Xavér Varnus to Open Sacred Music Days at St Mary’s Basilica
Hungarian-Canadian organist and improviser Xavér Varnus will perform on 14 November 2026 at St Mary’s Basilica in Kraków. His concert will open the 21st Sacred Music Days named after St John Paul II (Dni Muzyki Sakralnej im. św. Jana Pawła II), which will run from 14 to 28 November. According to the organisers, the artist’s concerts have drawn more than 7 million listeners worldwide.
In brief
- The opening concert will take place on 14 November 2026 at 8 p.m. at St Mary’s Basilica in Kraków.
- The festival will run from 14 to 28 November 2026 and include concerts in Kraków and in towns across the Archdiocese of Kraków.
- The event now operates under a new name: Sacred Music Days named after St John Paul II, formerly Church Music Days (Dni Muzyki Kościelnej).
- The organiser is the Archdiocese of Kraków, and the co-organiser is the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków.
Opening concert by Xavér Varnus
The concert at St Mary’s Basilica will begin at 8 p.m. The artist will perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach, including the “Toccata and Fugue in D minor”, and will also present an organ improvisation. Varnus is also known for his online recordings: his videos on YouTube have exceeded 35 million views.
According to the organisers, Varnus’s concerts around the world have so far drawn more than 7 million listeners. His performance in Kraków is being promoted as the opening of this year’s edition of the festival.
Important: Opening concert: 14 November 2026, 8 p.m., St Mary’s Basilica in Kraków. The full festival schedule is available on the Music in the Archdiocese of Kraków website.
Festival programme
This year’s edition runs from 14 to 28 November 2026. The programme includes organ, choral and chamber concerts, events devoted to early music, and academic meetings and events. The XV Kraków Young Organists Competition will also take place.
Concerts are scheduled in Kraków’s historic churches and in other towns across the Archdiocese of Kraków.
- Lorenzo Ghielmi
- the Viennese Morphing Orchestra
- Paul Fey
- a concert by Witold Zalewski, titular organist of Wawel Cathedral, combined with the promotion of the album “Katedra Wawelska muzyką organową malowana” (Wawel Cathedral Painted with Organ Music)
New name and organisers
The 21st edition of the festival is taking place under a new name: Sacred Music Days named after St John Paul II. Until now, the event was called Church Music Days. The decision to change the name was made by Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś.
The event is organised by the Archdiocese of Kraków, and the co-organiser is the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków.
What it means for residents
It is certain that the festival will take place from 14 to 28 November 2026, along with the opening concert at St Mary’s Basilica. The announced events will also include other churches in Kraków and towns across the Archdiocese of Kraków.
The available information does not indicate any planned changes to traffic arrangements, public transport or other disruptions for residents. The detailed festival programme was announced on 22 October 2026, and the organisers refer people to the Music in the Archdiocese of Kraków website for the full schedule.
Frequently asked questions
The concert will take place on 14 November 2026 at 8 p.m. at St Mary’s Basilica in Kraków. It will open the 21st Sacred Music Days named after St John Paul II.
This year’s edition runs from 14 to 28 November 2026. It will include concerts in Kraków’s historic churches and in other towns across the Archdiocese of Kraków.
The detailed programme was announced on 22 October 2026. The organisers refer people to the Music in the Archdiocese of Kraków website for the full schedule, at muzykawdiecezji.pl.
Key facts
- Xavér Varnus will open the 21st Sacred Music Days on 14 November 2026 at St Mary’s Basilica.
- The festival runs until 28 November and includes events in Kraków and across the Archdiocese of Kraków.
Based on information from: krakow.pl
