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.
In Toruń, everything tastes like gingerbread! The Gingerbread Festival is upon us!
Ten days filled with spicy aromas, outdoor demonstrations, craft workshops, and family-friendly attractions. From October 2nd to 11th, 2026, Toruń invites residents and tourists to this year's Gingerbread Festival. This upcoming celebration of the city's culinary symbol promises to be exceptionally impressive.
The heart of the festival in the Old Town Square
The main venue for the events will be the Old Town Square, which will transform into a vibrant gingerbread town for the duration of the festival. Renowned Toruń brands and local artisans will showcase their unique wares in wooden exhibition houses. This will be a unique opportunity to sample a variety of Toruń specialties and learn about the traditions embedded in the city's heritage.
A rich program of activities for children and adults is planned in a special festival tent:
- gingerbread decorating workshops and demonstrations,
- interactive shows based on Toruń legends,
- art workshops and creating souvenir festival postcards,
- theatre performances for the youngest.
Events throughout Toruń
The festival excitement will spread throughout the city thanks to the involvement of local institutions, museums, and businesses. The program includes gingerbread baking and decorating workshops, themed concerts, meetings, tastings, and competitions with prizes. Special festival offers and discounts await guests at selected partner locations.
We especially encourage you to participate in free events presenting the history of Toruń crafts:
- the family city game "Mission Gingerbread",
- guided walk "In the Footsteps of Toruń Gingerbread Culture".
Gingerbread stands at the Copernicus Gallery
The gingerbread festival will also be held outside Toruń's historic center. On Friday and Saturday, October 2nd and 3rd, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the Galeria Copernicus Shopping Center will host educational stands from Fort IV and Master Bogumił's Toruń Gingerbread Shop. Visitors will be treated to historical facts, the secrets of traditional recipes, and entertainers in period costumes.
Cultural institutions, tourist organizations and Toruń entrepreneurs have joined the organization of the Gingerbread Festival: Franciszek Pokojski Confectionery, the Living Gingerbread Museum, the House of Toruń Legends, the Starotoruńska Gingerbread Shop, Iga Sarzyńska "Wzrusza Toruń", the Kopernik SA Confectionery Factory, the Toruń Craft and Entrepreneurship Guild, the Local Tourist Organization in Toruń, the Toruń Gingerbread Culinary Trail, Master Bogumił’s Toruń Gingerbread Shop, the Toruń Gingerbread Manufactory, the "Toruń Tourist" Tourist Office, Torunianka Café, Fort IV, Gingerbread Paradise, the Siesta Travel Agency and the District Museum in Toruń together with the Toruń Gingerbread Museum.
Boxing festival in Toruń
The 30th edition of the Zygmunt Krygier Copernicus Boxing Cup International Boxing Tournament will take place from October 8-11, 2026. The venue for the competition will be the Olimpijczyk Hall at Słowackiego Street 114 in Toruń.
This is one of the most important and prestigious events in Polish Olympic boxing, traditionally organized by the Pomorzanin Toruń Interschool Combat Sports Club.
The tournament commemorates Zygmunt Krygier, an outstanding sports activist, coach, and legendary founder of the Pomorzanin Toruń boxing club. The event is a tribute to his immense contribution to the development of Polish boxing and the education of many generations of Toruń boxers.
International cast
This year's entry list will include teams from all over Poland, including Sporty Walki Gostyń, Sporty Walki Piła, WKB Start Włocławek and Bulls Poddębice, as well as numerous foreign clubs.
In the ring we will see representatives of over 10 countries, including competitors from England, France, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Scotland, Sweden and Ukraine.
In total, approximately 230 competitors will take part in the tournament, and the fights will take place simultaneously in two rings.
Free admission for fans
Admission to the stands is free. This is a great opportunity to see the international elite of Olympic boxing in action live and experience the unique atmosphere of one of the most important boxing tournaments in Toruń.
The event was co-financed from the budget of the Municipality of Toruń, and the honorary patronage over the event was assumed by the Mayor of Toruń, Paweł Gulewski.
Event schedule:
Friday, October 9, 2026
- Quarterfinals: 11:00 a.m. to approximately 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 10, 2026.
- Semi-final bouts: 11:00 a.m. to approximately 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 11, 2026.
- Final bouts: from 10:30 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m.
Location: Hala Olimpijczyk, Słowackiego Street 114, Toruń
Admission: free
Bolesławiec to Host Special Chamber Concert with U.S. Army Band Quintet
The Bolesławiec Cultural Center – International Ceramics Center (BOK-MCC) invites residents and visitors to a special chamber concert bringing together musicians from Poland and the United States.
The concert will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of BOK-MCC at 1C Piłsudskiego Square in Bolesławiec.
The evening will feature a quintet from the United States Army 1st Infantry Division Band, joined by special guest Dr. David Earll, Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Kansas.
The program will focus on music connected with the state of Kansas. Audiences will hear works written by composers from the state, as well as compositions inspired by or associated with Kansas.
The event will offer more than just an evening of music. It will be an opportunity for artists from both sides of the Atlantic to meet and share their musical traditions, creating a unique cultural connection between Bolesławiec and Kansas.
The organizers invite everyone interested in music and international cultural exchange to attend this special performance.
Date: October 15, 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: BOK-MCC conference room, 1C Piłsudskiego Square, Bolesławiec
Admission: Free
Ceramikon 2026 Returns to Bolesławiec with a Day Full of Geek Culture and Creativity
Fans of fantasy, gaming, anime, K-pop, cosplay and all things creative are invited to Ceramikon 2026, a special event celebrating geek culture and creativity in Bolesławiec.
The event will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Bolesławiec Cultural Center – International Ceramics Center (BOK-MCC) at 1C Piłsudskiego Square.
Ceramikon offers a full day of activities for both experienced fans and people who are simply curious about the world of geek culture.
Workshops, Games and Creative Activities
Visitors will be able to take part in a wide range of artistic workshops, including sashiko embroidery, kumihimo bracelet making, cosplay, pixel art and miniature painting.
The event will also feature a dedicated gaming zone, with something for almost every type of player. The program includes board games, tabletop wargames, card games, RPGs, game testing and retro games.
For fans of Japanese and Korean culture, Ceramikon will offer K-pop dance workshops as well as an introduction to the traditional Japanese Bon Odori dance.
Japanese Music and Cosplay
Music will be another important part of the event. The band NihonGakki will perform a concert, offering audiences an opportunity to experience the distinctive sounds and atmosphere of Japanese music.
Cosplay fans will also have their moment in the spotlight during the cosplay competition and parade. Participants will be able to showcase their costumes, creativity and passion for their favorite characters.
The program will also include talks, idol performances and additional attractions, with more activities planned throughout the day.
Something for Everyone
Ceramikon is not only aimed at experienced gamers, dedicated cosplayers or longtime fans of Japanese culture. The organizers encourage everyone to attend — whether you already have a favorite hobby or are simply looking for something new to discover.
The event is an opportunity to meet people with similar interests, discover new passions, try creative activities and spend a day surrounded by fantasy, games, music and pop culture.
Ceramikon 2026
October 17, 2026
10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Bolesławiec Cultural Center – International Ceramics Center (BOK-MCC)
1C Piłsudskiego Square, 59-700 Bolesławiec
Whether you're a seasoned gamer, anime or K-pop fan, cosplayer, artist, Japanese culture enthusiast or simply curious about the geek community, Ceramikon 2026 promises a day full of creativity, inspiration and fun.
Unique Polish Female Composers’ Music Festival Returns to Lubuskie
A unique celebration of women’s music is taking place in Poland’s Lubuskie region this October. The 2nd Polish Female Composers’ Music Festival, dedicated entirely to the work of Polish women composers, will be held from October 9 to 11, 2026, in Żagań and Kożuchów.
Organizers describe the festival as the only event of its kind in Poland, offering audiences an opportunity to discover music created by Polish female composers across different periods of history.
This year’s edition is held under the theme “Song from the Depths of Time” and combines music with visual art, discussions and innovative forms of presenting concerts.
Three days of music and art
The main events will take place at the Żagań Culture Center, with additional activities hosted at the Church of Our Lady of the Candles in Kożuchów.
The festival will open on Friday, October 9, with a combination of visual arts and vocal and instrumental music. One of the highlights will be the opening of an augmented reality exhibition by Sebastian Siepietowski, dedicated to Polish women artists.
The opening day will also feature a concert titled “Changes”, presenting the work of this year’s composer-in-residence, Adrianna Kubica-Cypek. The performance will bring together singers and instrumentalists, including organist Michał Kocot and musicians from Ensemble de l’Amitié.
Celebrating generations of Polish women composers
The festival’s program reaches from historical figures to contemporary composers. Audiences will have the opportunity to encounter works by such artists as Maria Szymanowska, Poldowski (Irena Regina Wieniawska), Zofia Ossendowska, Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil, Agata Zubel and Dobromiła Jaskot.
The organizers want the festival to highlight both the diversity and the importance of women’s contribution to Polish musical culture, while also giving contemporary composers a platform to present their work to a wider audience.
A concert experience with a difference
One of the most unusual events will be the festival’s “Simultaneous Concert” at the Żagań Culture Center.
Instead of sitting in one concert hall throughout the performance, visitors will be able to move freely between three different rooms, each offering a different musical experience.
In the Family Hall, the Czarakcziew/Kowal Duo will perform works by Maria Szymanowska, Poldowski and Zofia Ossendowska. The Kurland Hall will feature the Lipiński Quartet performing Grażyna Pstrokońska-Nawratil’s Music of Trees, accompanied by visual projections. Contemporary avant-garde and electronic music by Agata Zubel and Dobromiła Jaskot will be presented in the Mirror Hall.
The format allows each visitor to create their own musical journey and experience the festival in a highly individual way.
More than just concerts
Alongside performances, the festival will feature open rehearsals, panel discussions and visual art, creating space for conversations about women’s presence and contribution to the arts.
The event is organized by the L’Amitié Foundation, in cooperation with local cultural institutions and partners from the Lubuskie region. The festival has also received support from the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage through the “Music” program, implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance.
All festival events are free of charge, making the program accessible to a wide audience.
The 2nd Polish Female Composers’ Music Festival offers a rare opportunity to hear the works of Polish women composers while exploring the connections between music, visual art and contemporary culture. For three days, Żagań and the surrounding region will become a meeting place for performers, composers and audiences interested in discovering a less frequently heard side of Poland’s musical heritage.
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