Literary Festival in Kraków: Conrad Festival and Book Fair
An autumn cycle of major literary events is under way in Kraków. The highlights are the 18th Conrad Festival, scheduled for 19–25 October 2026, and the 29th International Book Fair at EXPO Kraków, ul. Galicyjska 9, which will take place on 22–25 October. The programme is complemented by Poetry Night and events in bookshops and across the city.
In Brief
- The 18th Conrad Festival runs from 19 to 25 October 2026.
- The 29th International Book Fair will take place from 22 to 25 October at EXPO Kraków, ul. Galicyjska 9.
- Organisers announce more than 500 exhibitors, 1,000 authors and around 1,250 events.
- The 16th Poetry Night will take place on 9–11 October 2026 under the motto “Błysk rewolwru” (“Flash of the Revolver”).
- Some events require a ticket or advance registration.
Conrad Festival in the Main Programme and Bookshops
The 18th Conrad Festival takes place in Kraków from 19 to 25 October 2026. The main programme features meetings with Ola Tokarczuk, Nathacha Appanah, Szczepan Twardoch, Juan Gabriel Vásquez, Jacek Dukaj and Becca Rothfeld. Organisers have also prepared film screenings, exhibitions, workshops and literary walks.
A separate element of the festival is the “Conrad in Bookshops” series. It includes 15 talks in intimate bookshops. The event list also features discussions on the work of Janina Katz and Miljenko Jergović, the workshop “Ćwiczenia z nieposłuszeństwa” (“Exercises in Disobedience”), and a literary walk through Nowa Huta. Events take place at various locations across the city.
International Book Fair at EXPO Kraków
The 29th International Book Fair in Kraków will take place from 22 to 25 October 2026 at the International Trade and Congress Centre EXPO Kraków, ul. Galicyjska 9. Organisers expect more than 500 exhibitors and 1,000 authors from Poland and abroad.
The fair programme is to include around 1,250 events, including author meetings, premieres, workshops, discussions and industry events. This year’s motto is “Uwaga: drugi człowiek” (“Attention: The Other Person”). A novelty will be the Adaptation Zone (Strefa Adaptacji), which will bring together the publishing and film industries. The fair will be open at the following hours:
- 22 and 25 October: 10:00–17:00
- 23 and 24 October: 10:00–19:00
Poetry Night and Podgórze in Literature
The 16th Poetry Night takes place on 9–11 October 2026. This year’s motto, “Błysk rewolwru” (“Flash of the Revolver”), concerns detective fiction and crime in poetry. The programme includes meetings, poetry events and a conference at the Collegium Novum of the Jagiellonian University, ul. Gołębiej 24.
Earlier, on 3–4 October, the first edition of the “Podgórze w Literaturze” micro-festival took place. The programme included talks with authors, a debate, a walk, a dance party and a ping-pong tournament. Organisers thus placed the district within the city’s broader literary calendar.
Calendar of Key Events
Below are the dates and venues of the main events in the autumn cycle. Some of them, including Podgórze in Literature, have already taken place. It is worth checking the detailed times of individual meetings in the organisers’ programmes, as they may vary by event.
| Event | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Podgórze w Literaturze | 3–4 October | Podgórze |
| 16th Poetry Night | 9–11 October 2026 | Collegium Novum UJ, ul. Gołębia 24 (conference) |
| 18th Conrad Festival | 19–25 October 2026 | Various venues in Kraków |
| 29th International Book Fair | 22–25 October 2026 | EXPO Kraków, ul. Galicyjska 9 |
How to Take Part in Events
Events take place at many locations across the city: at EXPO Kraków, in bookshops, in cultural institutions and along literary walking routes. Taking part in some meetings requires buying a ticket or registering in advance. Information on participation rules is published by the organisers of individual events.
The available materials do not indicate that any changes to traffic arrangements or public transport operations have been announced in connection with the events. However, residents and visitors planning to attend several events may find it useful to plan their route in advance.
Note: Some meetings, including selected festival events, require a ticket or advance registration. Before going, it is worth checking the details in the organiser’s programme, as entry rules and the number of places may differ between events.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 18th Conrad Festival takes place in Kraków from 19 to 25 October 2026. The programme includes author meetings, film screenings, exhibitions, workshops, literary walks and the “Conrad in Bookshops” series, and events are held at various locations across the city.
The 29th International Book Fair in Kraków will take place from 22 to 25 October 2026 at EXPO Kraków, ul. Galicyjska 9. The fair will be open from 10:00 to 17:00 or 10:00 to 19:00, depending on the day.
The materials do not indicate whether all events are paid or free. What is known is that taking part in some meetings requires a ticket or advance registration. Detailed information is provided by the organisers of individual events in their programmes.
Key Facts
- An autumn cycle of literary events is under way in Kraków, including the Conrad Festival, the International Book Fair and Poetry Night.
- The key dates are 9–11 October (Poetry Night), 19–25 October (Conrad Festival) and 22–25 October (Book Fair).
- The detailed programme and participation rules are available in the organisers’ materials.
Based on information from: krakow.pl
