September 2026 in Zakopane is shaping up to be exceptionally diverse. The end of the summer holidays does not mean the end of interesting events – concerts, exhibitions, theatre performances, sports competitions and meetings prepared for both residents and tourists await at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Highlights include the “Music on the Heights” festival, the 9th Hasior Run, an international judo tournament and events organised by the Tatra Museum. See what is happening in Zakopane and the surrounding area and plan your September 2026 in the Tatras.
Opening of Miejska Dzielnia in Zakopane
On 1 September at 3:00 PM, Miejska Dzielnia will open at Dolne Aleje 3 Maja – the first space of its kind in Zakopane and the Podhale region. The venue will serve as a place for exchanging items that can be given a second life, as well as for neighbourhood meetings and local initiatives.
The opening will be accompanied by an exhibition of works by Piotr Kolanka, a visual artist and curator whose work combines painting, sculpture, drawing and 3D printing, among other techniques. Music will be provided by Lukas Espace, who has been associated with the drum & bass scene for more than two decades. A sweet treat will also be available for participants. Miejska Dzielnia is located at Dolne Aleje 3 Maja, at the entrance to the Łukaszówki housing estate.
Opening of the exhibition “Weś gilaweł / Las śpiewa / The Forest is Singing”
On 2 September at 5:00 PM, the Palace Museum will host the opening of Małgorzata Mirga-Tas’s exhibition “Weś gilaweł / Las śpiewa / The Forest is Singing”. This is the first institutional exhibition in Zakopane by the acclaimed Roma artist, prepared especially for the space of the former Gestapo headquarters at 7 Chałubińskiego Street.
The multi-part installation combines sculpture and textiles, and explores, among other themes, the history of Roma and Sinti people during World War II. Mirga-Tas also draws on the wartime experiences of her own family and the Carpathian Roma, creating one of her most personal exhibitions and one of those most closely connected with the Podhale region. The opening begins on 2 September at 5:00 PM and admission is free. The exhibition itself will be on display at the Palace Museum from 3 September 2026 until 31 January 2027.
Bat Night at the Tatra Museum
On 5 September at 7:30 PM, the Main Building of the Tatra Museum at 10 Krupówki Street invites visitors to International Bat Night. This event is aimed at whole families and anyone who would like to learn more about the fascinating nocturnal inhabitants of the Tatra Mountains. One of the main attractions will be evening listening sessions using ultrasonic detectors, which make it possible to hear bat calls. Participants will also examine the skeletons and bones of these mammals under a microscope and learn more about their anatomy. The meeting will be led by Dr Marcin Warchałowski. The event accompanies the exhibition “Underground – A World Torn from Darkness”. Admission is free, but places are limited and advance registration is required.
18th International “Music on the Heights” Festival
From 5 to 12 September, Zakopane and the Podhale region will once again be filled with classical music during the 18th International “Music on the Heights” Festival. Over eight days, audiences will be able to attend chamber concerts, recitals, meetings with artists and accompanying events. This year’s programme refers, among other things, to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mieczysław Karłowicz.
Concerts will take place at several venues in Zakopane, while the festival finale is scheduled for Nowy Targ. The programme includes both works by classical composers and contemporary music, as well as world premieres of new compositions.
Festival programme
- 5 September, 7:00 PM – “Young Poland for Two Voices”, the opening concert devoted, among other things, to the works of Mieczysław Karłowicz. Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences in Zakopane.
- 6 September, 7:00 PM – “Event Horizons. New Faces of Chamber Music”, NCWR theatre hall at 11 Ciągłówka Street.
- 7 September, 7:00 PM – “Architecture of the Universe”, an accordion recital by Maciej Frąckiewicz featuring music by J.S. Bach, 11 Ciągłówka Street.
- 8 September, 7:00 PM – film evening and a screening of Andrzej Wajda’s “The Conductor” at Kino Miejsce, 2 Orkana Street.
- 9 September, 4:00 PM – a concert by students from music schools, followed at 7:00 PM by the concert “Viennese Afterimages” performed by Liminal Quartet.
- 10 September, 7:00 PM – “Archipelago of Quiet Music”, a chamber concert also featuring world premieres of new works, 11 Ciągłówka Street.
- 11 September, 7:00 PM – “Conversations with Time. Between the Finite and the Infinite”, a concert featuring music by Władysław Żeleński, Mieczysław Weinberg, Gustav Mahler and Paweł Mykietyn, among others.
- 12 September, 7:00 PM – the final concert “Symphony of Sounds. On the Heights of Harmony” at the Municipal Cultural Centre in Nowy Targ. The National Wind Orchestra in Lubin will perform under the baton of Sebastian Perłowski.
The festival will also be accompanied by meetings with performers as part of the “Conversations on the Heights Club”, the musicology conference “The Beautiful One Hundred and Fifty-Year-Olds” at the Palace Museum, and the “Artists of Podhale 11” exhibition in Kościelisko. It is one of the most important September attractions for classical music lovers visiting Zakopane and the surrounding area.
September with Sandal – a mountain trip to the Tatras
From 7 to 13 September, the Sandal Academic Chaplaincy invites participants on a group trip to the Tatra Mountains. The plan includes six days of mountain hiking, climbing peaks and walking, as well as time to relax and socialise in Zakopane. Participants will stay at DW Tatra House on Olczyska Street, setting out on trails from there each day. Specific routes will be chosen on an ongoing basis depending on the weather and the abilities of the group. Evenings will provide an opportunity to spend time together and relax after mountain excursions. The trip is aimed at people associated with DA Sandal as well as those who would like to get to know the community. Places are limited and advance registration is required.
9th Hasior Run
On 13 September at 9:00 AM, the 9th Hasior Run will take place in Zakopane, combining sporting excitement with a commemoration of Władysław Hasior. Participants will meet at Polana Kuźnicka by the “Prometheus Shot” monument, from where they will proceed to the starting point located by the dam on Przewodników Tatrzańskich Street.
The route is approximately 3 km long and will lead from Kuźnice through the streets of Zakopane towards the town centre. Runners will pass along Przewodników Tatrzańskich Street, Droga na Bystre, Bulwary Słowackiego, Broniewskiego Street and Jagiellońska Street. The finish line will be in front of the Władysław Hasior Gallery at 18b Jagiellońska Street.
The day before, on 12 September from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the race office will operate at the Władysław Hasior Gallery, where participants will collect their race packs. On race day, previously paid-for packs can also be collected between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM by the “Prometheus Shot” monument.
World Siberian Exiles Day in Zakopane
On 17 September, Zakopane will commemorate World Siberian Exiles Day, observed on the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland. It is a day of remembrance for Poles deported to Siberia and other remote regions of the USSR, as well as an opportunity to pay tribute to the victims of repression.
The Zakopane commemorations will begin at 10:00 AM with a Holy Mass for the Siberian exiles at the Old Church on Kościeliska Street. Then, at 11:00 AM, participants will gather at the symbolic grave of the Siberian exiles at the Old Cemetery on Pęksowy Brzyzek. Delegations will lay wreaths there and together honour the memory of those who died and those who suffered repression. The commemorations will also include an artistic element. Participation is free of charge.
29th International Judo Tournament and 8th Józef Chowaniec Memorial
On 19–20 September, Zakopane will become the venue for an international competition featuring young judokas. The 29th International Judo Tournament and the 8th Józef Chowaniec Memorial will be held at SMS Zakopane, where spectators will be able to see competitors from Poland and abroad. The programme includes individual fights for children and younger cadets, a Mixed Teams tournament and a Randori Training Camp. Two days of sporting excitement and competition in the spirit of judo are in store. The competition will begin on 19 September at 8:00 AM at SMS Zakopane, 26 Droga do Olczy Street.
20th Anniversary Promotion at Termy Zakopiańskie
Termy Zakopiańskie is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, a special promotion has been prepared, allowing 20 people on every 20th day of the month to enjoy a selected attraction for a symbolic price of PLN 1.
The next opportunity will come on 20 September. On that day, 20 people will be able to buy admission to the thermal pools and sauna for PLN 1, another 20 will be able to access Górny Solnej for the same price, and a further 20 will be able to play a game of bowling. The promotion is available only at the ticket offices and lasts until the allocated number of promotional tickets has been exhausted. It is a good opportunity to celebrate the anniversary of Termy Zakopiańskie with a moment of relaxation or active leisure at 31 Jagiellońska Street.
Zakopane – Tatras 2026. Autumn trip for motoring enthusiasts
From 25 to 27 September, enthusiasts of exceptional cars will meet in Zakopane during the autumn Unique Cars Poland trip. Participants will be based at Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa, from where they will set off on joint routes through the Polish and Slovak Tatras.
The programme includes drives along scenic roads through the High and Western Tatras, as well as a group dinner in the direction of Lake Czorsztyn. The intimate nature of the event means that it will not only be a motoring adventure, but also an opportunity for car enthusiasts to meet in the Tatra scenery.
11th Virtual Run for Breath
Until 30 September, participants can take part in the 11th Virtual Run for Breath, a charity initiative organised by the Polish Cystic Fibrosis Society. Participants choose the place and time in which they complete a distance of 5 km. They can run, walk the route or choose Nordic walking.
The virtual format makes it possible to join the event from anywhere. After completing 5 km, participants must document the route and time using an app of their choice and then submit the result to the organisers. The final day for completing the run and submitting the result is 30 September. Participation also has a charitable dimension. Funds raised through race packs support activities for people with cystic fibrosis, including rehabilitation, physiotherapy, assistance with purchasing medication and a free equipment rental service.
September programme at the Witkacy Theatre
September at the Witkacy Theatre promises to be intense, with both productions well known to Zakopane audiences and guest performances and premieres appearing on stage. It is an option for those who want to end an evening after a day spent on Tatra trails with a visit to the theatre.
The programme includes, among others, “Cabaret Berlin”, “The Cherry Orchard”, “The Slaughterhouse”, “Wahazar”, “Schulz’s Labyrinth”, “Zakopane Demonism” and “O!PERETTA”. On 9 and 10 September, Sławomir Mrożek’s “Tango” will also be staged as a guest performance by the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre in Rzeszów.
From 24 to 28 September, the Zakopane Artistic Presentations “Navel of the World” will take place, while the premiere of “Ambalaże” is scheduled for 29 September as part of the 4th Sensitive Culture Festival. The September programme will conclude on 30 September with the performance “O!PERETTA” on the Witkacy Stage.
Events continuing in September 2026:
“Cosmological Notebook” by Tomasz Haładaj
Until 29 September 2026, the Władysław Hasior Gallery is presenting an exhibition by Tomasz Haładaj combining cosmic themes with inspirations drawn from the work of the gallery’s patron. The paintings and sculptures create a contemporary story about space, matter and imagination. The exhibition will be of particular interest to lovers of contemporary art and unexpected artistic juxtapositions.
Exhibition dedicated to Jan Kasprowicz
The Kornel Makuszyński Museum is presenting an exhibition prepared to mark the 100th anniversary of Jan Kasprowicz’s death. The exhibition explores the poet’s life and work, with particular emphasis on his connections with Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains, and the exhibition will remain open until 10 October 2026. It is an opportunity to look at Kasprowicz not only through the lens of literature, but also through the history of the region.
“Cross-Section” by Paweł Młynarczyk
Until 16 October 2026, the Stacja Kultura Zakopane Gallery is presenting “Cross-Section”, an exhibition by Paweł Młynarczyk, winner of last year’s “Young Zakopane” competition. The exhibition presents works created over the years, showing successive stages in the Zakopane artist’s creative explorations, related among other things to growing up, identity and the search for one’s own place. The works also include landscapes and still lifes, allowing visitors to trace changes in the artist’s way of seeing and artistic form. The exhibition can be visited from Monday to Friday between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and admission is free.
“Illusion of Freedom” by Paulina Martyniak
Paintings by Paulina Martyniak, first presented in June, can still be seen at the Stacja Kultura café and club. Through her works, the artist offers a personal interpretation of the concept of freedom, with the exhibition aimed primarily at viewers interested in contemporary painting. The exhibition will remain available well beyond the summer season, until 1 November 2026.
“Underground – A World Torn from Darkness”
Until 28 February 2027, the Tatra Museum invites visitors to an exhibition that takes them into the world of caves, geology and underground mysteries. The exhibition combines natural history with history and culture, presenting the underground world from several different perspectives. It is the longest-running of the events featured in this article and will remain available throughout the autumn and winter.
