Łódź of Many Cultures Festival 2026

Festiwal Łódź Wielu Kultur (Łódź of Many Cultures Festival) is the most Łódź of all Łódź festivals: it tells the story of a city built together by Poles, Jews, Germans, Russians and newcomers from many other places. The programme includes talks, concerts, performances, exhibitions, workshops and film screenings, and the heart of the festival is the Centrum Dialogu im. Marka Edelmana (Marek Edelman Dialogue Centre) and the neighbouring Park Ocalałych (Survivors' Park) in Bałuty.

Where does the name Festiwal Łódź Wielu Kultur come from?

The festival dates back to 2002, when it started as the Festival of the Dialogue of Four Cultures. From 2009 it operated under the name Festiwal Łódź Czterech Kultur (Łódź of Four Cultures Festival), and today it is called Festiwal Łódź Wielu Kultur, because its programme has long outgrown the story of four nationalities. Alongside Poles, Jews, Germans and Russians, Łódź was also built by newcomers from many other parts of the world, and it is exactly this multitude of voices that is the festival's theme today. Anyone looking for the festival under its old four-cultures name will find the same event.

Who organises the festival and what is it actually about?

The organiser is the Centrum Dialogu im. Marka Edelmana in Łódź, an institution devoted to the city's history and multicultural heritage. At the centre of the programme are human rights, memory and dialogue between cultures, alongside music, art, theatre, film, author meetings and workshops. It is a festival that combines serious topics with a form accessible to everyone: from a history lecture to an open-air concert.

When does the festival take place and how long does it last?

The festival has a long opening weekend, which usually falls in the second half of September, and its programme continues over the following weeks of autumn, right up to the end of the year. Thanks to this format, the festival does not end after a single weekend but keeps returning with events in different parts of the city. It is at its most intense precisely during the opening September weekend, when the programme is densest.

Where in Łódź do the events take place?

Most events are hosted by the Centrum Dialogu im. Marka Edelmana on Wojska Polskiego Street and the neighbouring Park Ocalałych. This is where the Festival Town operates during the festival weekend: food, workshops, artistic activities and stalls run by local creators all in one place. The rest of the programme takes place at institutions across the city, including the Centralne Muzeum Włókiennictwa (Central Museum of Textiles), Galeria Bałucka and YMCA. The festival deliberately spreads events across different districts, so it is worth checking the address of a specific programme item before heading there.

What is on the festival programme?

The programme is divided into several regular strands. Talks and discussions form the largest group: lectures, panel discussions, book-related meetings and conversations with guests working on history and human rights. Alongside these are concerts, ranging from traditional music to contemporary sounds by artists from around the world, as well as theatre performances and shows, often set within themes of memory and identity. The festival also presents visual art in the form of exhibitions and installations, organises dance and themed workshops, and the programme includes film screenings and smaller themed festivals held within the main event, for example ones devoted to a specific culture or minority.

Is admission paid and do you need to sign up?

Most events have free admission. Some performances and concerts are ticketed, and workshops and some talks require registration, since the number of places can be limited. The organiser marks how it works for each programme item, so it is worth checking before you leave home.

How to plan a visit to the festival?

If you only have one day, the best plan is to head straight to the Centrum Dialogu and Park Ocalałych during the festival weekend: in one place you will find the Festival Town, open-air concerts and some of the talks. Families with children will find workshops and open-air events in the Festival Town, and anyone interested in the city's history should check the schedule of talks and lectures held throughout the festival. It is worth combining Park Ocalałych and the surrounding Bałuty district with a short walk around the area, since it is one of the districts where the history of multicultural Łódź is most tangible.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Festiwal Łódź Wielu Kultur take place?

The opening and most intense, long weekend of the programme usually falls in the second half of September, and further festival events continue over the following autumn months. It is worth checking the exact calendar of a given edition closer to the date.

Is Festiwal Łódź Wielu Kultur the same event as the former Festiwal Czterech Kultur?

Yes. The festival started in 2002 as the Festival of the Dialogue of Four Cultures, was called Festiwal Łódź Czterech Kultur from 2009, and its current name, Festiwal Łódź Wielu Kultur, reflects the fact that the programme has long outgrown the story of four nationalities.

Is admission to the events free?

Most events are free. Some performances and concerts are ticketed, and workshops and some talks require registration in advance.

Where is the main venue of the festival?

The Centrum Dialogu im. Marka Edelmana at Wojska Polskiego 83 and the neighbouring Park Ocalałych in Bałuty. That is where most events are concentrated, including the Festival Town.

Who organises the Festiwal Łódź Wielu Kultur?

The organiser is the Centrum Dialogu im. Marka Edelmana in Łódź, an institution devoted to the city's history and multicultural heritage.

Is the festival programme suitable for children?

Part of the programme, especially the workshops and events in the Festival Town, is also aimed at families with children, but the core of the festival - talks, performances and lectures - is addressed mainly to adults and teenagers.

Festiwal Łódź Wielu Kultur is one of two permanent festival landing pages on dziswlodzi.pl, alongside Light Move Festival. You will find the full calendar of recurring events in the city and region in the festiwale (festivals) section, and current events in Łódź in the wydarzenia w Łodzi (events in Łódź) calendar. More about the city's history and districts, including Bałuty, can be found in the Poznaj Łódź (Discover Łódź) guide, and the full list of places to visit in the city is on the page atrakcje w Łodzi (attractions in Łódź).