Editor's Note: These are courtesy translations of local news provided by the U.S. Army Garrison Poland Public Affairs team for the benefit the military community stationed here. Views or opinions are not endorsed by USAG Poland or the U.S. Army.
Pyrkon 2026 in Poznań: space, stars, and a fantastic journey across 15 exhibition halls
Poznań is once again transforming into the capital of fantasy. The Pyrkon 2026 Festival of Fantastics will take place on 19–21 June at the Poznań International Fair grounds and, as every year, will attract tens of thousands of fans of pop culture, gaming, literature, and cosplay. This year’s edition is clearly centered around one main theme – space.
For weeks now, the city has been hosting the “Pyrkon in the City” campaign, which brings the festival atmosphere into public spaces across Poznań. Space-themed installations, interactive exhibits, and even a special “Pyrkon tram” have appeared around the city. Tram stops have been temporarily renamed after planets and fictional worlds—from Arrakis and Gallifrey to Coruscant and Cybertron—symbolically introducing a “intergalactic timetable” across the city.
A cosmic theme and special guests
Organizers emphasize that space is the guiding motif of this year’s edition. The program will include exceptional talks, including a meeting with NASA legend Eileen Collins, the first female shuttle commander, and Polish ESA astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, who will share his journey to the International Space Station and his path in space exploration.
Guests will also include major figures from film and literature, such as Giancarlo Esposito, as well as bestselling fantasy authors including Fonda Lee, Maggie Stiefvater, John Gwynne, and Kevin J. Anderson, known for his work in the “Dune” universe and “Star Wars” novels.
2,400 program points and 61 concerts
This year’s Pyrkon is a massive event—around 2,400 program items will be spread across 15 exhibition halls at MTP. The festival includes 22 thematic zones, such as comics, manga and anime, gaming, RPG, and cosplay.
One of the highlights will be the music program, featuring 61 concerts by artists such as Floor Jansen, Skáld, Lordi, Twilight Force, Spyair, and Studio Accantus. There will also be symphonic performances, including the “Tribute to Arcane Epic Symphony,” featuring over 100 performers.
A meeting of communities and cultures
Pyrkon has long emphasized its community-driven nature. According to organizers from the “Druga Era” Fantasy Club Association, the festival is created by fans for fans, bringing together different passions and communities. It aims not only to entertain but also to promote creativity and fantasy culture.
Accessibility is also a key priority. The festival includes features such as induction loops, tactile maps, quiet zones, accessible entrances, and Polish Sign Language interpretation for selected events, including the cosplay competition “Maskarada” and a concert by the band Łydka Grubasa.
Pyrkon as a city-wide experience
The festival is not limited to the fairgrounds. As part of the “Pyrkon in the City” initiative, supporting events take place in cinemas, cultural institutions, and public spaces across Poznań. The entire city gradually transforms into a fantasy setting, building anticipation for one of the largest pop culture events in Poland.
Full program details and tickets are available on the official website: www.pyrkon.pl.
Road surface renovation at the Poznań Krzesiny junction
On June 18th, roadworks will begin at the Poznań Krzesiny motorway junction (km 171 of the A2). The wearing course will be replaced. To minimize the impact on traffic flow, the project has been divided into several stages, and the junction will remain open to traffic throughout the duration of the work.
As work progresses, individual slip roads will be temporarily closed. Where possible, traffic will be redirected to other exits within the junction. If this is not possible, detours will be designated via the Koninko junction or via Poznań streets near the Poznań Krzesiny junction.
Preparations for the renovation work (construction of temporary crossings between the carriageways, which will allow for traffic diversion during subsequent stages) will begin on June 18, and the actual renovation work will begin on Monday, June 22. In the first stage, from June 22, roadworks will take place on the Świecko-Katowice and Poznań-Świecko junctions, as well as a parallel section of Krzywoustego Street towards Katowice (the section before and immediately after the junction). During this work, detours will be established for vehicles traveling from Świecko towards Katowice and from Poznań towards Świecko, and the remaining junctions of the Poznań-Krzesiny junction will be used.
Difficulties towards Katowice
On the northern side of the interchange, traffic heading towards Katowice will be managed on a single, fast lane (with the roadway narrowing). On the southern side of the interchange, traffic will be managed on a single, two-way roadway.
Please pay attention to road signs, including the 50 km/h speed limit. The next stage will see a continuation of the previous phase of work, with the difference that work on Krzywoustego Street on the northern side of the Krzesiny junction will be carried out in the fast lane, and traffic will be diverted exclusively to the slow lane. Subsequently, construction work will focus on the Katowice-Świecko and Warsaw-Katowice connections.
At this stage of the works, drivers traveling on the A2 motorway from the direction of Warsaw and wanting to exit towards Katowice will be required to take a detour along the streets of Krzywoustego - Klenowska - Kręglewski - Tychowskiego (near Kinepolis).
For drivers taking the S11 route from the direction of Katowice and wanting to enter the A2 motorway towards Świecko, a detour will also be provided along the streets of Krzywoustego - Klenowska - Kręglewski - Tychowskiego (near Kinepolis).
In the next phase, work will continue on the Warsaw-Katowice junction connector, and work will also begin on the Poznań-Warsaw junction, as well as on the next section of Krzywoustego Street towards Katowice. Detours will be in place through the Koninko junction, as well as along Poznań streets:
- Vehicle traffic on Krzywoustego Street in the section above the junction will be conducted on one roadway in both directions,
- a speed limit of 50 km/h will apply.
- for drivers taking the A2 from the direction of Warsaw towards Katowice (S11), a detour will be run from the Krzesiny junction through B. Krzywoustego Street to Klenowska Street, then Kręglewski Street, Tychowskiego Street (near Kinepolis) to B. Krzywoustego Street and DW433
In the next stage of the works, construction works will focus on the Świecko-Poznań connecting roads and construction works will be continued on the Poznań-Warsaw connecting road.
- Drivers traveling on the A2 from the direction of Świecko and wanting to exit to Poznań will be asked to use the Koninko junction bypass.
- Drivers coming from Poznań and wanting to enter the A2 motorway towards Warsaw will also be asked to use the detour via the S11 route and the Koninko junction.
For drivers coming from Poznań and wanting to enter the A2 towards Warsaw, a detour will be provided via the Koninko junction.
In the next phase of works, construction works will cover the eastern carriageway of Krzywoustego Street and the Świecko - Poznań and Warsaw - Poznań connections:
- Traffic on Krzywoustego Street will be two-way on the western carriageway and a speed limit of 50 km/h will apply.
- Drivers driving on the A2 from the direction of Świecko and wanting to exit to Poznań will be asked to use the detour via the S11 route and the Koninko junction.
- Drivers driving on the A2 from the direction of Warsaw and wanting to exit to Poznań will be asked to use the motorway exit at the Luboń junction.
The final work will be carried out on the Katowice-Warsaw link. A detour for this route will be provided via the remaining links to the Krzesiny interchange.
Despite the ongoing renovation works, access to the Shell petrol station, located near the Poznań Krzesiny junction, will be ensured at all times.
The renovation is scheduled to be completed approximately five weeks after work begins. However, the schedule is dependent on weather conditions; in the event of unfavorable weather, the project completion date may change.
Drivers should exercise extreme caution, carefully observe road markings and adhere to the rules of temporary traffic management.
The work is being carried out on behalf of the Autostrada Wielkopolska company.
Current information on the smooth operation of the A2 Konin - Świecko section is available on the website of Autostrada Wielkopolska and on the hotline number: +48 800 022 242
Poznań Uprising - celebration program
The Poznań June 1956 uprising was the first workers' uprising in post-war Poland. The international commemoration of the 70th anniversary of these events in the capital of Greater Poland will be attended by the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, along with invited presidents of other countries. As usual, Jacek Jaśkowiak, Mayor of Poznań, will also lay flowers at the monument in Adam Mickiewicz Square.
This year Poznań celebrates the 70th anniversary of June 1956
The main ceremonies will take place on June 28th at Adam Mickiewicz Square. They will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a solemn Mass for the Victims of June 1956 at the Dominican Church (4 p.m.) and a march along Independence Avenue to the commemoration site.
Although the culmination of the ceremony will take place at the Poznań June 1956 Monument, flowers and wreaths will be laid – as usual – in many places from dawn. At 6:00 a.m., the memory of the June events will be commemorated at the gate of the H. Cegielski Rail Vehicle Factory (formerly W3, ul. 28 Czerwca 1956 223/229). At 8:15 a.m., a ceremony will begin at the plaque commemorating students who died in June '56 at the Poznań University of Technology (Pl. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 5), and shortly thereafter – at 8:50 a.m. – at the commemorative plaque at ZNTK SA (ul. Robocza 4).
At 10 a.m., flowers will be laid at the plaque at the former MPK depot on Gajowa Street, from where the ceremony participants will proceed to Three Tram Girls Square on Dąbrowskiego Street to pay their respects (10:45 a.m.).
The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Monument to Those Who Fell in the Poznań Uprising of 28-30 June 1956 (Kochanowskiego Street), and at 11:45 a.m. at the commemorative plaque on the building of the Provincial Police Headquarters on the same street.
In the afternoon, there will also be wreaths at the Main Gate of H. Cegielski - Poznań SA - where the celebrations will begin at 1:15 p.m.
Poznań remembers - not just for one day
June 28, 1956, is a very important date for all of Poznań. It's no surprise, then, that the anniversary celebrations of the events of 70 years ago begin mid-month. On June 14, at 9:30 a.m., a Mass will be held at the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord (ul. Dąbrówki 4) for the intention of the June 1956 Victims – employees of H. Cegielski-Poznań SA, ZNTK SA, and MPK Sp. z o.o.
On June 18, at 9:30 a.m., a ceremony will begin at the monument to the lawyers-defenders of the heroes of the Poznań Uprising of June 1956 and those accused in political trials (at the intersection of Solna and Stanisława Hejmowskiego Streets), and at 10 a.m., flowers will be laid at the plaque on the building of the Remand Prison (ul. Młyńska 1).
On Sunday, June 21st, at 8:00 a.m., in the chapel of Franciszek Raszeja Hospital (2 Mickiewicza Street), you can attend a Holy Mass for the victims of June 1956 and the hospital's employees. An hour later, flowers will be laid at the plaque on the hospital building.
On the same day, at 9:30 a.m., the ceremony will begin at the plaque dedicated to Romek Strzałkowski (corner of Dąbrowskiego Street) and half an hour later - at the plaque dedicated to Peter Mansfeld (corner of Strzałkowskiego Street).
In addition to the official ceremonies, numerous accompanying events have been planned, including concerts, performances, workshops, lectures, educational walks, picnics, and a memorial run. A full list can be found on the city website poznan.pl/czerwiec56 . The city has also launched a nationwide campaign promoting the 70th anniversary of the June 1956 uprising. Posters with QR codes have appeared in major cities across the country. Scanning them provides access to a unique radio play dedicated to the events of 70 years ago. A special tram has also been launched in Poznań, decorated with graphics referencing the famous workers' uprising. More information about this tram can be found on poznan.pl .
Women's Cinema at the Malta Festival 2026
Evening open-air film screenings, meetings with filmmakers, and conversations about stories that don't end with the credits. From June 22nd to 28th, the Malta Festival once again invites you to the Women's Cinema series. Seven film evenings are planned in Stary Browar Park, during which the films shown will become a starting point for conversations about relationships, memory, violence, closeness, and finding one's place in the world.
Evening open-air film screenings, meet-and-greets with filmmakers, and discussions. From June 22nd to 28th, the Malta Festival once again invites you to the Women's Cinema series. Among the screenings will be the film "Clarinet." Photo: press materials.
Women's cinema has been a part of the festival's dialogue space from the outset. The screenings are not just a presentation of films, but an invitation to reflect on the themes explored by the filmmakers. This year's program is composed of stories of female protagonists trying to regain their voices, understand their pasts, and free themselves from the roles imposed by family and societal expectations. At the heart of these stories are relationships—between mothers and daughters, siblings, partners, friends, and successive generations of women. These are stories about the need for closeness, but also the price sometimes paid for independence, freedom, and the right to one's own voice.
The selection of Women's Cinema screenings serves as a starting point for conversation. This year, audiences will have the opportunity to engage with Agata Buzek, Agnieszka Grochowska, Katarzyna Herman, Marta Nieradkiewicz, Anita Sokołowska, Weronika Humaj, Wojciech Smarzowski, Martyna Byczkowska, Kaja Zalewska, Maria Wojtyszko, and Tola Jasionowska, among others. Post-screening discussions will be led by film journalist and publicist Anna Serdiukow. These meetings are designed as a space for exchanging ideas and experiences—a place where the film becomes the starting point for further conversation.
The series will open on June 22nd with "La petite mort" by Martyna Byczkowska and Kaja Zalewska. This is their feature-length directorial debut, balancing between film, theater, and documentary. Inspired by the character of Ophelia, the story becomes both a story of friendship and a portrait of girlhood in early 21st-century Poland. Byczkowska and Zalewska, known for their roles in the series "Absolute Beginners" and "1670," will meet with the audience after the screening, along with actor Dominik Rubaj. The following day, Łukasz Grzegorzek's "My Wonderful Life" will be screened, starring Agata Buzek as a woman who seemingly has it all, yet increasingly feels she has stopped living on her own terms. Agata Buzek and producer Natalia Grzegorzek will participate in a post-screening conversation.
In the coming days, Women's Cinema will focus on family bonds and responsibility for others. Maciej Sobieszczański's "Brother" will tell the story of a family struggling to navigate a reality marked by violence and social exclusion. Agnieszka Grochowska, the lead actress, will discuss the questions the filmmakers posed while working on the script after the screening. Katia Priwieziencew's "Beautiful!" will feature female characters at different stages of life, grappling with ambition, motherhood, love, and the passage of time. The program also includes a pre-premiere screening of Maria Wojtyszko and Jakub Krofta's "Miłe Kobiet" (Nice Women), starring Anita Sokołowska and Dobromir Dymecki – the story of several female characters discovering their own strength in everyday struggles. You can also see "Dom Dobry" (Good House), Wojciech Smarzowski's award-winning film, which attracted record-breaking Polish audiences. It's a moving story about the violence hidden behind the facade of a seemingly happy life. After the screening, Wojciech Smarzowski and Joanna Gryza-Iskandar from the Feminoteka Foundation will discuss the film's making. The series will conclude on June 28th with "Clarinet" by Tola Jasionowska. Embedded in a blend of realism and fairy tale, the story of a young woman revisiting family secrets becomes a tale of memory, inherited experiences, and the need for reconciliation with the past. The film, Jasionowska's feature-length directorial debut, has been acclaimed at festivals, and its cast includes Weronika Humaj, Joanna Szczepkowska, and Agnieszka Przepiórska.
All screenings will take place in Stary Browar Park in Poznań. Screenings will begin at 9:30 PM. Admission is free, and no advance reservation or ticket collection is required. Organizers will provide 300 loungers for the audience, and you can also bring your own blanket and watch the films in the park. All screenings will be presented in Polish with English subtitles.
Women's Cinema Program
- June 22 (Monday) - "La petite mort", directed by Martyna Byczkowska, Kaja Zalewska
Guests: Martyna Byczkowska (director, actress), Kaja Zalewska (director, actress), Dominik Rubaj (actor)
- June 23 (Tuesday) - "My Wonderful Life", directed by Łukasz Grzegorzek
Guests: Agata Buzek (actress), Natalia Grzegorzek (producer)
- June 24 (Wednesday) - "Brother", directed by Maciej Sobieszczański
Guests: Agnieszka Grochowska (actress), Maciej Sobieszczański (director)
- June 25 (Thursday) - "Beautiful!", directed by Katia Priwieziencew
Guests: Marta Nieradkiewicz (actress), Katarzyna Herman (actress), Katia Priwieziencew (director)
- June 26 (Friday) - "Nice Women", directed by Maria Wojtyszko, Jakub Krofta
Guests: Anita Sokołowska (actress), Maria Wojtyszko (director), Jakub Krofta (director)
- June 27 (Saturday) - "The Good House", directed by Wojciech Smarzowski
Guest: Wojciech Smarzowski (director), Joanna Gryza-Iskandar (Feminoteka Foundation)
- June 28 (Sunday) - "Clarinet", directed by Tola Jasionowska
Guests: Weronika Humaj (actress), Tola Jasionowska (director)
Malta Festival
A weekend of free concerts in Poznań. First, stars at the Citadel, then a day later at Malta.
On Saturday there will be a Picnic at FEST, and on Sunday there will be a concert "Za Miłość" as part of the Malta Festival.
The FEST picnic is organized by the Marshal's Office of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship. Numerous attractions, including an educational park, are planned at the Citadel, along with concerts. These will begin at 4:00 PM and run until 10:00 PM. Ania Dąbrowska, Małgorzata Ostrowska, Raz Dwa Trzy, and Natalia Kukulska will take the stage for the finale. Admission is free.
The following day, on Sunday, a free concert will take place on Lake Malta. This will be the opening act of the Malta Festival. The outdoor spectacle, "For Love!", will feature stars such as Grzegorz Turnau, Ralph Kaminski, Natalia Szroeder, Jakub Józef Orliński, Anna Maria Jopek, Natalia Przybysz, Anita Lipnicka, Zalia, and Krzysztof Zalewski. Natalia Kukulska is the artistic director of the project. This concert will take place on the stage at the finish line of the Malta regatta course. Gates will open at 7:00 PM, and the concert will begin at 9:00 PM.
In both cases, the Public Transport Authority will strengthen public transport before and after the event to make it easier for participants to get there and back.
A great treat for steam locomotive enthusiasts!
The oldest operational steam locomotive in Poland will return to the narrow-gauge tracks this weekend. It's a Borsig Bn2t from 1925. The locomotive was manufactured in Berlin. "It initially served on an estate in Obrzycko. After the war, it was transferred to the Nitrogen Works in Chorzów, where it operated on the company railway. It was withdrawn from service around 1977. Two years later, as a technical monument, it became an attraction in the company park. In the early 1990s, it was donated to the Poznań Railway Modelers Club, rebuilt, and – in 1999 – put into service. Currently, it is owned by MPK Poznań and is a highlight of the rolling stock used on the Maltanka railway ," the Municipal Transport Company reminds.
For the past two years, the locomotive has been unavailable for viewing at Maltanka – it was undergoing a major overhaul and a boiler overhaul. Some parts had to be custom-made, hence the lengthy process. The "Bana" Society of Friends of the Środa Railway undertook the major overhaul, collaborating with Czech specialists, among others, who have extensive experience in the renovation and even construction of working replicas of narrow-gauge steam locomotives.
The steam locomotive is already on the Maltanka tracks, has successfully passed inspections and completed test runs. It's now ready to hit the road. This coming weekend, everyone will be able to assess the results of the work – Steam Days will be held on Saturday and Sunday! On June 20 and 21, as every weekend, services on the Maltanka will run every 30 minutes from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The locomotive is scheduled to depart from Maltanka station on the hour, and from Zwierzyniec station – half an hour later.
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