This year, the International Dance Weeks celebrate their 40th anniversary, culminating in a gala evening on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Vinohrady Theater. Top Czech and international dance companies will come together on one stage to present the most compelling works of contemporary dance theater, ranging from professional ensembles to the rising generation of young artists. The Gala Evening will offer a unique perspective on the evolution of dance and its current trends, featuring an exceptional international lineup. Throughout the evening, renowned international companies such as the Bavarian Junior Ballet Munich, Ballet Plauen–Zwickau, and the University of California Santa Barbara will perform on a single stage alongside leading Czech companies and conservatories. Audiences can look forward to performances by the Prague Chamber Ballet, Bohemia Ballet, and Ballet Praha Junior, among others. The gala will thus offer a dynamic cross-section of the work of both the rising generation and established artists, providing an exceptional experience of international dance collaboration. International Dance Weeks (the oldest contemporary dance festival in the Czech Republic) grew out of the tradition of regular seminars and performances organized by the Charles University Dance Center with foreign artists and teachers in the first half of the 1980s. Since 1972, the Center has been the first educational and artistic institution in the country to systematically teach modern dance techniques and jazz, establishing strong connections in Europe and the USA. The festival has become a meeting place for diverse dance worlds—here, the achievements of contemporary dance are showcased, new ideas emerge, experiences are shared, and professional relationships are forged. Audiences have the opportunity to compare and discover the full range of developments in the international dance scene. More