize the waltzes and opera melodies, while younger audiences enter more easily through film themes, musicals and visually rich concert production.
Those who seek from a concert not only technically precise music-making, but also a sense of togetherness in the hall, will particularly enjoy it. On stage, Rieu is the conductor, violinist and host of the evening. That role explains why his concerts also work in large arenas: the audience does not only watch the orchestra, but follows the rhythm of the entire event, from the opening notes to the final parts in which the atmosphere usually opens toward applause, laughter and singing together.
Seats are disappearing quickly.
O2 Arena as a space for a large orchestral sound
O2 Arena in Prague is one of the most important multipurpose venues in the Czech Republic. It was opened in 2004 for the needs of the Ice Hockey World Championship, it is located in the northeastern part of Prague, approximately 10 kilometers from the city center, and according to the venue's own data it has a capacity of up to 20,000 visitors, depending on the event configuration. Such a space suits Rieu because his concert format requires a large stage, enough room for the orchestra, soloists and production, but also a strong sense of a shared audience.
Unlike smaller classical halls, an arena of this type brings a different dynamic. The sound is shaped for a large space, the stage must be visible to a wide circle of visitors, and the rhythm of the evening is guided so that it reaches even spectators far from the front rows. That is precisely why Rieu in arenas often acts as a bridge between a classical concert and a stage event: the orchestra remains at the center, but the entire performance is built for an audience seated in a large hall.
- Venue: O2 Arena, Českomoravská 2345/17, 190 00 Praha 9.
- Date and time of the concert: May 29, 2026 at 19:30.
- Two consecutive Prague performances have been announced, on May 29 and 30, 2026.
- Rieu performs with the Johann Strauss Orchestra, announced as a 70-member orchestra.
- The venue states a capacity of up to 20,000 visitors, depending on the event setup.
Getting to the venue and practical details
The venue address leads visitors to the Prague district of Praha 9, to the location Českomoravská 2345/17. For those arriving by car, O2 Arena lists a parking garage in the immediate vicinity. It is reached via Českomoravská Street, turning toward Lisabonská Street, after which the hall is a few minutes' walk away. According to the venue's information, the parking garage usually opens three hours before the event and closes one hour after the end of the event. It is important to check the current instructions before departure because traffic and parking arrangements may change depending on the event.
Visitors arriving by train can use the nearby Praha-Vysočany and Praha-Libeň stations. This is useful for those coming to Prague from other Czech cities or from the region and who want to avoid driving through city traffic. For urban transport, it is most practical to plan arrival with enough time, because major concerts at O2 Arena create increased audience movement around the venue before the start and after the end of the program.
Before entering, visitors should count on standard checks and venue rules. O2 Arena lists a set of prohibited items and entry rules for events, and for persons under the age of 15 it emphasizes the need to be accompanied by an adult with their own ticket. Since this is a large hall, it is good to arrive earlier, check the sector and entrance on the ticket and leave enough time for the cloakroom, security check and finding the seat.
Prague as a concert weekend
The concert on May 29 falls on a Friday, which makes it a good choice for visitors who want to combine the event with a weekend in Prague. The city is large enough to offer museums, walks, restaurants and nightlife, but also sufficiently connected that, with good planning, it is possible to organize a trip only for the concert. For travelers from Croatia and neighboring countries, it is especially practical that O2 Arena is not a hidden small location, but a large, well-known hall in a part of the city with transport connections and supporting infrastructure.
It is worth securing tickets in time.
Why the Prague performance is important in the tour schedule
The Prague concert is not an isolated date inserted into the calendar, but Rieu's return to the Czech Republic with two evening performances in the same arena. Such a schedule indicates that broad audience interest is expected, but also that the concert is being built as a regional gathering point. For visitors from Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia and other nearby countries, Prague can be an attractive option because it combines a large concert venue, a well-known performer and a city that is itself often a reason for travel.
Musically, Rieu brings to Prague what he is best known for: the waltz performed not as a museum object, but as living, communicative music. With the Johann Strauss Orchestra and a program that moves between classical music, musicals, film music and evergreens, the concert is intended for an audience that wants a festive outing, but without the feeling of strict formality. That is why this performance is especially interesting to those who love hall splendor, orchestral sound and evenings in which the audience is not merely an observer, but part of the rhythm of the concert.
Ticket sales for this event are ongoing.
Useful for planning a visit
The most important thing is not to rely on arriving at the last moment. A major concert at O2 Arena means crowds around the entrances, parking areas and public transport. If you are arriving by car, check parking options in advance and count on walking from the parking garage to the hall. If you are arriving by public transport or train, plan your return before the concert, especially if you are not staying in Prague overnight.
For the evening itself, it is enough to know that a concert closed only to connoisseurs of classical music is not expected. Rieu's performance lives from recognizable melodies, orchestral momentum and the feeling that a large arena turns into a ballroom for a few hours. That is the main reason why his concerts attract audiences of different generations: everyone can enter through a different part of the repertoire, but all end up in the same musical space, between waltzes, film themes, opera motifs and songs remembered for their melody.
Sources:
- André Rieu Productions - data on the date, time, venue address, announced 70-member Johann Strauss Orchestra and repertoire description for the Prague concert were used.
- O2 Arena Praha - data on the two Prague concerts, the performer's return to the Czech Republic, sales of more than 40 million albums, annual concert attendance, type of program and information about the album "The Sound of Heaven" were used.
- André Rieu Productions, "Thank You, Johann Strauss" - data on the album released for the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss's birth, the format of the release and the listed compositions were used.
- O2 Arena Praha, parking and transportation - practical information on the parking garage, arrival by car, parking operating hours around the event and nearby railway stations was used.
- O2 Arena Praha, about us - data on the capacity of up to 20,000 visitors, opening in 2004 and the position of the venue in relation to the center of Prague was used.