Poland Registers First Same‑Sex Marriage After EU Court Orders Recognition

On 14 May 2026 Warsaw’s civil registry office transcribed the marriage certificate of two Polish men who had wed in Germany in 2018, marking the first legally recognised same‑sex marriage in Poland. The action follows a November 2025 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union that EU member states must recognise same‑sex marriages concluded in other member states, and a March 2026 decision by Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court ordering the registration.

Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski announced the transcription and pledged that the capital will proactively recognise further same‑sex marriages performed abroad. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his government would implement the court rulings as soon as possible and apologized to couples who have felt “rejected and humiliated”. The move has been hailed by progressive politicians and LGBTQ activists, while conservative Law and Justice (PiS) figures warned it undermines the Polish constitution’s definition of marriage.

The registration does not change domestic law, which still defines marriage as between a man and a woman, but it obliges Polish authorities to acknowledge marriages performed in other EU countries, a step that could influence future policy debates on civil partnerships and adoption rights.