Prague Opens a New Chapter in Its Convention Future: Construction of the New Exhibition Hall Begins at the Prague Congress Centre

The new hall will expand the PCC’s premises by 5,000 m² of net exhibition space, which can be flexibly divided into up to five independent sections. Combined with the existing 70 halls and lounges, it will create a comprehensive congress campus capable of accommodating the entire program of a large international event in one place—from the main professional program and an extensive accompanying exhibition to a banquet gala dinner for 1,500 guests. The total exhibition capacity of the complex will thus rise to 21,000 m². “International congresses today look for much more than just sufficient capacity. Organizers expect flexible spaces, cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and a strong destination experience. Our new hall responds to exactly that. Moreover, the interest in new capacities is not hypothetical. The PCC is already recording demand from approximately fifteen globally significant congresses, particularly in the field of medicine, whose hosting is directly conditional upon the completion of the hall,” says Lenka Žlebková, Chairwoman of the Board and CEO of the Prague Congress Centre.

PCC Will Cover Most Costs from Own Resources; Prague to Support Part of the Investment

The construction of the new Exhibition Hall itself represents an investment of approximately CZK 1.35 billion. The Prague Congress Centre has prepared more than CZK 1 billion from its own resources for the construction. At the end of last year, the Capital City of Prague, as the sole shareholder, approved a capital contribution outside the registered capital of CZK 600 million for the Exhibition Hall and other development projects. These include the remediation of the southern garages, further reducing the energy intensity of the Vyšehrad Business Centre, modernizing stage technologies, and revitalizing the surroundings of the centre.

“The City of Prague is investing in the development of the PCC with a clear goal to long-term strengthen Prague’s international position as one of the world’s leading congress destinations. Large congresses bring prestige, experts, business contacts, and significant revenues to public budgets. Therefore, the new hall is not just an investment in the PCC, but also in the economy and image of the entire city,” says Zdeněk Kovářík, Prague City Councilor for Finance.

Actual construction of the hall will begin this July, with the completion of the shell and core planned for the end of 2027, and approval for occupancy scheduled for September 2028. The general contractor is the construction company GEMO a.s., which succeeded in the tender conducted via an anonymous auction in 2023.

“The construction of the new Prague Congress Centre hall is of extraordinary importance to us. The exhibition hall is designed uniquely as a levitating tube nearly 177 meters long, and the construction process therefore requires meticulous coordination of everyone involved. We are delighted to participate in a project that will expand the capabilities of the Prague Congress Centre and bring a new, high-quality public space for residents and visitors of the capital,” says Jaromír Uhýrek, founder, owner, and CEO of GEMO a.s.

The architectural design was created by the Barcelona-based studio OCA Architects in cooperation with the Czech studio CMC Architects. The design emerged from an international architectural competition in 2017 and integrates the centre’s new capacities with respect for the original architecture of the PCC as well as the adjoining public space. The hall is aiming for LEED Gold green building certification; the project therefore includes features such as a retention tank for rainwater utilization and the expansion of green spaces in the Pankrácké Náměstí area.

Following the completion of the Exhibition Hall construction, the public space of the northern terrace overlooking Prague Castle will be transformed, adding a café, a viewing point, outdoor seating, and barrier-free connection to the Vyšehrad metro station. The new public space will serve congress visitors as well as Prague residents.

“Congress tourism is of extraordinary importance to Prague. It is not just about the economic benefit, but also about know-how, innovation, and international contacts. Thanks to congresses, leading experts from all over the world come to Prague, strengthening the bonds between the Czech and foreign academic and business environments,” says Bohuslav Svoboda, Mayor of the Capital City of Prague.

In the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings, Prague long ranks among the most attractive congress destinations in the world, occupying 6th place for the year 2025 and outperforming metropolises like London, Copenhagen, or Tokyo. Thanks to the new hall, it will further strengthen this position, as the PCC currently has to reject inquiries for congresses it cannot host due to capacity constraints. Congress tourism brings a significant economic benefit: congress delegates spend an average of three times more in Prague than regular tourists, and their visits generate income across the entire city—from hotels and gastronomy to culture, transport, and services.

• Video tour of the new exhibition hall: https://youtu.be/vKZIsM_VI-s?si=5DkoDfGyB_Trq0QS

Media Contact:

Jiřina Lamsfus

Prague Congress Centre

E-mail: jirina.lamsfus@praguecc.cz

Phone: +420 739 539 276

About PCC:

The PCC celebrates 45 years in its best form and enters its jubilee year in record economic health. In 2025, it achieved a turnover of CZK 717.2 million, an operating profit (EBITDA) of CZK 234 million, and a total net profit of CZK 138.9 million. It hosted 185 events, which were attended by more than 210,000 people. Today, the PCC manages a complex with a total area of over 207,000 m², which, in addition to the congress centre itself, includes the Vyšehrad Business Centre and the Holiday Inn Prague hotel. Learn more at www.praguecc.cz.