On March 24, 2026, “Metrostav CZ_OHLA ŽS Reconstruction of the New Stage of the National Theater” began a comprehensive renovation of the New Stage. The renovation will take two years. The winning bid was CZK 1,806,978,934, excluding VAT.
“With full respect for heritage preservation, we will transform the New Stage into a truly modern multifunctional space where, thanks to advanced technologies, the layout of both the auditorium and the stage can be reconfigured. In doing so, we will actually fulfill the original dream of Professor Josef Svoboda and architect Karel Prager, who in their time did not have the technical capabilities available to us today,”
Jan Burian, General Director of the National Theater
The renovation will not change the exterior appearance of the building. It will also preserve all the original architecturally valuable interior spaces (green serpentine cladding, spiral staircase and generous lighting by Pavel Hlava and Jaroslav Štursa), which will be sensitively renovated. The same applies to the ‘television’ shell made of 4,000 glass ‘screens’ by glass artist Stanislav Libenský.
It is reasonable to ask why it is necessary to completely rebuild the youngest building of the National Theatre. The answer is simple: the original design did not envisage theatre performances, and even at the time, the architectural solution was a compromise which, despite its undeniable positives, is now technologically inadequate not only for today's requirements but also for the original vision of the architects. The planned reconstruction will thus fulfil the dream of architect Karel Prager and scenographer Josef Svoboda and, thanks to the latest technologies, will create a truly multifunctional space with many possibilities.
After reconstruction, the new stage will offer visitors a variable stage and auditorium layout in a multifunctional hall with a capacity of up to 500 seats, using contemporary modern theatre technologies and variable acoustics. In the adjacent building, the National Theatre will gain another chamber theatre hall, a rehearsal room and new spaces with facilities for accompanying educational programmes. A new café will also be built on the ground floor, connecting the theatre with Václav Havel Square. Both buildings will undergo significant technological modernisation, which will bring considerable energy savings and reduce operating costs and environmental impact.
