If you happen to be in Kraków on the evening of Sunday, 24th May, you’re in for something you won’t find in any guidebook. One of the city’s football clubs, Wisła Kraków, has secured promotion back to the top flight of Polish football — the Ekstraklasa — and the fans are about to celebrate in spectacular fashion.
I took these photos of the celebrations when Wisła won the Polish Cup in May 2024.
The Club, the History
Wisła Kraków is no ordinary football club. Founded 120 years ago, it is woven into the very identity of the city. During the communist era different parts of the communist apparatus used to adopt clubs, with Wisla becoming part of the state police organisation.
So when the final whistle blew on 8th May at their home ground, in their 120th Jubilee year, with a 2–0 victory over Chrobry Głogów confirming their return to the top league, after a 4-year absence, the reaction from the stands of Sector C, home to the hardcore fans, and all around the stadium was electric.
The Wisła support is always lively, energetic and sometimes frenetic, with songs and chants, including charmingly, tunes borrowed from Auld Lang Syne and God Save the King.
At full-time players, the club president, backroom staff and the Wiślacki Smok dragon mascot ran onto the pitch, to the soundtrack of the Tatan Army (Scotland’s football fans) favourite ‘Freed from Desire’.
Photos from Wisła matches this season
Now, with the final game of the season set for 24th May against Pogoń Siedlce (kick-off 4:30 PM), the stage is set for the grand celebration on Rynek following the match.
The “Feta”: What to Expect
The celebration — known locally as a “feta” — is a Kraków tradition, and this one promises to be huge.
Officially, the event runs from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM, though fans will almost certainly begin flooding the square well before then, heading straight from the stadium after the final whistle.
The celebrations will take place on Rynek Główny (the Main Market Square), gathering beneath the Adam Mickiewicz Monument. If tradition holds, the team itself is expected to appear on the terrace of the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), overlooking the small white church of St. Adalbert — a moment that transforms the square into one giant open-air stadium.
- Tens of thousands of fans dressed in the club’s red, white, and blue
- Non-stop chants, scarves held aloft, club anthems and chants.
- Lots of pyrotechnics and fireworks — flares and coloured smoke are a staple of these celebrations.
- A heavy police presence monitoring the crowd.
- An atmosphere that is loud, passionate, and overwhelmingly joyful
A Word for Visitors and Tourists
If you had romantic dinner plans on the Main Square that evening — perhaps a quiet table outside one of the historic restaurants — it’s worth reconsidering. The square will be densely packed and extremely loud.
That said, if you’re curious and adventurous, don’t miss it. Position yourself on the edge of the square or find a café terrace with a view, and simply watch. Seeing tens of thousands of people united in pure, unfiltered joy is a genuinely moving experience — the kind that stays with you long after you’ve left the city.
For the Football Fans
The last league match of the season is already sold out, but some tickets are being offered on various Wisła fan groups on social media. There is also a special jubilee match against Wrexham, on 11th July, to mark Wisła’s 120th anniversary — a fixture that has attracted considerable attention given Wrexham’s own remarkable rise in recent years.
Compilation video of support at recent games
In Short
Sunday, 24th May 2026
Match kick-off 4:30 PM
Celebration (official) 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Rynek Główny (Main Market Square)
Congratulations to Wisła Kraków, their president Jarosław Królewski, and the tens of thousands of fans who never stopped believing.
Sunday evening, Kraków belongs to them. 🔴 ⚪ 🔵
Read More
Wisła Kraków Wikipedia
Article on the darker days and past problems(?). with ‘fans’ and OCG’s
Policing the Krakow Derby – ‘The Holy War’
Our article on Policing the Kraków Derby – the ‘Holy War”. We spent the day with the Polish Policja with unrestricted access to the Policing operation.
Tartan Army Guide to Kraków
Our Tartan Army football supporters’ guide to Kraków’.
A Scot in Kraków. The founder and editor of Kraków Expats Directory, and our sister sites Kraków TV and Kraków Stories Podcast.
David fell in love with Kraków 25 years ago, making it his home in 2011.
In 2020 he was awarded the title of Kraków’s Ambassador of Multiculturalism, by the President of Kraków, and is also a member of the GlobalScot network, representing Scottish culture and business abroad.
We’re always looking for interesting stories, events, characters or groups to feature. Likewise, if you’d like to join us, as a contributor, please get in touch.
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