From 5 to 22 November 2026, Kraków will host the 6th edition of the Open Eyes Art Festival (OEAF), dedicated to contemporary art. The festival brings together exhibitions, concerts, performances and theatre productions. Its aim is to foster conversation about the modern world. The motto of this year’s edition is “Swarms and Packs”.
The festival grows out of the idea of the Open Eyes Economy, a movement that promotes responsible thinking about the economy, society and the future. The organisers see art both as a way of describing reality and as a tool for understanding, interpreting and changing it. The programme spans a range of creative disciplines and addresses, among other themes, democracy, community, social responsibility and the role of culture in building an informed society. The festival takes place every autumn and brings together artists, students, researchers and audiences.
The regular programme includes:
- Open Art – an exhibition presenting projects by students from Kraków’s art universities,
- Przestrzeń dla Sztuki (Space for Art) – a series of exhibitions devoted to outstanding artists,
- a concert,
- an exhibition of diploma works from the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, presented since the last two editions,
- a presentation of works by academic teachers of the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts.
An important element of the festival is supporting young artists and creating a space for intergenerational dialogue. Pairing the work of debutants with that of established artists is intended to encourage the exchange of experience. The festival is organised by the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, the GAP Art Agency, the Nowa Huta Cultural Centre and the Foundation of Public Administration and Economy.
The detailed programme of the 6th edition will be published later. In the meantime, a description of the previous edition, titled “Ocean of Droplets”, is available on the website of the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków.