Calendar

January

‍The year kicks off with New Year’s Eve parties across the city. The days between January 1st and 6th (a public holiday in Poland) are perfect for leisurely strolls around town, preferably with a thermos of mulled wine in hand. Officially, drinking alcohol in public is prohibited, but let’s be honest—a discreet thermos solves that problem.

Usually, the second Sunday of January marks the finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP). Expect to see volunteers on the streets with heart-shaped stickers, which everyone proudly wears after donating. The day culminates with evening concerts and the “Light to the Sky” firework display.

Winter in Warsaw also means ice skating—try the rinks near the Palace of Culture or at the National Stadium.

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February

Late January or February typically coincides with the winter break for Mazovia. If the city feels oddly quiet and trams are running every 15 minutes, you’re witnessing Warsaw’s brief hibernation.

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March

March is all about Manifa, the feminist march held around International Women’s Day (March 8th). It’s also a time for related events and discussions.

The Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival usually takes place this month, adding a cultural touch.

March 21st marks the first day of spring, when the tradition of drowning Marzanna (a Slavic effigy symbolizing winter) in the Vistula makes a quiet comeback. You might also spot the first outdoor events cautiously appearing.

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April

April brings the LGBT+ Film Festival Poland, showcasing powerful and inspiring queer cinema.

Toward the end of the month, the horse racing season kicks off at Służewiec Racecourse. Music festivals begin to pop up timidly as the weather warms.

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May

May begins with the long weekend known as Majówka. May 1st (Labour Day) and May 3rd (Constitution Day) are public holidays, with May 2nd (Flag Day) often celebrated too. The result? A nearly deserted city, except for small groups grilling by the Vistula.

May also means the reopening of Chopin concerts in Łazienki Park, riverside bars, and café gardens.

This month features the Docs Against Gravity Film Festival, showcasing thought-provoking documentaries, and the magical Night of Museums, when Warsaw’s cultural institutions open their doors late into the night.

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June

Public transport schedules switch to summer mode, life slows down, and aperol spritzes become ubiquitous.

The Orange Warsaw Festival kicks off the open-air music season, and the city celebrates Midsummer Night (June 24th), known locally as Wianki na Wiśle, with family-friendly events along the river.

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July / August

Summer brings jazz to the forefront with Jazz at the Old Town Square and Warsaw Summer Jazz Days. The city buzzes with events on every corner.

August 1st is a solemn day, marking the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. At 5 PM, the entire city pauses for a minute of silence in tribute to the fallen. Over the following 63 days (symbolizing the duration of the uprising), numerous commemorative events take place.

August 15th is another public holiday (Armed Forces Day), featuring military parades both on the ground and in the air.

Late August sees the start of the Singer’s Warsaw Jewish Culture Festival, offering cultural events, workshops, and fascinating city tours.

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September

September is all about The Great Warsaw Race at Służewiec—think 1930s-1960s vintage fashion vibes.

The Warsaw Autumn Festival of Contemporary Music also begins, filling the city with avant-garde sounds.

Meanwhile, theaters and the National Opera kick off their new seasons.

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October

October is cinema month, thanks to the Warsaw Film Festival—over a week of exceptional films, all with English subtitles. A must-see for film lovers.

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November

November 1st is All Saints’ Day, which means the city traffic is a hot mess. Half of Warsaw heads out to their family graves, while the other half crowds into Powązki Cemetery for an evening stroll among candlelit tombstones. It’s dark by 5 PM, so the atmosphere is equal parts solemn and magical. Definitely worth experiencing at least once—just prepare to shuffle through crowds and probably trip over a candle.

On the flip side, November 11th (Independence Day) is... well, a vibe. Technically, it’s about celebrating Poland regaining independence in 1918, but in practice, it’s a chaotic Independence March starring a medley of patriots, nationalists, and your friendly neighborhood neo-Nazis. They’re joined by some special guest extremists from across Europe. If this sounds like your idea of a good time, have fun. For the rest of us, it’s a day to stay home and pray that a rogue “patriotic” firework doesn’t land on the balcony.

For a change of pace, November also brings the Eufonie Festival (Central and Eastern European music—classy vibes) and the legendary Jazz Jamboree (because there’s always room for more jazz).

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December

Ah, December: Christmas lights, mulled wine, and collective outrage over the absurd prices at the city’s Christmas markets. Yes, you’ll buy that overpriced ornament shaped like a pieróg, but you’ll complain about it the whole time.

If we’re lucky, there’ll be snow. If we’re not, it’ll just be gray, slushy misery. Either way, the ice rinks pop up, and we all pretend skating around Zimowy Narodowy is magical and not just a death match on ice.

The month wraps up with office Christmas parties, where everyone gets tipsy, eats mediocre catering, and gossips about who’s leaving their job after New Year’s. So, you know, just like everywhere else.

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