Marking 170 years since his death, here is the programme celebrating Ľudovít Štúr's life.

RERUN: In this episode, we explore the realities of homelessness in Slovakia during the winter and the upcoming festive season. We speak with Alexandra Kárová, Executive Director of VAGUS and Michal Cibiri from Depaul, about the challenges faced by people without homes and the support available during the cold months. Patrik Krebs, theatre director and activist from Divadlo bez domova, shares how theatre gives a voice, identity, and hope to those experiencing homelessness. We asked them about the state of homelessness in Slovakia, what challenges are these people facing and what can be done to help them.

In this episode, we first explore the little known world of Sikhism in Slovakia. A brand new Sikh Temple opened recently in Bratislava, the first in the country. RSI was there to meet the founders and hear about the experiences of this growing minority. Then, we head to Trenčín for the 25th anniversary of the independent record label Deadred. At a celebration marking this quarter century achievement, we hear from the founder about the humble origins of the label and from musicians about what the label means to them.

In honour of the end of Christmas and the start of another Christmas we bring you seasonal short stories written by Bratislava high school students Lara Federova, Maximillian Cordozo, Gwenaelle, and Marek Horvat.

We revisit a discussion on sustainable urban transport in Slovakia. Experts from environmental policy, transport emissions, urban planning, and public transport explore how car-free initiatives can improve air quality, safety, and quality of life in Slovak towns and cities. The broadcast also features a brand-new episode of Slovak Sound Check, building on what listeners have learned over the past months and preparing us for a new chapter as the new year begins.

Usually on Saturdays, we bring you a digest of the week’s news and features broadcast on RSI. However, the first Saturday of the new year will offer a roundup of some of the most important events of 2025 in Slovakia. Today, you will hear news that made headlines not only at home but also abroad.

We’re once again catching up with Natália Hejková, the world-famous Slovak basketball coach who concluded her coaching career in 2025. To honour the celebrated Slovak, the song Natália by Robo Opatovský will be featured in the show.

In the honor of the beginning of the year 2026, you will hear the speechs of Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and head of the Radio Slovakia International Jozefína Mikleová. The staff of RSI English section will share their visions and some of the things they are looking forward to in 2026 as well as some prognosis from economist from SAV Viliam Páleník and political scientist František Šebej.

Based on a recent interview for Radio Slovakia International, Radio_FM host Viera Ráczová presents her personal pick of the five best Slovak alternative albums of the year. This New Year’s Eve special revisits the records that stood out for their originality, sound, and impact on the local music scene. Alongside the music, you will hear a selection of radio bloopers recorded during Radio Slovakia International journalists’ recording sessions, offering a fun behind-the-scenes moment from life on air.

Ben Pascoe visits the gala presentation of this year's Tatra Bank Foundation Art Awards. For the 29th year, the Tatra Bank foundation awards achievements in audiovisual creation, literature, design, music, theatre and fine arts. Ben Pascoe talks with jury members, organizers and artists about the state of the arts in Slovakia today. (repeat)

As the year draws to a close, we look back at some of the most memorable moments from our Monday broadcasts. This special end-of-year edition brings together selected excerpts from interviews, reports, and stories that shaped the past months, reflecting on society, history, culture, and the conversations that mattered most. With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, the programme also features a brand-new episode of Slovak Sound Check, exploring Slovak expressions, traditions, and customs connected to end-of-year celebrations and the welcoming of the year ahead.

The features the RSI English section editors are calling their best work this year.

In Slovakia, Boxing Day is not observed; instead, the second day of Christmas is celebrated. In the Slovak calendar, this day is dedicated to St Stephen. Who are some other notable figures named Štefan in Slovakia? One such example is the sculptor Štefan Papčo, whose latest artwork was installed in Bratislava in June 2025. Martina Greňová Šimkovičová will also guide you to Pruské, where parish clerk František Hlaváč presents the history of the local nativity scene.

In this special Christmas programme you are going to hear a next round of Christmas inspired stories written by students from bilingual gymnasiums in Slovakia. In the second part of the show, catholic priest Benjamin Kosnac will talk about how people living in monasteries, priests, nuns and monks celebrate Christmas.

On this episode of Slovakia Today, we celebrate Christmas Eve by exploring the rich traditions that shape the Slovak holiday season, from festive village markets to time-honoured foods and handmade decorations. We visit a local Christmas market in western Slovakia to discover how artisans keep traditions alive through crafts such as oplatky, honey products, ornaments, and locally grown Christmas trees, highlighting the role of community and sustainability in a Slovak Christmas. Later in the programme, we look beyond Slovakia’s borders to see how these cherished customs are preserved abroad. We travel to Canada and the United States to meet members of the Slovak diaspora who continue to celebrate Štedrý večer, sharing stories of family, food, and faith, and showing how resilience and community spirit help keep Slovak Christmas traditions alive far from home.

High school students from Bratislava share their holiday cheer with RSI. Students Marek Horvat, Eliska Molcanova and Gwenaelle bring you special holiday stories to brighten this special time of year.

The Christmas season invites us to slow down, look around, and think of others. We take a closer look at charitable initiatives and nonprofit projects that aim to make Christmas a little brighter for people in Slovakia facing difficult life circumstances, whether through social disadvantage, exclusion, or vulnerability. Through conversations with Simona Stančeková, project coordinator of Vianočný zázrak, Katarína Barošová, media manager at Človek v ohrození behind the Skutočný darček project, Silvia Slobodová, co-founder of Koľko lásky sa zmestí do krabice od topánok?, and teacher Mária Macharová from Trenčín, we explore how these initiatives work, what motivates the people behind them, and why even small acts of generosity can have a lasting impact. In the newest episode of Slovak Sound Check, Veronika and Lubna invite you to celebrate Christmas Slovak-style. Learn essential Christmas vocabulary, explore Slovak traditions connected with “Štedrý deň” and “Štedrý večer” (Christmas Eve), discover what Slovaks eat, who brings the presents, and what traditions belong to the season.

We take a look back at the week's headlines and some of our best stories from the past week.

The Historical Museum at Bratislava Castle invites visitors to see one of the four replicas in the world of the necklace once worn by Marie Antoinette. Beata Greneche, one of the exhibition’s co-curators, describes the jewel—featured in the exhibition “Marie Antoinette: From Celebration to Tragedy”—as the most famous necklace in history, as it allegedly helped spark the French Revolution. Elena Mihaly identifies as a Rusyn American and is currently applying for Slovak citizenship by descent. On her first-ever trip to Šarišské Jastrabie, she was accompanied by her mother, Michelle, who is also partly of Rusyn descent. Culture tips bring great news for Slovak literature.

In honor of the International Human Solidarity Day, which was declared by the UN in 2005, it falls annually on December 20. Thursday's program will also be held in this spirit, during which Patrícia Polakovičová will talk to the organizations Človek v ohrozeníi, SlovakAid, Vagus and Depaul and to sociologist Zuzana Kusá from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, who is an expert on solidarity and cohesion in society, about the current state of solidarity in Slovakia in both the domestic and international context.