Polish Tourism Organisation

: Main Market Square in Krakow

: Castle Square in Warsaw, photo: Jaroslaw Marciuk

Follow the Music to Poland

Your journey starts in London.

The Polish Jazz Festival in London is more than a celebration of outstanding music—it’s an invitation to discover the places that have shaped Poland’s rich and dynamic jazz scene.

From intimate jazz clubs and world-renowned concert halls to internationally acclaimed festivals, Poland has long been a destination where music thrives. Whether you’re captivated by the energy of Warsaw, enchanted by the timeless atmosphere of Kraków or inspired by the vibrant cultural scene of Wrocław, each city offers its own unique rhythm, musical heritage and unforgettable cultural experiences.

Follow in the footsteps of legendary musicians, experience performances in iconic venues and discover festivals that attract audiences from around the world. Between concerts, immerse yourself in historic architecture, exceptional museums, vibrant cafés and creative neighbourhoods that make these cities among Europe’s most exciting cultural destinations.

So, when the final note is played at the Polish Jazz Festival in London, let your musical journey continue. Poland is waiting to welcome you—one concert, one city and one unforgettable experience at a time.

Discover Poland’s Music Cities

Warsaw – The Capital of Polish Jazz

For more than seventy years, Warsaw has been the beating heart of Polish jazz. It was here, during the post-war years, that jazz became much more than a musical genre—it became a symbol of artistic freedom, creativity and openness to the world. Today, the city remains Poland’s jazz capital, where internationally renowned festivals, intimate clubs and innovative musicians continue to shape one of Europe’s most exciting music scenes.

Jazz Jamboree-Sun Ra Arkestra photo: Fabio Lugero

A city that lives and breathes jazz

No visit to Warsaw is complete without exploring its legendary jazz venues. Jassmine has quickly established itself as one of Europe’s finest contemporary jazz clubs, attracting internationally acclaimed artists alongside Poland’s leading musicians. Nearby, 12on14 Jazz Club offers an intimate listening experience with concerts almost every evening, while the iconic Klub SPATiF continues its long tradition of late-night jam sessions where established performers and young talents share the stage.

Festivals that shaped a nation

Warsaw’s jazz calendar is packed throughout the year. The legendary Jazz Jamboree, founded in 1958, is one of Europe’s oldest jazz festivals and has welcomed legends including Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett and Pat Metheny. The festival remains one of the highlights of Poland’s cultural calendar.

Another annual favourite is Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, showcasing the very best of contemporary and avant-garde jazz, with world premieres, international collaborations and Grammy Award-winning artists.

During the summer months, jazz takes to the streets with Jazz in the Old Town—one of Warsaw’s best-loved cultural traditions. Held every Saturday throughout July and August in the picturesque Old Town Market Square, this free open-air festival has delighted audiences since 1994, bringing outstanding Polish and international jazz performers to one of the city’s most beautiful historic settings.

Together, these festivals have cemented Warsaw’s reputation as one of Europe’s leading jazz destinations.

Jazz Jamboree-Sun Ra Arkestra photo: Fabio Lugero

Beyond jazz

Music is woven into Warsaw’s identity. Every summer, thousands gather in the beautiful Łazienki Royal Park for free open-air Chopin concerts beside the composer’s monument—a cherished tradition dating back to 1959. The city also hosts the prestigious Chopin and His Europe Festival, welcoming world-renowned pianists and orchestras from across the globe.

Between concerts, explore Warsaw’s beautifully reconstructed UNESCO-listed Old Town, stroll along the lively Vistula Boulevards, discover the award-winning POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, or visit the moving Warsaw Rising Museum. It’s a city where history, creativity and music exist side by side.

Chopin concert, Łazienki Park, photo: Maciej Deperas

Kraków – Where Jazz Meets History

Kraków has long inspired artists, writers and musicians. Its medieval streets, Renaissance architecture and intimate cellar venues create one of Europe’s most atmospheric settings for live music. Here, jazz isn’t confined to concert halls—it spills into cafés, hidden courtyards and historic basements that have nurtured generations of performers.

Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow

Europe’s summer jazz capital

Every June, the city hosts the internationally acclaimed Summer Jazz Festival Kraków, one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious jazz festivals. For several weeks, hundreds of concerts take place across dozens of venues, welcoming internationally renowned artists alongside the finest Polish musicians.

One of the festival’s highlights is New Orleans Sunday, when colourful street parades, outdoor concerts and traditional jazz performances transform Kraków’s Main Market Square into one giant open-air stage, filling the city with music and celebration.

Legendary jazz clubs

No jazz lover should miss Harris Piano Jazz Bar, located just off the Main Market Square. With live performances almost every evening, it has become one of Poland’s best-known jazz clubs and a favourite among both local musicians and visiting artists. Jam sessions often continue late into the night, creating an atmosphere that perfectly captures Kraków’s creative spirit.

Other venues, including Globus Music Club and independent spaces in the artistic Kazimierz district, ensure that live music can be found almost every night of the week.

A city made for culture lovers

Away from the stage, Kraków offers an extraordinary cultural experience. Explore the magnificent Wawel Royal Castle, wander through Europe’s largest medieval market square, discover the galleries and cafés of Kazimierz, or visit MOCAK – the Museum of Contemporary Art and Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum.

As dusk falls, music fills the city once again. Street performers entertain visitors beneath the Cloth Hall while cellar clubs come alive with jazz, blues and world music. In Kraków, every evening feels like a festival.

MOCAK Museum in Krakow

Wrocław – A City with Jazz at Its Heart

Wrocław has long been one of Poland’s most vibrant centres for jazz. With a rich festival tradition, outstanding concert venues and a thriving community of musicians, the city has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the country’s leading destinations for live music. Here, jazz is part of the city’s cultural identity, complementing an impressive calendar of classical, world and contemporary music events that attract audiences from across Europe.

Opening of Vratislavia

Home to one of Poland’s oldest jazz festivals

Since 1964, Wrocław has hosted Jazz nad Odrą (Jazz on the Oder), one of Poland’s oldest and most prestigious jazz festivals. For more than six decades, it has welcomed leading Polish and international jazz artists while helping launch the careers of many outstanding young musicians through its renowned competition for emerging talent.

Every July, the Vertigo Summer Jazz Festival transforms Wrocław into one giant stage. Concerts take place in parks, riverside beaches, rooftop terraces, public squares, historic trams and the acclaimed Vertigo Jazz Club, creating an unforgettable opportunity to experience live jazz in some of the city’s most unique settings.

The National Forum of Music

At the heart of Wrocław’s musical life stands the magnificent National Forum of Music (NFM), one of Europe’s finest concert halls. Throughout the year, it hosts jazz, classical, world music, film music and contemporary performances, as well as internationally renowned festivals including Jazztopad, Wratislavia Cantans, Musica Electronica Nova and Musica Polonica Nova.

Whether you’re attending an intimate jazz performance or a large-scale orchestral concert, the NFM is one of Europe’s premier destinations for live music.

photo: Slawek Przerwa

More than music

Music accompanies every step through Wrocław. Stroll across its charming bridges connecting twelve islands, admire the colourful Market Square, visit the UNESCO-listed Centennial Hall, or discover the peaceful Cathedral Island. Keep an eye out for the city’s famous bronze dwarfs, hidden throughout the streets, each with its own story to tell.

As evening falls, riverside terraces fill with life before audiences head to concerts, jazz clubs and late-night performances across the city. Whether you’re planning your visit around Jazz nad Odrą, the Vertigo Summer Jazz Festival, Jazztopad, or one of the many outstanding performances at the National Forum of Music, Wrocław offers an unforgettable blend of music, culture and architectural beauty throughout the year.