First-ever Kingdom Come: Deliverance festival draws 2,500 fans to Kutná Hora

Malešov, near Kutná Hora, hosted the first official fan festival for the Czech role-playing game Kingdom Come: Deliverance on Saturday, drawing around 2,500 visitors. Organizers reported that all tickets were sold, with additional arrangements for parking, shuttle buses, and enhanced public transport to manage the influx. Fans attended from across Europe and the United States.

The festival is part of a growing trend of gaming tourism, where players travel to real-life locations featured in their favorite games. Kutná Hora, a key setting in the game, benefited from the event not only as a cultural attraction but also as a boost for local businesses, according to Mayor Lukáš Seifert.

The festival program combined medieval-themed activities, live music, and developer talks, allowing fans to experience elements of the game in a real-world setting. Many visitors spent extended time in the city, a change from typical one-day tourism.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, released in February 2025 by Czech studio Warhorse, is set in early 15th-century Bohemia, focusing on the political conflict between King Václav IV and his brother Zikmund. Players explore authentic landscapes, including Kutná Hora and the Czech Paradise region, discovering historical architecture, castles, and natural landmarks recreated in the game.

The festival reflects broader efforts to link gaming and tourism. CzechTourism launched the KCD Live initiative earlier this year, connecting the virtual world of the game with real-life tours, themed experiences, and educational opportunities. Municipalities, tourism associations, and private operators joined the project to attract domestic and international visitors, highlighting sites of historical significance.

“Players want to experience places from the game firsthand,” said Ondřej Slačálek, KCD Live project coordinator. “KCD Live offers the chance to follow in the footsteps of Henry of Skalitz and experience the adventure in an authentic setting.”

The initiative has already promoted key locations via the Kudy z nudy portal, VisitCzechia website, and targeted online campaigns in Europe and the United States.

Kutná Hora’s mayor noted that hosting fans for the festival posed no logistical problems and could support the local economy. “These visitors are a clear benefit to the city,” Seifert said, noting that tourism in Kutná Hora is gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels, with a larger share of international guests.

The influx of visitors provides both economic and cultural opportunities. Local restaurants, accommodations, and shops are seeing increased demand, while tourists engage more deeply with the city’s medieval heritage. The combination of gaming and history offers a unique route to cultural tourism.

CzechTourism emphasized that the initiative allows for sustainable promotion of lesser-known historical sites alongside iconic locations, helping domestic and foreign tourists discover Bohemia’s wider medieval heritage outside of already-popular destinations.

With the Kingdom Come: Deliverance fan base continuing to grow, future editions of the festival are likely to expand further, positioning Kutná Hora as a hub for gaming-inspired cultural travel. Discover more about the festival at the KCD Live website.