Dan Brown drops tantalising hint about where his next thriller could be set

The Da Vinci Code author has revealed that an unexpected encounter during a visit to Prague has given him an idea for a potential new mystery involving the world of art

Dan Brown has dropped a tantalising hint about where his next thriller could be set after a recent trip to Prague gave him an unexpected idea for a new mystery.

The bestselling American author, whose novels have taken millions of readers on adventures involving secret societies, religious conspiracies and centuries-old codes, suggested that something he encountered in the Czech capital could provide the backdrop for another story.

And it could offer a very different challenge for Robert Langdon, the fictional Harvard professor who has spent much of his literary career unravelling mysteries hidden inside some of the world’s most famous artworks and historic buildings.

Brown, 62, visited Prague on 21 October when he came across something that made him stop and watch for almost 20 minutes.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. And we stood there for, you know, 20 minutes just watching these lights,” he said.

The source of his fascination was an unusual laser installation by Japanese artist Shohei Fujimoto at Signal Space, a digital art gallery in Prague’s historic Old Town Market Hall.

The exhibition uses light and technology to create an experience far removed from the Renaissance paintings, ancient symbols and architectural landmarks that usually feature in Brown’s novels.

And the author admitted it could provide fresh territory for his most famous fictional creation.

“I write a character, Robert Langdon, who knows a lot about classical art, not a lot about modern art. And so this contemporary exhibit is something that he would learn from, that I certainly have learned from. And you never know. This would be an incredible place to set some sort of thriller,” Brown said.

The suggestion comes as Brown’s latest novel, The Secret of Secrets, pictured below, has already established a connection between the writer and Prague.

The book, another Robert Langdon adventure, is partly set in the Czech capital and features references to Signal Festival, the annual event that transforms the city’s buildings and public spaces with digital projections and light installations.

Brown missed this year’s festival but visited its permanent gallery, Signal Space, accompanied by Petr Onufer, who translated The Secret of Secrets into Czech.

The venue opened in October last year and showcases contemporary digital art through immersive projections, interactive displays and installations combining light, sound and technology.

Brown said he particularly enjoyed discovering work by artists whose careers are still unfolding, rather than the historical figures usually associated with Langdon’s adventures.

“What I like most about the art is that all the artists are living. They’re all making this art right now. It’s fresh, it’s new, it’s exciting. And I think everybody should come here,” he said.

Signal Space has received two international awards during its first year – the Inavation Award 2026 and PRIX NUMIX 2026 – and is expanding its programme to include artist discussions, creative workshops and music events.

Its founder, Martin Pošta, said Brown’s visit had provided an opportunity to introduce the writer to a different kind of artistic experience.

“When Dan Brown visited, it was wonderful to see his sheer curiosity. Here was someone who fuels the imaginations of millions of readers, utterly captivated by what artists can do with light,” he said.

READ MORE: Tell it to the hand: what Da Vinci’s The Last Supper may really be saying. Since the release of The Da Vinci Code in 2003, Leonardo The Last Supper has been obsessively re-examined for hidden messages. But while Dan Brown claimed the painting revealed a secret marriage between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, Monty Python filmmaker and biblical historian Julian Doyle argues that the Renaissance master was pointing—literally and figuratively—to something even more radical: a suppressed tradition that placed John the Baptist, not Jesus, at the centre of the true Christian story.

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_{Main image: Dan Brown visits Signal Space in Prague, where a laser installation by Japanese artist Shohei Fujimoto inspires the bestselling author to suggest that the digital art gallery could provide the setting for a future thriller. Credit: Dan Brown/Signal Space}