Warsaw Events and Festivals

(Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland)

Poland has grown to become the biggest country in the whole of New Europe, and as its capital city, Warsaw has developed into a cultural and happening place, with endless festivals, events, markets, fairs and seasonal things to see and do. Held during June and July, the Warsaw Mozart Festival is a definite highlight and boasts performances of all 26 of his stage productions, along with a range of other Mozart favourites.

Numerous outdoor concerts take place in Warsaw's many parks, with the Sowinski Park Amphitheatre being especially popular and playing host to everything from rock, jazz and classical music events. The Stara Prochownia cultural centre is also worth a mention and resides along the Ulica Bolesc, regularly hosting numerous local festivals, live music and various readings, while the Palace of Culture and Science is also used as a venue for popular events, such as the International Book Fair each May, and the Summer Jazz Days each July and August.

Warsaw Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Bielsko Biala Fall - early to mid-January, many contemporary Polish artists compete at this three-week long event, which is based at the Bielska Gallery
• Great Christmas Aid Orchestra - throughout January, a charity event with plenty of live music and fundraising

February

• Fat Thursday - February / March, often referred to as Tlusty Czwartek and held the Thursday prior to Lent, when the Polish feast and drink to their heart's content

March

• Karnawal (Warsaw Carnival) - March and April, a precursor to Lent and a good excuse to celebrate as winter draws to an end

April

• Polish Contemporary Opera Festival - mid-April, hosted by the Warsaw Chamber Opera and always a crowd pleaser

May

• International Book Fair - throughout May, a historic book fair held each year at the Palace of Culture and Science and now amongst the biggest of its kind in Europe
• First of May - May 1st, a historic communist holiday throughout Poland, with a colourful parade through the streets of Warsaw city centre
• Polish Radio Music Festival - mid-May, lasting an entire week and organised by the acclaimed Polish Radio Orchestra
• TPSA Music and Film Festival - mid-May, first held more than 50 years ago and today including a gala concert at the Kongresowa Hall
• Chopin Piano Recitals - May to September, summer piano recitals held each Sunday within Lazienki Park, alongside the eye-catching monument to Frédéric Chopin himself

June

• Mozart Festival - mid-June to late July, lovers of classical musical are able to enjoy many of Mozart's compositions, which are performed by orchestras at venues such as the Chamber Opera House
• Noc Swietojanska (St. John's Night) - June 24th, a festival known in Warsaw for its pagan origins, where wreaths are thrown into the Vistula River

July

• Warsaw Summer Jazz Days - July and August, attracting a variety of famous international jazz artists and musicians and including many outdoor concerts and performances at the Congress Hall, in the Palace of Culture and Science
• International Street Art Festival - early July, lasting a total of six days and boasting all kinds of performers, who all have one thing in common - they want to entertain you

August

• Old Town Jazz Festival - throughout August, a chance to enjoy a host of outdoor jazz and blues concerts, held in the Old Town Square during the evenings

September

• Warsaw Autumn International Festival of Contemporary Music - mid-September, as the Polish summer ends and the fall colours arrive, this change in season is marked with a series of popular concerts and has been running for more than 50 years
• International Chopin Piano Competition - mid-September, if you are lucky enough to be in Warsaw when this contest takes place you will be in for a treat, although it does only take place once every five years

October

• Warsaw International Film Festival (WIFF) - mid-October, gaining popularity every single year and attracting directors and filmmakers from the world over
• Baroque Opera Festival - late October, organised by the city's very own Chamber Opera and featuring countless operatic performances of a high standard at the society's very own theatre
• Jazz Jamboree / JVC Jazz Festival - late October, blues and jazz lovers should not miss the three-day Warsaw Jazz Jamboree, which features concerts at various venues, including the Kongresowa Hall on the Plac Defilad

November

• Euroshorts - mid-November, an international film festival where an array of short films are screened at many central cinemas, including everything from cartoons to documentaries
• Andrzejki - late November, each year on November 30th, the Andrzejki is a day for great celebration and street parties
• Warsaw Piano Festival - late November, showcasing some of the country's very best pianists, who perform at some truly spectacular venues, such as both the Philharmonic Hall and also the Royal Castle

December

• Mikolajki - early December, every year on December 6th, Christmas comes early as Polish children are given presents from St. Nicholas himself
• Watch Docs Human Rights in Film - mid-December, lasting a total of three days and featuring a range of thought provoking films, screened at Warsaw's Ujazdowski Castle, completely free of charge
• Wigilia - December 24th, seasonal festivities on the eve before Christmas Day, with feasting and a host of traditional Polish dishes on offer at many restaurants