Poznań will celebrate St Martin’s Day on Wednesday, 11th November, with its annual street procession, a city-centre festival, family activities and a free evening concert by Katarzyna Nosowska. The celebrations run from 11:00 to 21:00, bringing one of the city’s best-loved traditions together with Poland’s National Independence Day.
Every November, Święty Marcin becomes the centre of attention in Poznań. The street’s name day is marked with a colourful procession, the unmistakable scent of freshly baked rogale świętomarcińskie and a programme that brings together local performers, community organisations, families and music fans.
The 32nd edition takes place on Wednesday, 11th November 2026, with the main festivities centred on the junction of Święty Marcin and Aleja Niepodległości, extending towards Adam Mickiewicz Square and the Imperial Castle. Entry to the main festival area, known as Imieninowe Miasteczko (Name Day Village), will be free.
The St Martin’s Day parade starts at 2 pm
The highlight of the day begins at 2 pm on Adam Mickiewicz Square, where Poznań’s mayor will hand St Martin the symbolic keys to the city. St Martin will then lead the traditional procession through the city centre.
Around 300 participants representing 24 organisations are expected to take part in the parade. The procession will feature school groups, theatre performers, sports teams and musicians, alongside figures inspired by Poznań’s history and folklore.
Look out for the city’s famous goats, traditional Bamberka figures, horse-riding lancers and a brass band from nearby Swarzędz. Large-scale creations, including Mother Earth and Pegasus, will also join the parade.
The programme brings together familiar local symbols and less conventional theatrical interpretations. Performers from Studio Teatralne CK ZAMEK, Circus Ferus and children from Łejery school will help bring elements of the city’s past to life, including the River Warta, composer and politician Ignacy Jan Paderewski, and workers from the historic H. Cegielski industrial works.
The St Martin’s Day procession is scheduled to travel along Święty Marcin, Aleja Niepodległości, Składowa and Towarowa before returning to Adam Mickiewicz Square.
At the end of the parade, Chór Pogłosy, conducted by Joanna Sykuła, will perform a song created specifically for the celebrations. Its lyrics were developed during creative writing workshops for young people, with music composed by Sambor Dudziński.
For the first time, the procession will also be streamed online and shown in the Great Hall of the Imperial Castle. Commentary will explain the people, characters and stories appearing on screen, making the event easier to follow for audiences watching remotely.
Rogale, crafts and a festival across the city centre
From 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Imieninowe Miasteczko will spread across the streets around Święty Marcin and Aleja Niepodległości, reaching from the area around Fredry and Kościuszki to Składowa and Skośna.
The St Martin’s Day market will be one of the main attractions, with traditional croissants and handmade crafts. The rogal świętomarciński, made with white poppy seeds and dried fruit, is closely associated with Poznań and the November celebrations.
Its origins are linked to the legend of St Martin, a Roman soldier who shared half his cloak with a person in need. According to local tradition, the story later inspired a Poznań baker, Walenty, to bake croissants for poorer residents.
Today, the pastry is a recognised regional speciality protected under the European Union’s geographical indication system. Visitors hoping to try one should look for authentic St Martin’s croissants rather than assuming every pastry sold under a similar name is the traditional product.
The wider festival area will also feature street performances, acrobatics and circus acts. A large-scale installation, Kartka z kalendarza (Calendar Page), will stand at the central junction, while the Świąteczny Dziedziniec, or Festive Courtyard, will bring further activities to the open courtyard in front of the Imperial Castle.
Katarzyna Nosowska headlines the music programme
Music will run throughout the day on the main stage at Adam Mickiewicz Square, with a programme spanning family-friendly performances, rapcore, choral singing, folk dance and contemporary Polish music.
The opening act, Ptaszkowie Śpiewali, takes to the stage at 11:15 am with music inspired by nature. Czemoo follows at 12:30 pm, before Poznańskie Senioritki perform at 1:30 pm, offering a programme that puts different generations side by side.
After the procession, the music resumes with Smolik and Kev Fox at 4:00 pm. The Wielkopolska folk traditions then take centre stage as Zespół Tańca Ludowego Poligrodzianie present traditional dances at 5:20 pm.
Katarzyna Nosowska is scheduled to perform at 6:00 pm. As one of Poland’s best-known alternative musicians, she is the headline act for the evening, followed by DJ sets from 7:00 pm.
Family activities at the Imperial Castle
Centrum Kultury ZAMEK, at Święty Marcin 80/82, will host a parallel programme from 11:00 am, with family workshops, performances and activities continuing into the afternoon.
The programme offers an introduction to Greater Poland’s musical and linguistic traditions. At 11:00 am, Grajcie dudki a wesoło brings traditional music to the Great Hall, followed at 11:50 am by W kółko kręć, a dance gathering accompanied by traditional instruments.
Younger visitors can also explore the local dialect through Państwo Pyrynka, a musical performance scheduled for 12:20 pm, followed by Ringoletto, czyli świętomarcińska clownada at 1:00 pm. The afternoon continues with Rodzinne potyczki, a show combining theatre and circus elements, from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
Several other activities will run throughout the day:
Become St Martin: Dress up and have a photograph taken on an imperial throne in the castle’s passage hall, between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm.
Pozdrowienia z Poznania!: Create and send a postcard from the castle’s Atrium between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm, in an activity organised with Poczta Polska. Cards can be sent to loved ones or older people living in care homes.
Family games and workshops: Activities will take place in the castle’s Orzechowy, Brzozowy and Marmurowy rooms.
Outdoor treasure hunt: The Imieninowa gra terenowa starts in the castle’s Great Hall foyer, with the scheduled activity running from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Live procession screening: Those who prefer to watch from indoors can follow the parade in the Great Hall at 2:00 pm.
There is also the castle’s currently running exhibition Świat jak zielnik. Natura w sztuce od XVII do XXI wieku (The World as a Herbarium: Nature in Art from the 17th to the 21st Century), which can be viewed that day from 11:00 to 8:00 pm. Tickets are required for the exhibition. The organisers have also announced a Polish Cinema Day at Kino Pałacowe as part of the wider celebrations.
The Imperial Castle itself will be open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Discover the people and organisations doing good
The theme of this year’s celebrations is Czyń dobro, meaning “Do good”. It draws on the story of St Martin sharing his cloak and places generosity, care and community at the heart of the festival.
That idea will be reflected in Ulica Dobroczynna, a dedicated area for non-governmental organisations on Święty Marcin. Running from 11:00 to 18:00, the initiative will introduce visitors to local organisations and give them opportunities to find out about their work, offer support and get involved.
Community participation will also be visible in the procession. The Ukrainian Spring Association will present an embroidered cloth bearing the words “Czyń dobro”, while flags designed by children and older residents during art workshops at CK ZAMEK will be carried through the streets.
The celebrations will also look back at Poznań’s more recent history. At the Zamek tram stop, visitors will be able to explore a historic tram from the 1950s and hear stories about the Poznań June 1956 protests.
For those interested in exploring the neighbourhood at a slower pace, the Stary Dobry Święty Marcin area, organised by partners of CK ZAMEK through the Koalicja Święty Marcin, will offer additional attractions between Gwarna and Ratajczaka. The area is also a good opportunity to discover restaurants and other businesses along Święty Marcin and its neighbouring streets.
Accessibility and practical information
Organisers say accessibility will be an important part of the event. Planned provisions include Polish Sign Language interpretation for parts of the programme, an induction loop for visitors who are hard of hearing, and a viewing platform for people with mobility disabilities near the main stage on Adam Mickiewicz Square.
A quiet room will be available inside the Imperial Castle for neurodivergent visitors who need a break from noise, lights and crowds. Parts of the programme will also feature audio description and live captions, with Polish Sign Language interpreters available at the information point.
The festival area will operate under the rules for a mass event, with five controlled entrances and security checks. Free storage facilities will be available for prohibited items. Two information points are planned: one inside the Imperial Castle and another at the corner of Święty Marcin and Aleja Niepodległości.
St Martin’s Day 2026 at a glance
Date: Wednesday, 11th November 2026
Main festival hours: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Parade and handover of the city keys: 2:00 pm
Headline concert: Katarzyna Nosowska at 6:00 pm
Main locations: Adam Mickiewicz Square, Święty Marcin, Aleja Niepodległości and Centrum Kultury ZAMEK
Admission: Free to the main festival area, tickets required for the exhibition and selected cultural activities
