What does it feel like to navigate Poznań in a wheelchair? Could you recognise the signs of ageing if you experienced them yourself? What can the city's history tell us about the people who have shaped it?
Those are some of the questions behind this year's Poznański Tydzień Różnorodności, which returns from 20 to 26 September with a programme of events designed to get people talking, participating and looking at the city from different perspectives.
The third edition opens on Sunday, with Stary Rynek becoming the main meeting point for local organisations, community groups and residents.
Sunday on Stary Rynek
Seven tents will be set up around the square, offering activities throughout the day. Visitors can try an 'old age suit', take on an obstacle course in a wheelchair and meet organisations working with different communities in Poznań.
There will also be three public debates:
14:15: Poznań of the future through the eyes of the younger generation
15:00: Whether social diversity is threatened by increasing radicalisation
16:00: The value of diversity to Poznań
Live music begins at 18:00.
Plenty is happening away from the main stage too. At 14:00, the Młodzi rządzą (Youth rules) urban game starts at Pasaż Quadro, while at 17:30 a guided walk, Szlakiem słynnych Poznanianek (In the Footsteps of Famous Poznań Women), sets off from the same area.
Workshops, conversations and new perspectives
The programme continues throughout the week, moving from the Old Town into venues and community spaces around Poznań.
There are ceramics workshops, including sessions challenging the stereotype that manual and creative activities are somehow not for men. Other workshops are aimed at people who insist they have 'no talent', as well as siblings of people with disabilities.
Visitors can explore multiculturalism and diversity in education, meet representatives of different religions and nationalities, and try an introductory Polish Sign Language class.
There are practical sessions for older residents too, including advice on recognising scams and protecting themselves.
Neurodiversity takes centre stage
Neurodiversity has a significant place in this year's programme.
On Tuesday, 22 September, a meeting will look at anxiety from psychological, historical and cultural perspectives.
Then, on Saturday, 26 September, the focus turns to autistic people, their families and the wider community. The day includes an expert coffee meeting, mini art workshops, puzzles and board games.
It is a deliberately informal way to create space for conversation, questions and shared experiences.
A city shaped by many different people
The organisers also point towards something that can easily be overlooked when walking through Poznań: the city's diversity has deep historical roots.
Look closely and traces are everywhere. Wenecjańska Street recalls historic connections with Venice, while the Renaissance appearance of the Town Hall is associated with Italian architect Giovanni Battista Quadro.
Then there is Marceli Motty, whose Przechadzki po mieście (Walks through the city) remains one of the most evocative records of 19th-century Poznań. Motty came from a French family that had become part of Polish society.
These stories are a useful reminder that the city's mix of backgrounds, languages and traditions did not begin with today's international population. Poznań has been shaped by newcomers, minorities, different social groups and people willing to contribute to the city for centuries.
Find your place in the programme
Poznań Diversity Week is organised by Miasto Poznań together with Fundacja im. Julii Woykowskiej, with a wide range of local NGOs involved.
With events aimed at children, young people, seniors, families, international residents and people with different accessibility needs, there is no single way to experience the week.
You can join a discussion, learn a few signs, explore the city's history, make something with your hands or simply turn up on Stary Rynek and see what is happening.
Poznański Tydzień Różnorodności runs from 20 to 26 September 2026. Check the official programme for individual event details and any registration requirements.
See more: How Should Cultural Events Work for Young Audiences? Poznań Event Explores the Question
Source and image credit: Poznański Tydzień Różnorodności (poznan.pl/ptr/)
