News from Kraków

The largest literary event in Poland will become a place where more Polish films, series and animations have a chance to be born. During the 29. International Book Fair in Krakow®, which will take place on October 22-25, 2026 at EXPO Krakow, will debut the Adaptation Zone – a new initiative of the Krakow Fair, implemented in cooperation with Word2Picture, a section of the Conrad Festival. The aim is to create a bridge between the Polish publishing market and the audiovisual industry.

Months of preparations, an international team of organisers, and thousands of participants from around the world. How did Kraków succeed in bringing WordCamp Europe—the largest European conference for the WordPress community—to the city? Sebastian Miśniakiewicz, co-organiser of the event, shares the behind-the-scenes story of the preparations, the challenges, and the benefits the event brought to Kraków.

The first half of 2026 was a period of intensive activity for the Kraków Convention Bureau, focused on strengthening Kraków's position as one of Europe's leading destinations for business and scientific events. All activities were carried out in line with the objectives of the Kraków Convention Bureau Action Plan 2030 and focused on attracting international congresses, supporting event organisers, and promoting Kraków on the international stage.

The Conference and Congresses in Poland Association (SKKP), in close cooperation with local Congress Ambassador Clubs operating in Warsaw and the Mazovia Region, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, the Silesian and Świętokrzyskie Regions, and Łódź, invites representatives of academia, culture, sport, business and other professional communities to participate in the pilot edition of the Young Polish Congress Ambassador Programme.

Kraków has been ranked among Europe's most highly acclaimed travel destinations. In the latest edition of the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2026, the city secured 4th place in Europe, ranking behind only Florence, Prague and Salzburg, while outperforming many of the continent's most renowned destinations.

Kraków has been named a finalist in the international WWF One Planet City Challenge (OPCC), joining a select group of cities recognised for their effective action on climate protection and sustainable development. This prestigious distinction confirms the city's commitment to implementing an ambitious climate policy.

The 17th edition of the Kraków Meetings Industry 2025 report, prepared by the Kraków University of Economics Foundation, has been published. The report presents the latest overview of business tourism in the city and highlights the key trends shaping Kraków's meetings industry.

For many people, the profession of a city guide is still associated with the need to hold a state-issued licence. In reality, however, the legal framework has been very different for more than a decade. The key piece of legislation governing the profession remains the Act on Hotel Services and the Services of Tour Leaders and Tourist Guides, which defines the fundamental responsibilities of a guide: leading visitors, providing reliable information about the places they visit, and ensuring the care and safety of the group.

Accommodation establishments and premises providing hotel services are now required to be equipped with autonomous smoke detectors as of 30 June 2026.

From February 14–16, 2027, Kraków will become the center of the meetings industry in the Central and Eastern Europe region. This is thanks to Europe Congress MCE Central & Eastern Europe 2027 (MCE CEE 2027)—one of the most important B2B events for the MICE sector (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions).

Modern tourism is not only about discovering new places, but also about taking responsibility for their future. This idea underpins Kraków’s #RespectKraków initiative. The project, implemented by the city authorities, promotes responsible attitudes among visitors to Kraków and builds the city’s image as a place friendly to both residents and tourists.

The 10th edition of the Central European Congress of Life Sciences – EUROBIOTECH 2026 will take place on July 2–3, 2026, at EXPO Kraków. Organized by Targi w Krakowie and held in cooperation with the Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology of the Jagiellonian University, the event has for years been one of the most important platforms for exchanging knowledge and experience between the scientific community and the business sector. The congress’s international character attracts experts, researchers, and biotechnology industry representatives from across Europe, creating space for the development of innovation, technology transfer, and new partnerships.