Magda Piasecka 2026-06-25

What to do in Poland this summer: festivals, concerts, fairs, outdoor events, family attractions worth the trip

Poland turns into a big stage in summer — full of music, history, circus magic, and outdoor fun for all ages. This guide highlights the best events across the country to inspire families to travel, explore new places, and make unforgettable holiday memories together.

Looking for a reason to pack your bags and discover more of Poland with your family? This summer brings a lineup of spectacular events that make every region worth visiting. Start your journey in Gdańsk at the iconic St. Dominic’s Fair, where centuries‑old tradition meets modern attractions, crafts, and street performances. Just a short trip away, the Forest Opera in Sopot offers magical concerts surrounded by towering trees — a one‑of‑a‑kind cultural experience.

Music lovers can head to Gdynia for the world‑famous OPEN’ER Festival, or enjoy a more relaxed vibe at the lakeside Olsztyn Green Festival. For families who love thrills and creativity, Lublin’s Carnaval Sztukmistrzów fills the city with acrobats, street artists, and highliners balancing high above the streets.

History fans can travel back in time during the Siege of Malbork reenactment or cheer on knights at the International Knight Tournament at Ogrodzieniec Castle. Meanwhile, Mrągowo becomes a summer hotspot with two major events: the Piknik Country & Folk Festival and the energetic Mrągowo Undercover Festival, celebrating the world’s best tribute bands.

Tricity: Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot

St. Dominic’s Fair in Gdańsk

  • July 25 – August 16, 2026.
  • Location: the historic center of Gdańsk (the map of attractions).
  • St. Dominic’s Fair is one of the oldest open‑air events in Europe (its 766th edition takes place in 2026). In addition to the trade fair, where you can buy products from artisans and small producers, the event includes a cultural program, concerts, parades, and activities for children. 750 stalls featuring crafts, antiques, and food.
  • Website in Polish, German, and English. Facebook. Instagram.

Photo source: Jarmark św. Dominika w Gdańsku

OPEN’ER Festival in Gdynia

  • July 1-4, 2026.
  • Location: Gdynia, Lotnisko Gdynia-Kosakowo. Location on Google Maps.
  • Open’er Festival is one of the largest music festivals in Europe. This event stands out thanks to its unique combination of massive scale, seaside location, and an interdisciplinary program that blends music with art.
  • A unique location and festival‑town atmosphere: the proximity of the Baltic Sea allows participants to combine concert experiences with relaxing on Gdynia’s beaches. The event takes place on the grounds of a former military airfield — a vast open space that transforms into a self‑sufficient city with its own transport network, food zones, and a gigantic campsite.
  • Global scale and musical diversity: the festival brings together leading international and Polish artists across genres, offering audiences a truly world‑class musical experience. A wide range of musical genres — from pop, rock, and alternative music to hip‑hop and electronic music. Over the years, the festival has hosted major international acts, including Prince, Radiohead, Coldplay, Lana Del Rey, The Weeknd, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Depeche Mode, Pearl Jam.
  • More than just music: Open’er is one of the few music festivals to feature a dedicated theatre stage. In collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, special gallery spaces are created on the festival grounds to showcase contemporary art, sculptures, and performance pieces. NGOs and debates: a dedicated zone for non‑governmental organizations and discussion panels engages participants in social, environmental, and civic topics.
  • Website in Polish and English. Facebook. Instagram.

Photo source: Festiwal Open’er

The Forest Opera (Opera Leśna) in Sopot – a concert stage set right in the heart of the forest

  • Location: Opera Leśna, Stanisława Moniuszki 12 Street, 81-829 Sopot. Location on Google Maps.
  • The Forest Opera in Sopot – opened in 1909 – is one of the most beautiful amphitheaters in Europe, and its uniqueness comes from the exceptional combination of natural acoustics, forest surroundings, and a diverse concert repertoire.
  • A magical natural setting: a stage surrounded by trees — the venue is located within the Oliwa Forest complex, on the edge of the Tri‑City Landscape Park.
  • Outstanding natural acoustics: the amphitheater was built in a natural hollow, and the valley walls along with the trees provide excellent sound reflection.
  • A diverse repertoire: although the name suggests an opera profile, the amphitheater functions as a versatile cultural venue, combining large‑scale televised events with concerts by world‑famous pop stars, classical music festivals, and niche artistic projects.
  • When it comes to classical music, two major events take place every year between late June and early July: the Baltic Opera Festival (featuring classical productions as well as special opera adaptations for children, July 2–7, 2026; website available in Polish and English) and the Sopot Classic Festival (an international festival of classical and film music, July 4–11, 2026; website available in Polish and English).
  • The stage regularly hosts icons of popular music across generations — stars from around the world (including Sting, Ricky Martin, Elton John, Whitney Houston) — as well as contemporary alternative and hip‑hop artists (Forest Festival, July 25, 2026, more in Polish).
  • The forest shields the audience from the noise of the city, while the venue itself is located just 2 km from Sopot’s famous pier and the city center.
  • The audience area is fully roofed, ensuring that concerts take place regardless of the weather.
  • Website in Polish and English. Repertoire in Polish and tickets available online. Facebook. Instagram.

Photo source: Opera Leśna

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The city of Lublin

Carnaval Sztukmistrzów – Festival of Modern Circus Street Art and Urban Highline

  • July 23-26, 2026.
  • Location:  Stage performances are presented in a circus tent, on theatre stages, and on outdoor stages. Street and busker shows take place in Lublin’s main squares (Litewski, Łokietka, Plac po Farze, etc.) as well as along the streets and alleys of the Old Town and the city centre (the map of attractions).
  • World-famous circus stars visit Lublin every year since 2008. Street shows, theatre, and circus performances, workshops, fire shows. During the event, there are performances by renowned, world-renowned formations and groups presenting the art of a new circus.
  • The event includes Urban Highline – the world’s oldest and largest highline festival. The highline walking festival combines an element of the city’s identity with a newly emerging discipline, slackline – all shows are located in the city center and its historical part.
  • Many events of the Festival are free and available at your fingertips, as they take place in the city’s streets, squares, and plazas. Some events are ticketed and can be seen in the Circus Tent or the theater.
  • Website in Polish, website in English, Facebook, Instagram.

Photo source: Katarzyna Anna Kubiak, Natalia Ogloszka, Carnaval Sztukmistrzów

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The city of Olsztyn

Olsztyn Green Festival

  • August 14-16, 2026.
  • Location: Stage on a Lake Ukiel beach (Jezioro Ukiel), Olsztyn. Location on Google Maps.
  • The Festival program features more than 30 concerts showcasing Polish alternative, pop, electronic, and hip‑hop music. It also includes conversations with artists, activists, and scientists about saving the planet, ecological workshops for children and adults, and plenty of summer activities, including a special festival fleet of boats.
  • Website in Polish, Facebook, Instagram.

Photo source: Olsztyn Green Festival

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Malbork Castle

The Siege of Malbork and other summer attractions

  • The Siege of Malbork / Oblężenie Malborka: July 24-26, 2026.
  • Location: The Castle is located in the town of Malbork – in northern Poland. Malbork’s location on Google Maps.
  • One of the most famous medieval culture festivals in Europe. The main attraction is the nighttime reenactment of the battle beneath the walls of Malbork Castle. Actors and reenactors recreate the 1410 assault on the fortress. Other attractions include a traditional crafts fair, a culinary market, knightly combat demonstrations, equestrian tournaments (including jousting and horseback archery), presentations of life in a medieval military camp, fire shows, a medieval village, and dance performances.
  • A family attraction during the event: nighttime castle tours – a knightly adventure. After dusk, the castle interiors will fill with knights, dignitaries, and other fascinating characters. You will witness a council with the Grand Master and a scribe diligently recording information brought by messengers. You will peek into a makeshift field hospital and see prisoners being interrogated… Online tickets (tours in English and German available).
  • Malbork Museum’s recommendation for visitors with small children during the siege reenactment: due to loud bangs and gunfire, which may frighten children, they recommend equipping them with noise‑reducing earmuffs.
  • The Castle’s website in Polish and English, Facebook, Instagram. The event’s website in Polish.

Other events and summer attractions 

  • Midsummer Night Celebrations / Obchody Nocy Świętojańskiej: June 19–21, 2026. The highlight of the event is the St. John’s Fair, bringing together 50 exhibitors offering handicrafts, regional products, antiques, and local flavors. A picnic area is available. In the evenings, the castle grounds transform into an open‑air cinema with a view of the medieval walls. The program also includes educational workshops and family attractions. More in Polish.
  • Nighttime castle tours. Available for individual visitors from 1 May to 31 August. The tour, led by a dedicated guide (1.5 hours), takes place in a nighttime setting enhanced with atmospheric lighting and music. The route leads through the castle grounds, courtyards, terraces, cloisters, and selected castle interiors. Tours are available in English. More in English.
  • Family tour. Available during the summer holidays. The route is recommended for families with children aged 4 to 12. Children, together with their guardians, form a knightly troop and, guided by a tour leader, follow the castle trail. Along the way, they discover the secrets of the Malbork fortress and solve a series of engaging tasks, earning the password to the Teutonic treasury. More in Polish.

Photo source: The Siege of Malbork, Muzeum Zamkowe w Malborku

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Mrągowo

Mrągowo is a well‑known tourist town located in the heart of Masuria / Mazury – Poland’s famous land of lakes (our tips on visiting Mazury, including tips for visiting The Wolf’s Lair / Wilczy Szaniec, one of the most famous sites of World War II – Adolf Hitler’s main headquarters, 30 km from Mrągowo). In the town and its immediate surroundings, there are 12 lakes and dense forests. Thanks to its picturesque location by the lake and its forested surroundings, the town is an excellent base for water sports, hiking, and cycling.

In Mrągowo and its surrounding area, you’ll find the full range of accommodation options — from luxury hotels with extensive spa facilities to affordable, intimate agritourism guesthouses.

Piknik Country & Folk – International Country and Folk Music Festival

  • July 23-26, 2026.
  • Location: the town of Mrągowo. Location on Google Maps.
  • The Country Picnic / Piknik Country in Mrągowo is the oldest and largest country and folk music festival in Poland, held since 1982. The event takes place every year at the turn of July and August in the famous amphitheater on Lake Czos. For a few days, the town transforms into the capital of cowboys and motorcycles. Thousands of fans in cowboy outfits and hats, creating the unmistakable Wild West atmosphere. In addition to concerts on the main lakeside stage, the town hosts a country picnic — free concerts, a country parade, dance shows, and motorcycle rallies.
  • One of the attractions of Mrągowo and the Festival is the Mrongoville Western Town / Miasteczko Westernowe Mrongoville. It is a themed amusement park that transports visitors into the world of the 19th‑century Wild West. Covering more than 10 hectares, it recreates the look and atmosphere of an American frontier town. Location on Google Maps.
  • Website in Polish, Facebook, Instagram.

Photo source: Piknik Country Mrągowo, Miasto Mrągowo

Mrągowo Undercover Festival – a festival of the world’s best tribute bands

  • August 22, 2026.
  • Location: the town of Mrągowo. Location on Google Maps.
  • Mrągowo Undercover Festival is a unique music event showcasing the world’s best tribute bands — groups that flawlessly recreate the sound, style, and charisma of legendary artists. The event takes place in a picturesque amphitheater by the lake. The festival gives audiences the chance to hear live hits by global pop and rock stars, performed by artists who are acclaimed worldwide — and whose resemblance to the originals is often striking.
  • The 2026 edition of the festival will feature performances by artists embodying stars such as Guns N’ Roses, Taylor Swift, Madonna, George Michael, Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, and Britney Spears.
  • Opinions about the Undercover Festival are mixed and depend largely on the audience’s expectations. The music is performed at a high professional level, but it remains an entertainment‑focused show rather than an original artist concert.
  • Website in Polish, Facebook, Instagram.

Photo source: Mrągowo Undercover Festival

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Ogrodzieniec Castle

International Knight Tournament at Ogrodzieniec Castle

  • August 22-23, 2026.
  • Location: Zamek Ogrodzieniec, Zamkowa 28 Street, 42-440 Podzamcze. Location on Google Maps.
  • The International Knight Tournament at Ogrodzieniec Castle is one of the largest historical reenactment events in Poland. Visitors can watch tournaments, artillery demonstrations, foot and mounted combat, as well as explore artisan stalls.
  • The main attractions include archery and crossbow tournaments; demonstrations of sword and axe combat, as well as traditional knightly wrestling; falconry demonstrations and an evening fire show; equestrian and stunt shows; a grand battle for the castle and mounted shows; and a medieval fair featuring Old Polish cuisine and traditional crafts.
  • This very photogenic castle (the majestic ruins are enhanced by the rocks used to build the walls of the castle) was built in the 14th – 15th centuries and is available for tours, including small exhibition rooms – torture room (!), armory, and history of the castle. “Across the street”, there is an amusement park (including a miniature park, toboggan run, experiments park, “the house of legends and terrors”, website in Polish and English).
  • A variety of accommodation options is available in the area — from agritourism stays to luxury hotels, including, 300 m from the castle, a hotel with a swimming pool, set into the rocky and green surroundings (POZIOM 511 Design Hotel & SPA).
  • Website in Polish and English, Facebook.

Photo source: Zamek Ogrodzieniec

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Beach towns and Baltic seaside resorts in Poland

Water Parks in Poland

Amusement parks and theme parks in Poland

Summer in Warsaw

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