Poland's Beskid Culture Week kicks off with vibrant inauguration in Wiśle

The 63rd edition of the Beskid Culture Week (Tydzień Kultury Beskidzkiej) opened on Saturday, 25 July 2026 in the Polish town of Wiśle, with a colorful street parade that turned the city centre into a living folk showcase. The festival, one of the largest and oldest folklore events in Europe, will run for 11 days until 2 August, with performances also scheduled in Żywiec, Szczyrk, Maków Podhalański and Istebna.

More than 80 folk ensembles from Poland and 16 foreign countries – including Spain, Turkey, the United States and Brazil – are expected to appear, involving roughly 4 000 dancers, musicians, singers and artisans. Events will feature street parades, concerts in the historic amphitheatre, workshops, exhibitions, regional cuisine tastings and even mountain‑top concerts. Local officials such as Wiśle mayor Tomasz Bujok, director Aneta Legierska‑Bujok of the Regional Cultural Centre, and Marshal of the Sejm Włodzimierz Czarzasty took part in the opening ceremonies.