The ‘Sounds of Democracy’ project, one of the flagship initiatives of the ‘Trenčín 2026 – European Capital of Culture’ programme, comprises a series of five themed events commemorating pivotal moments in European history. These multidisciplinary mini-festivals combine discussions, concerts and film screenings, focusing not only on historical memory but also on the current challenges facing democracy. The first event, dedicated to the Carnation Revolution, took place in Trenčín on 25 April.
The project brings together history, art and the present day
“Sounds of Democracy” is a series of five events that will, over the course of 2026, commemorate key milestones in the history of European democracy, from the Carnation Revolution and Europe Day to an event dedicated to the Velvet Revolution in Slovakia.
Each of these dates forms the basis for a standalone ‘mini-festival’ that brings together various art forms: music, film, performance and public discussion. The dramaturgy is based on the conviction that the past is not a closed chapter, but a living source of inspiration for the present. The project aims not only to commemorate historical events, but above all to reflect on current social challenges – from rising extremism and the polarisation of society to the pressure of populism and the changing forms of civic engagement.
Art as a means of understanding and bringing about change
The programme for each evening includes discussions with artists, experts and activists from across Europe, screenings of inspiring films, and concerts featuring contemporary music projects. Together, they will seek answers to the question of what role culture and the arts play today in democratic processes and in times of crisis.
“The Sounds of Democracy are not merely a reminder of historical moments. Above all, they are a call for dialogue on how we can live democracy in our daily lives, in our culture and in the public sphere. We want to show that art can not only reflect reality, but also create space for encounter, understanding and the search for shared solutions,” explains Stanislav Krajči, project manager of Trenčín 2026.
The Pohoda music festival, which has long stood for values such as freedom, openness and civic engagement, is also taking part in the project.
“We describe the Pohoda Festival as a celebration of artistic freedom, and we truly regard art as the freest expression of the human inner world to the outside world. It has the power to unite us without words and to find common ground between seemingly irreconcilable opposites. It is no coincidence that artists and cultural figures were not only on the barricades, but often at the forefront of the greatest democratic struggles in modern history. Culture and art were not merely a backdrop, but the driving force behind them. That is why we regard ‘Sounds of Democracy’ as a key project of Trenčín 2026,” says Marián Tesák, director of the Pohoda Festival.
The series begins with a look back at the Carnation Revolution
The first event in this series will take place on 25 April 2026 at the Hviezda Culture and Creative Centre in Trenčín and commemorates the Carnation Revolution in Portugal. The evening will combine discussions, film screenings and concerts, and explore the role music can play in times of social uncertainty.
The programme includes a discussion with figures from the music and art scenes, a screening of “Capitães de Abril” about the non-violent overthrow of an authoritarian regime, and concerts by the Slovak band Berlin Manson and the Portuguese project Bateu Matou. The evening will also feature the participatory project Samizdata ‘26, which invites visitors to contribute to the creation of a collective “archive of voices” of the present day.
Further information can be found here: Sounds of Democracy: Carnation Revolution
Next stops: Europe, Solidarity and November 1989
The event in April will be followed by further themed evenings:
– Sounds of Democracy: Solidarity, which reflects the power of the citizens’ movements (4 June)
– Sounds of Democracy: Unity, Topics relating to identity and cooperation in Europe (3 October)
– Sounds of Democracy: Velvet, portray democracy as an ongoing process (17 November)
Each event offers its own programme, but what they all have in common is an emphasis on actively engaging the audience and exploring parallels between the past and the present. The ‘Sounds of Democracy’ project is part of the ‘Trenčín 2026 – European Capital of Culture’ programme, which aims to use culture to foster openness, creativity and civic participation. The project is financially supported by the City of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. The European Union is a partner in the project.
