The Prague Congress Centre (Kongresové centrum Praha) hosted Open Source Summit Europe 2026, and it is one of the largest conference venues in Central Europe. If you are heading there for a future event, here is what I learned in three days as a media partner. It is written for tech conferences, but most of it applies to any event in the building.
The Congress Hall on Floor 2, filling up before the opening keynotes.
Getting there
The venue is at 5. května 1640/65, Prague 4 (Nusle), on a hill above the Nusle valley, with a view over the city. For Open Source Summit, attendees entered through Entrances 2 and 3.
- Metro. The Vyšehrad station on line C (red) is right next to the building. From the city centre it is a few stops, and it is the most reliable option at rush hour.
- Tram. Trams also run nearby, and they are a pleasant way to arrive in the evening.
- Taxi. During the 2026 summit, the Linux Foundation recommended local taxis (Liftago) over rideshare apps because of construction around the venue. Check the organiser’s logistics email for current advice.
From the airport. Václav Havel Airport (PRG) is about 30–45 minutes away by public transport or taxi, depending on traffic. Flights within the Schengen area use Terminal 2. If you have an afternoon flight on the last day, plan to leave the venue at least two and a half hours before departure. Security queues and traffic on the way out are unpredictable.
Badges and registration
- Badge pickup for Open Source Summit was on Floor 0, in the Congress Hall Foyer, and opened at 07:30 on the first day.
- Bring your full name, email or confirmation number. A QR code from the organiser’s email makes it faster.
- The Linux Foundation’s rule, which is common at large events: wear your badge at all times, including at off-site events like the reception. Badges cannot be reissued, so do not lose it.
- There is a cloakroom on Floor 0. Use it on the last day if you are flying out, so you are not carrying a suitcase through the expo.
Finding your way inside
The building is big, and the floor numbering matters:
- Floor 0: registration, badge pickup and the cloakroom.
- Floor 2: the Congress Hall, where the keynotes take place. It is a real auditorium with thousands of seats.
- Floors 2 and 3 foyers: the Solutions Showcase, with sponsor booths, coffee, lunch, attendee lounges and community hubs. The glass walls give a fantastic view over Prague.
- Breakout rooms are spread across several floors and wings. Check the venue map in the event app before each session, and give yourself a few minutes to get between floors.
Timing your day
- Arrive early on day one. Badge pickup and the first coffee take longer than you expect, and the Congress Hall fills up quickly before the opening keynote.
- Lunch is served in the Solutions Showcase. It is busiest in the first 20 minutes. Going a little later is quieter.
- The quietest time on the show floor is during sessions. If you want a real conversation at a booth, or to record an interview, go then. I learned that from a guest who suggested we meet during a session precisely because the crowd flow would be slower.
- Book meeting points, not just times. “Booth 20” or “the registration desk” works much better than “the expo” in a building this size. I wrote more about that in how I booked 20 interviews in three days.
Evening events
The Open Source Summit reception was held at Žofín Palace, a 19th-century palace on Slovanský Island in the Vltava, a short tram or taxi ride from the Congress Centre. Leave time to drop your bag and walk along the river.
The full story of that evening is in 35 Years of Linux at Žofín Palace.
Practical checklist
- Download the event app and save the venue map offline.
- Buy public transport tickets in the official PID Lítačka app, or with a contactless card at the ticket machines. Validate paper tickets when you board.
- Pack a light jacket. October in Prague can be warm at midday and cold in the evening, and the halls are air-conditioned.
- Carry a power bank. Sockets near the lounges are popular.
- If you are flying out on the last day, check out of your hotel and store your bag before the morning keynote, not after.
