Slovakia and Hungary are seeing a worrying trend of far-right governments purging cultural leaders—like the abrupt firing of Slovak National Theatre director Matej Drlička—under the guise of "cleansing" contemporary arts. Delegates at the Karlovy Vary festival warn this isn’t just a local issue but a broader threat to creative freedom in Central Europe.

Editor’s Note: When governments start deciding who gets to run theaters or fund art, it’s rarely just about budgets or taste—it’s about controlling narratives. This crackdown in Slovakia and Hungary echoes tactics used to stifle dissent elsewhere, and artists across the region are right to sound the alarm. Culture wars can quickly become democracy wars.