Polish theater festivals announce major award winners

Several prominent Polish theater and drama festivals have concluded their recent editions, honoring diverse productions and playwrights.

At the XXIV National Festival of Contemporary Dramaturgy ‘Rzeczywistość Przedstawiona’ in Zabrze, the Grand Prix was awarded to the play ‘Pogo’ by Teatr Ludowy in Kraków. Teatr Nowy in Poznań also received significant recognition for its production ‘Zdzisiek’, which depicts the Poznań June 1956 events; Tomasz Man was honored for direction, text, and music, while Martyna Zaremba-Maćkowska received an acting award. Teatr Nowy in Zabrze won the Audience Award.

The 64th Rzeszów Theater Meetings (Festival of Masterpieces) saw the Bydgoszcz-based Teatr Kameralny im. Wandy Rucińskiej take top honors. Their production ‘Dżuma’, directed by Wojciech Kościelniak, won the WANDA 2026 Grand Prix and the Audience Award, alongside multiple individual awards for choreography, scenography, and acting.

In Gdynia, Malina Prześluga won the 19th Gdyńska Dramaturgical Award for her play ‘Ślepa plamka’. Additionally, the production ‘Bibuła w tapczanie’ from Gdańsk’s Miejski Teatr Miniatur earned four awards across festivals in Cieszyn, Toruń, and Warsaw.