On 19 September, Mladá Boleslav will once again be transformed into a huge creative workshop. The eighth edition of Maker Faire has the theme ‘Transformation’
Press release: On Saturday 19 September 2026, from 10 am to 5 pm, the Pluhárna in Mladá Boleslav will, for the eighth time, be transformed into the venue for the Maker Faire festival, once again organised by the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund. Visitors can look forward to dozens of exhibits from local and national creators, workshops for children and adults, and the popular science show. This year’s eighth edition has the theme ‘Transformation’, which runs throughout the programme.
Mladá Boleslav, 4 September 2025 – Maker Faire is a global showcase of creativity where modern-day DIY enthusiasts, innovators and inventors come together, and where modern technology blends with science, design and traditional craftsmanship. This year, the festival brings the theme ‘Transformation’ to Mladá Boleslav: giving old things new meaning, breathing new life into spaces and inspiring people to create.
From idea to prototype: transformation before your very eyes
The Zadra smart insole, for example, demonstrates what such a transformation looks like in practice. The prototype monitors the biomechanics of walking and running in real time using pressure sensors and an accelerometer, sending the data to a Garmin watch and from there to the cloud for analysis. Behind the project is a qualified mechanical engineer who, until recently, viewed electronics and software development as an inaccessible form of ‘magic’. However, with the advent of AI, he has overcome this barrier and will be demonstrating the entire development process at Maker Faire – from the initial designs on a breadboard, through his own printed circuit board, right up to the code written with the help of artificial intelligence. In doing so, he hopes to inspire other creators whose ideas remain ‘stuck behind a wall of doubt’.
A piece of scrap metal will be transformed into a finished product right before visitors’ eyes at the mobile smithy ‘Kovář z pohádky’ – a family workshop from Vizovice. Dressed in period costumes and using historical equipment – from a blacksmith’s bellows to an old hand-operated grinder – every visitor can forge a nail, a pendant or a small knife with their own hands and experience the entire process, from working with a hammer through grinding to the final finishing of the product.
A special model of a 3D-printed brace will also be on display. The student team is tackling the issue of overuse of the forearm muscles and their stabilisation using a 3D-printed brace. Whilst standard models downloaded from the internet are not ergonomically perfect, the team has created its own parametric model that can be customised to suit the anatomy of a specific hand. The brace is moulded directly onto the hand using a heat gun, featuring a foam layer for comfort, Velcro fastenings to adjust the tightness, and a mesh structure for breathability, making it suitable for long-term wear.
How can 3D printing transform the automotive industry and contribute to more sustainable manufacturing? This question will be answered by the Technical University of Liberec, which will present the research findings of the P3DT National Centre of Competence for Industrial 3D Printing. Visitors will be able to view actual samples and specific outputs from projects focusing on new materials, additive technologies and their application in industrial practice. It will become clear that 3D printing need not be limited to the production of prototypes – it can help explore new ways of manufacturing more efficiently, whilst taking into account materials and their further use.
At Maker Faire, physics won’t just be on display – it will be an experience. As part of the ‘Young Physicists’ Tournament: Physics in Action’ session, pupils from Dr J. Pekař Grammar School in Mladá Boleslav will present three experimental tasks they tackled as part of a national competition – what a magnetic swing can do, why flames start to move, and how a magnetic accelerator works. Visitors will also learn about the principles of the competition itself, in which simply finding the correct answer is not enough: students must investigate the problem, carry out experiments, defend their solution and discuss it with other teams.
Visitors will also be able to see innovations in the fields of energy and transport – photovoltaic panels, batteries, as well as a homemade electric tractor and a converted electric milling machine, in which the original internal combustion engine has been replaced by an electric drive. The popular science show featuring physics and chemistry experiments, presented by ÚDiF, will also be back, with two sessions – at 11:00 and 14:30.
“The festival has become a regular feature of Boleslav’s cultural calendar, and this year, for the first time, it will make use of the entire Pluhárna site. The local Secondary Technical School will also be actively joining us. Together, we want to discuss the potential of Pluhárna and how it could be further revitalised and transformed throughout the year.
A strong community has grown up around the festival, comprising visitors, engineers, parents and local residents who want to actively change their neighbourhood. “It is precisely this energy and enthusiasm that we want to bring together again this year and show that Pluhárna can be a place where people, ideas and new projects come together, and that the festival, even though it is a one-off event, actively contributes to this,” comments Barbora Pešek, programme director of Maker Faire.
At 2 pm, there will also be a guided tour of the nearby Mladá Boleslav Secondary Technical School. It will demonstrate how the school is implementing the latest technologies into teaching and pupil development.
The Škoda EDU.LAB truck will also be a key feature of the event. This mobile educational laboratory introduces primary and secondary school pupils to the latest technologies – such as artificial intelligence, robotics, thermal imaging, 3D printing and virtual reality in the automotive industry – in an entertaining way.
“Maker Faire has firmly established itself in Mladá Boleslav and demonstrates year on year that technology and creativity can appeal to all generations. This year, I am delighted that the EDU.Lab mobile laboratory will also be part of the programme, as it focuses on supporting teachers in technical education and pupils at primary and secondary schools. The festival will also help to breathe new life into the historic Excelsior Hall in Pluhárna. The combination of modern technology, creativity and a venue with a rich history fits perfectly with ‘Transformation’ – this year’s festival theme,” says Ladislav Kučera, Director of the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund.
Free entry courtesy of the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund.
The Maker Faire in Mladá Boleslav is traditionally held in partnership with the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund, which initiated the festival in the region and makes it possible for visitors to attend completely free of charge. Other partners of the festival include Esero ČR and ŠKO-ENERGO.
📅 When: Saturday 19 September 2026, 10:00–17:00
📍 Where: Pluhárna, Havlíčkova 456, Mladá Boleslav https://www.pluharna.cz/
🎟️ Programme and further information: https://makerfaire.cz/mlada-boleslav/
