Strahov turns 100: the 8th Sokol Slet marked the beginning of the world's largest stadium

Radio Prague International - latest articles · Jul 5, 2026

In July 1926, Prague's Strahov witnessed an event that would leave a lasting mark on Czech and European sporting culture. The 8th Sokol Slet—the first major gathering held at the newly completed stadium—launched a century-long tradition of mass gymnastics displays and laid the foundations for what would become the largest stadium in the world. Built from 1925 onwards and gradually expanded until the 1980s, Strahov eventually reached a capacity of more than 240,000 spectators, making it a unique venue with no equal anywhere in the world.