PRAGA 2028: World Stamp Exhibition in Prague — Exhibitor Guide
After ten years a world stamp exhibition returns to Prague. PRAGA 2028 takes place 22–26 March 2028 at the Industrial Palace on the Prague Exhibition Grounds, continuing a series that began back in 1938. Preparations are in full swing: the patronage agreement with the International Philatelic Federation FIP was signed in February 2026 and entries are opening. This article brings you complete information for exhibitors — classes, deadlines, fees — plus an overview of ninety years of PRAGA exhibitions including every stamp issued for them.
PRAGA 2028 at a glance
| Dates | 22–26 March 2028 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Industrial Palace, Prague Exhibition Grounds (Holešovice) |
| Status | specialised world exhibition with championship status, FIP patronage, FEPA recognition |
| Organiser | Union of Czech Philatelists; Organising Committee chairman Jiří Kraus |
| Exhibition classes | 14 classes including the championship class and an experimental FDC class |
| Official website | praga2028.cz |
The organisers announce that the Blue Mauritius — the most famous stamp in the world — will be on display in Prague. The Mauritius "Post Office" stamps of 1847 are among the most valuable philatelic items ever; we write more about them in our guide to collecting covers.
How to enter as an exhibitor
Exhibitors apply through the national commissioner of their country, not directly to the organiser. The list of appointed commissioners is on the Commissioners page. The exhibit application itself is completed online.
Key deadlines
| Deadline | What has to be done |
|---|---|
| 31 July 2027 | submission of the exhibit application (final deadline) |
| 31 August 2027 | notification of acceptance of the exhibit |
| 31 October 2027 | payment of the participation fee |
| 31 December 2027 | submission of the revised introductory page |
| 31 December 2027 | delivery of philatelic literature exhibits |
The entry deadline falls more than a year before the opening — and the exhibit must be qualified at a national exhibition. Anyone hoping to exhibit in Prague should join the qualification round now.
Exhibition classes and fees
PRAGA 2028 offers 14 exhibition classes: World Stamp Championship Class, Traditional Philately, Postal History, Postal Stationery, Revenue, Aerophilately, Astrophilately, Thematic Philately, Open Philately, Picture Postcards, Youth Philately, Non-Standard Frames Exhibit, Philatelic Literature and the experimental First Day Covers class.
| Class | Fee |
|---|---|
| competitive classes 1–10 | €100 per frame |
| one-frame narrow theme exhibit (12A) | €140 per frame |
| two- to four-frame exhibit (12B) | €100 per frame |
| philatelic literature (13) | €75 per exhibit |
| youth philately (11) | free |
| non-competitive classes | free |
Frame dimensions: the standard exhibition frame measures 93 × 120 cm and holds 16 album sheets in four rows of four. Sheets of 46 × 29 cm (A3, 8 per frame) and 31 × 29 cm (12 per frame) are also accepted. Detailed rules are in the IREX document, the price list on the Prices page and contacts on Contact.
Ninety years of PRAGA exhibitions
PRAGA is one of the oldest brands in world philately. Each edition had its own stamp issues — today a collecting field in their own right. The overview below links the history to specific Pofis catalogue numbers in our online catalogues.
PRAGA 1938 — the first edition
The very first PRAGA exhibition ran from 26 June to 17 July 1938, in the same Industrial Palace that will host the 2028 edition. The Czechoslovak post issued a pair of stamps, Pof. 342 and 343, and a miniature sheet A342/343. The historical context is dramatic: the Munich Agreement (30 September 1938) came less than three months after it closed. In the occupied borderland, Sudetenland overprints of this miniature sheet appeared (Karlovy Vary/Karlsbad, Liberec/Reichenberg; Michel lists them under Sudetenland) — philatelically prized, yet a record of the republic's demise.
PRAGA 1950 — the edition that changed its name
A little-known chapter: an international exhibition PRAGA 1950 under FIP patronage was planned for 1950, but it was eventually held as the national exhibition PRAHA 1950 (28 October – 5 November 1950). Its issues were Old Prague (Pof. 558–561) and Contemporary Prague (Pof. 562–563) with miniature sheet A564. This is why the organiser counts PRAGA 2028 as the eleventh exhibition in the series.
PRAGA 1955
The first post-war edition to carry the PRAGA name. Five stamps Pof. 853–857 appeared with Prague architectural motifs — the St Cross Rotunda, the Old Town Bridge Tower, the Belvedere Summer Palace, the Hybernia Palace and Prague Castle with Charles Bridge — each in a perforated (A) and imperforate (B) variety, plus the miniature sheet A853/857. The imperforate varieties remain markedly more sought after.
PRAGA 1962
The richest edition in terms of issues. Stamps appeared in two waves: in 1961 (Pof. 1171, 1206–1216) and in 1962 (Pof. 1263–1268), complemented by airmail stamps L50–L53 and the miniature sheets A1268A and A1268B. The Pof. A1268 sheet is among the best-known Czechoslovak miniature sheets of all.
PRAGA 1968
An edition marked by August 1968. The issues began as early as 1967 (Pof. 1624 and the airmail set L56–L62 depicting the venues of previous exhibitions), followed in 1968 by airmail stamps L69–L71.
PRAGA 1978
An extensive series spread over three years. In 1976–1977 came the airmail set L80–L90 on the history of aviation and the set of old postal uniforms (Pof. 2253–2256); in 1978 followed the bridges of Prague (Pof. 2316–2321), the Old Town Astronomical Clock (Pof. 2322–2327) and further sets up to the miniature sheets A2334/5.
PRAGA 1988
The last edition under socialist Czechoslovakia, and again very rich. It started as early as 1986 with a miniature sheet for 60 years of FIP (Pof. 2747), continued with technical monuments (Pof. 2794–2798, 1987) and in 1988 with the Postal Museum in Prague, the Museum of Czech Literature, Prague fountains and modern Prague architecture (Pof. 2836–2858). A curiosity is Pof. 2704B commemorating Finlandia '88 and Praga '88 together.
PRAGA 1998, 2008 and 2018
After Czechoslovakia split, the tradition continued with three editions. For PRAGA 1998 came Pof. 156 and 157 with miniature sheet A158 (1997) and Pof. 171 with sheet A171 (1998). PRAGA 2008 had the longest run-up — from 2006 onwards Pof. 488, 492, 498, 514, 519, 539, 549, 562, 571 and 574 appeared, showing Prague gardens, Charles Bridge, the Emmaus Monastery and the exhibition logo; Pof. 574 is a joint issue with Austria on the theme of express mail. For PRAGA 2018 came Pof. 987 with miniature sheet A987. All of them are in the Czech Republic catalogue.
PRAGA through the world's eyes: issues from eleven countries
Foreign postal administrations commemorated the PRAGA exhibitions with their own stamps — our database records eleven countries. It is a rewarding collecting theme in itself:
- Cuba joined three times: for 1962 (Mi. 805 and miniature sheet Mi. BL23), 1978 (Mi. 2336, sheet BL55) and 1988, when it placed a Czechoslovak stamp, Michel 27, on sheet Mi. BL112 — a classic "stamp on stamp".
- Bulgaria issued miniature sheet Mi. BL79 for PRAGA '78 plus stamps showing Charles Bridge and the Belvedere Summer Palace (Mi. 2707–2710); in 1988 Mi. 3696 depicting the Czechoslovak stamp No. 2 in red.
- Hungary issued airmail stamp Mi. 3308 in several varieties for PRAGA '78, and in 1988 Mi. 3955 commemorating four exhibitions at once.
- Poland contributed miniature sheet Mi. BL73 and a stamp with the Battle of Grunwald by Jan Matejko (Mi. 2575).
- North Korea issued the pair Mi. 2930 and 2931 for PRAGA 88 — the second of them depicting cosmonaut Vladimír Remek, the first Czechoslovak in space. For PRAGA 2018 it added sheet Mi. BL990.
- Hong Kong issued stamp Mi. 1501 and sheet Mi. BL191 for PRAGA 2008.
- Further issues came from Bolivia (sheet Mi. BL76, 1978), Romania and Dominica (1988) and India.
A collection of "PRAGA seen by foreign posts" is an ideal subject for a thematic exhibit — and, as it happens, exactly what can be entered in the thematic class at PRAGA 2028.
PRAGA stamps from our offer
We hold original issues of past editions in stock — each with a photograph and our authenticity guarantee with extended warranty:
You can save the full offer and any missing values to your want list straight from the online catalogue.
Cannot make it to Prague? Exhibit online
Qualifying for a world exhibition is a long game. But you can show your exhibit right away: in our interactive online exhibition you upload scanned exhibit pages or compose the exhibit from items in your digital collection, share it by link and preserve it for future generations. It is also a good way to try out an exhibit before entering a national show.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is PRAGA 2028?
PRAGA 2028 takes place 22–26 March 2028 at the Industrial Palace on the Prague Exhibition Grounds. It is a specialised world exhibition with championship status under FIP patronage and with FEPA recognition.
What is the deadline for exhibit applications?
The final deadline is 31 July 2027, notification of acceptance follows by 31 August 2027 and the participation fee is due by 31 October 2027. Applications are submitted through the national commissioner.
How much does exhibiting at PRAGA 2028 cost?
In competitive classes 1–10 the fee is €100 per frame, for a one-frame narrow theme exhibit €140, and for philatelic literature €75 per exhibit. Youth philately and non-competitive classes are free.
Which edition of PRAGA is PRAGA 2028?
Nine editions were held under the PRAGA name: 1938, 1955, 1962, 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, 2008 and 2018. Counting the 1950 edition — planned as the international PRAGA 1950 and held as the national PRAHA 1950 — PRAGA 2028 is the eleventh in the series, which is how the organiser counts it. Each edition had its own Czechoslovak or Czech stamp issues.
