The Academy of Classical Music is co-organising the first concert to celebrate the inauguration of the new organ in St. Vitus Cathedral

The sound of a new organ will fill the Cathedral of St. Vitus, Wenceslas and Adalbert at Prague Castle in June of this year. The cathedral, a landmark of Prague Castle that holds an iconic place in Czech history, will finally receive an organ that is worthy of its size and significance.

The Academy of Classical Music, which organises the Dvořák Prague Festival, has been a key actor in this remarkable project from the very beginning of the process. The Academy held several benefit concerts to support a national public collection that was instrumental in funding the construction and installation of the organ in St. Vitus Cathedral.

The official ceremonial inauguration and consecration of the new organ will take place on 15 June, 2026. It will feature Antonín Dvořák’s Dvořák's Mass in D Major (“The Lužany Mass”). Antonín Dvořák composed it in 1887 for the consecration of the chapel at the Lužany Chateau.

The consecration of the organ will be followed by the “St. Vitus Organ Octave” concert series, designed for donors to thank them for their support. The concert series will bring the music of leading Czech and international musicians to the cathedral over a number of days. The new organ, of course, will star in the leading role.

The first concert evening in the series, entitled “A Tribute to the St. Vitus Organ”, will take place on 16 June. Latvian organist Iveta Apkalna will perform, sharing the full majestic beauty of the sound of the new organ. This concert, designated for donors of the organ project, is co-organised by the St. Vitus Organ Fund of the Academy of Classical Music. The event partner is KKCG Real Estate. ‍

“This will be an exceptional cultural and social event. I would like to thank all of the donors to the organ fund. The construction and installation of the new organ through funding from a public collection beautifully demonstrates that great, valuable ideas have the power to connect people. Our Academy of Classical Music could not stand by and not get involved in such an important initiative. The first donor to the organ fund was Allwyn, part of the KKCG investment group. I am sure that the organ will become a new point of pride of the St. Vitus Cathedral,” said Robert Kolář, Director of the Academy of Classical Music.

Read more on the Prague Archdiocese website here.