Sudden rise in optimism. Eight out of ten Czechs believe this year will be just as good or better than last year
Czechs are entering the new year with a significantly more positive outlook than in previous years. While at the start of 2025, 55% of people in the Czech Republic expected the new year to be as good as or better than the previous one, we are entering 2026 with an even more positive outlook. Eight out of ten respondents expect the new year to be just as good as, or even better than, 2025. This is according to a flash survey conducted by NMS for Czech Radio. Among other things, the results show that optimism is rising across generations. The opposite trend is evident among our Slovak neighbors, where negative feelings and expectations prevail.
“The new government led by Andrej Babiš is undoubtedly the driving force behind this high level of optimism. It is supporters of the ANO movement (54%) who, more than any other voters, expect 2026 to surpass the previous year in terms of positive developments. However, voters of the current opposition are not losing hope, and most of them believe that no major setbacks will occur and that the new year will be as good as the previous one,” comments Lucie Režná from NMS on the results.
The older Generation X and Baby Boomers, who make up a large part of ANO’s voter base and had previously expressed rather pessimistic views (39% had positive expectations as of 2025), shifted their outlook at the beginning of this year, with 75% of people over 53 reporting positive expectations.
We expect positives in our private lives, negatives in the public sphere
People expect the most positive changes in their relationships with family and friends (38%). However, these changes will not come on their own, and people are aware of this. Of those who have made New Year’s resolutions for this year, nearly half (45%) plan to focus specifically on interpersonal relationships.
Conversely, negative expectations prevail regarding the political situation, with 33% of the population anticipating negative developments. Generation Z—people aged 18–28—views the situation most critically, with only 17% expecting positive changes in politics. At the opposite end of the spectrum are Baby Boomers (aged 61 and older), who expect the most positive changes regarding the political situation (38%).
According to most respondents (46%), their family’s financial situation will remain unchanged. One third of respondents expect an improvement, while 14% anticipate a deterioration.
“Young people from Generation Z and millennials are significantly more likely to expect positive financial changes in the new year. These young individuals are entering their first jobs after finishing school, benefiting from promotions, and generally have the opportunity to accelerate their careers and thus improve their financial situation. At the same time, they include finances in their New Year’s resolutions and think about how to make the most of new income or how to save more,” adds Lucie Režná from NMS .
Czechs believe in a better tomorrow, while Slovaks approach the new year with concern
While optimism is growing in the Czech Republic, the opposite trend can be observed in Slovakia. At the beginning of 2024, Slovaks looked ahead to the new year with optimism—65% expected it to be better or at least as good as the previous one. However, at the start of 2025, optimism dropped to 42%, and only 40% of Slovaks now consider this year to be as good as or better than the previous one.
“A significant decline in optimism among Slovaks was recorded at the end of 2024, and the data show that this result is mainly related to the situation in the country following the rise of the current government led by Robert Fico. The atmosphere in Slovak society has been very tense over the past two years, and several actions by both political camps have only deepened polarization among citizens. Particularly controversial are issues related to Slovakia’s foreign policy, legislative changes in criminal law, the situation in culture, and last but not least, the state’s consolidation measures, which are being felt in the wallets of all segments of the Slovak population,” adds Denisa Lakatošová from NMS.
Methodology
A total of 1,006 respondents participated in the online survey in Czechia. Data was collected from a representative sample of the online population aged 18 and older via an online questionnaire from November 28 to Decembert 5, 2026.
A total of 1,006 respondents participated in the online survey in Slovakia. Data was collected from a representative sample of the online population aged 18 and older via an online questionnaire from November 28 to Decembert 2, 2026.
Contact for media
Lucie Režná, NMS– [email protected], +420 724 950 557
About NMS Market Research
NMS Market Research is a research agency with over 20 years of history. In addition to market research, which it provides to hundreds of clients worldwide, it also studies political and social issues. In addition to the Czech Republic, it operates in other countries in Europe and Asia. NMS is a member of the international organization ESOMAR and national organization SIMAR.