Kraków prepares for early mayoral elections

Kraków is preparing for early mayoral elections on September 27, 2026, following a referendum that removed the previous mayor. Eight candidates are competing for the position, with Łukasz Gibała identified by bookmakers as the current favorite. Other notable candidates include Monika Piątkowska, Daria Gosek-Popiołek, and Aleksandra Owca.

Key campaign issues include the necessity of building a metro system to prevent transport inefficiency, despite concerns regarding construction disruption and long-term maintenance costs. Additionally, candidates are discussing the potential introduction of a local tourist fee, which could generate up to 50 million PLN annually to help mitigate the impact of the city's 16 million annual visitors on local infrastructure.

Candidate platforms also focus on administrative reform. Łukasz Gibała has pledged to verify employees hired within the last two years to combat nepotism and intends to reduce the size of municipal company boards to increase transparency and savings.