You’re Invited! Where to Find Culture, Community and New Connections

Would you like to practise Slovak, meet new people or become more involved in your city? We have selected events where people from abroad and local residents come together, including language cafés, community gatherings, festivals, markets, film screenings and creative workshops.

Some activities are organised by Mareena, while others are prepared by cultural centres, non-profit organisations and local communities. Always check the current date, venue, admission fee and registration requirements for each event. Programmes may change throughout the year.

Last updated: July 2026

Regular Activities with Mareena

Mareena organises community events in Bratislava, Nitra and Košice. Their aim is to create opportunities for people from abroad and local residents to meet, practise Slovak and spend their free time together. The current programme includes language cafés, a book club, creative and sports activities, and meetings for young people.

Language Café in Bratislava

Are you learning Slovak and would like to feel more confident speaking it? At the language café, you can talk about everyday topics, practise your communication skills and meet new people. It is not a traditional language class—the focus is on informal conversation in a friendly environment.

When: Every second Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Staré lýceum, Konventná 15, Bratislava
Who it is for: People learning Slovak
Language: Slovak; English is also spoken
Registration: Capacity is usually limited, so check whether registration is required for the specific date.

Community Activities in Nitra

In Nitra, you can take part in the UPLAYS programme, which supports young people from Ukraine in the areas of language learning, careers and health. Meetings include Slovak lessons, career counselling, sports activities and informal gatherings.

Mareena also organises game nights for young people in Nitra and creative Spletené meetings, where women from Slovakia and other countries come together while doing arts and crafts.

Who they are for: Depending on the activity, young people from Ukraine, young people in general, or women interested in arts and crafts
Language: Slovak and, depending on the group, Ukrainian or other languages
Admission and registration: Conditions vary depending on the specific activity.

Language Café at Tabačka

In Košice, Mareena participates in regular language cafés at Tabačka Kulturfabrik. Alongside conversation tables in various languages, there is usually a Slovak–Ukrainian table. Over coffee or tea, you can practise Slovak or Ukrainian and meet new people.

When: Every second Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Tabačka Kulturfabrik, Košice
Who it is for: People from abroad and local residents
Language: Mainly Slovak and Ukrainian; tables for other languages are usually available as well
Admission: Check the conditions for the current event.

Other Activities in Košice

Mareena in Košice also holds a book club that combines reading Slovak and international literature with practising Slovak. Another regular activity is morning yoga, suitable for both beginners and more experienced participants. Registration for yoga is not required, but the number of places is limited.

Exact dates for all activities can be found in Mareena’s current programme.

[fjúžn] Festival

The [fjúžn] Festival is a multi-genre and multicultural event dedicated to migration, diversity and the lives of people of foreign origin in Slovakia. It has been organised by the Milan Šimečka Foundation since 2006.

During the festival, concerts, film screenings, exhibitions, theatre performances, discussions, creative workshops, community gatherings and activities for children take place at various venues across Bratislava. People of foreign origin, cultural venues, civic associations and local communities all contribute to the programme.

When: The festival takes place every year; the date of the 2026 festival has not yet been announced
Where: Various cultural, community and public spaces in Bratislava
Who it is for: People from abroad, local residents, families, children and anyone interested in culture and diversity
Language: Depends on the individual event; the programme usually indicates whether Slovak, English or another language will be used
Admission: A large part of the programme is usually free, but some concerts, performances and evening events require a ticket.

Dobrý trh

Dobrý trh is a community street festival that brings public spaces to life and connects neighbours, local organisations, small brands, producers and people from different communities. In addition to stalls selling food, design products, books and locally made goods, it offers concerts, art installations and workshops for children and adults.

The organisers work with local residents, businesses and organisations, so the programme of each market reflects the neighbourhood in which it takes place.

Next Dobrý trh

When: 19 September 2026
Where: Panenská, Štetinova and Podjavorinskej streets, Bratislava
Who it is for: The general public, families, children and anyone who would like to discover local initiatives
Language: Information and spoken parts of the programme are mainly in Slovak. However, you can visit the market, attend concerts and participate in many creative activities without speaking Slovak well
Admission: Voluntary contribution
Registration: Regular visitors do not need to register.

The date of the autumn market has already been confirmed, but the organisers will publish the detailed programme later.

One World Festival

The One World International Documentary Film Festival presents films about human rights, relationships between countries and cultures, social inequalities, the environment and other social issues. The festival is organised by People in Need Slovakia and usually includes discussions, meetings with guests and accompanying community events.

When: 20–25 October 2026
Where: Bratislava; part of the programme is usually also available online
Who it is for: Anyone interested in documentary films, human rights and current global issues
Language: Films are screened with subtitles; the language of each discussion will be specified in the programme
Admission: Depends on the individual screening or type of festival pass.

Specific films, screening venues and admission conditions will be added once the complete programme has been published.

Where to Find More Events

Mareena’s current programme changes throughout the year. In addition to regular activities, new workshops, trips, film evenings, community gatherings and one-off events are added. You can find the latest information in Mareena’s calendar and on its social media channels.

You can also find other concerts, festivals, exhibitions, children’s events and free activities in city calendars and the programmes of cultural and community centres. Bratislava, for example, publishes a shared calendar of city events, including open-air cinemas, theatre performances, guided walks and activities in individual city districts.