The 27th Court Dance Festival (Festiwalu Tańców Dworskich)
18th-26th July.
Cracovia Danza ballet will be performing, concerts and workshops across the city including Wawel, and the main square. The festival will inaugurate the dancers’ performance at 1300 on Saturday, 18th July in Galeria Krakówska – a festival parade is planned in the area of Empik. Click on the link below for the full programme
Free outdoor cinema
24th-26th July
The Summer Animation Days 2026 Festival, which features open air screenings of the best animations of the last season, will take place on Plac Wielkiej Armii Napoleon.
Kraków Summer Animation Days is an open-air showcase of some of the most exciting animated films from Poland and around the world, organised by the Etiuda&Anima Foundation. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Vistula River and overlooking Wawel Castle, the event offers audiences an opportunity to discover award-winning films from major international festivals and explore the work of emerging talents in contemporary animation.
Kraków Museum Introduce new multi ticket
A combined ticket for four branches of the Kraków Museum has been launched this summer. The ‘Medieval Kraków Tour’ ticket combines entry to the four “pearls of the Kraków Middle Ages”: Underground Market, Town Hall Tower, Defensive Walls and Barbican. A combined ticket to these four medieval attractions costs 64zł, a reduced ticket 56zł, and a family ticket 128zł.
New Rynek Fountain design announced.
A jury has unanimously selected the design for the new fountain on the Main Market Square. The winning concept draws inspiration from Kraków’s landscape and its water network.
The winning design, by Kielce architect and sculptor, Michał Gdak, was unanimously selected by the jury from 28 anonymous entries. Completion is scheduled for December 2027.
“It’s a very sculptural solution. It’s inspired by the nature and landscape of Kraków. The movement of water in this form reflects the movement of rivers and streams in the Kraków macroregion,” explained chairman of the jury, Janusz Sepioł.
The design presents a spatial map of the landscape , with water flowing across it. Water flows from the upper part of the structure and flows to lower levels, referencing the natural processes occurring in the environment surrounding Kraków.
In the jury’s opinion, the concept creatively develops ideas present in the Kraków sculptural tradition, while at the same time proposing original, contemporary formal solutions and taking into account the conclusions drawn from public consultations.”
The current “Crystal” fountain was created in 2010; however, it has been plagued by technical and hygiene issues. Following a city-wide consultation, in autumn last year, 76% of respondents voted to replace rather than renovate the existing fountain.
Pet Cemetery Approved
The first municipal animal cemetery in Kraków, “Park Wiernych Przyjaciół” (Park of Faithful Friends) will be built in Nowa Huta, on Igołomska Street, on the former greenery of the Sendzimir Steelworks – a place that has naturally acquired a forest character over the years..The project includes not only a cemetery, but also a park space conducive to reflection and remembrance of faithful friends.
The facility is scheduled to open in 2028.
Kraków in Time Out’s ‘2026 Best Cities for Culture ‘Top 20
Britain’s Time Out magazine has ranked Kraków among the world’s 20 best cities for arts and culture in 2026. London, Paris and New York topped the list compiled by the publication, while Kraków placed 10th, described by Time Out editors as “the country’s cultural heart.”
In 2024, the magazine rated Zabłocie as one of the “coolest neighbourhoods in the world”. Earlier this year, it ranked Kraków as the 16th best city in the world to live in and visit.
The Kraków Card Application is being discontinued
On 10th August the Kraków Card application will be discontinued and replaced by the mKraków application. All discounts, access to season tickets for public transport and other rights of the Kraków Card will remain unchanged. However users should install the mKraków application, log in to their account and activate the Kraków Card service. The physical, plastic Kraków Card is not affected.
Latest immigration report published
OWiM (Observatory of Multiculturalism and Migration recently published their latest report – ‘Economic and Forced Migrants in Kraków in 2025.
The latest registry data show that in 2025, Kraków continued to strengthen its position as one of the most important centres attracting economic migrants in Poland. At the same time, the city remains ‘home’ to a group of over 32,000 forced migrants from Ukraine and a popular destination for student migration. Most often, citizens of European countries – primarily from outside the European Union – settle in Kraków, but communities from Asia, Africa and South America are also growing rapidly.
78 thousand foreigners were legalised to stay in Kraków 44.5k ukrainians working in Kraków Indians are already the third largest group of immigrants in the city The number of working Columbians increased by 53 percent over the year.
In six years, the number of foreigners associated with Kraków has increased more than doubled. The presence of residents from Asia and South America, who come to Kraków for work and study has increased.
(NB The data in the report depends on various official records, from ZUS, Foreigners office etc)
Night Ban on sale of alcohol to be extended.
Kraków City council have voted to extend the restrictions on the sale of alcohol ‘off sales’, from 2200 to 0600, the ban currently applies from midnight to 0530. The new times will come into effect from 1st September.
Helmets now mandatory of Under 16 years olds on bikes, scooters etc
With effect form 3rd June all children under the age of 16 must wear helmets when using bikes, scooters and other personal transport devices, such as;
- bicycles,
- power-assisted bicycles (including electric),
- electric scooters,
- personal transporters (PTs), such as electric skateboards and self-balancing devices.
The minimum age for riding an electric scooter has been raised from 10 to 13 years of age.
If you have any news, events or other stories you think we should feature, please do get in touch.
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 in 1999, 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.
