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From 12 to 14 November 2026, Polanica-Zdrój will once again welcome poets, readers and everyone interested in contemporary literature. The 23rd International Poetry Festival “Poeci bez granic” offers an opportunity to experience poetry performed live, discover the spa town from a different perspective and plan an autumn stay at Hotel Bukowy Park.
The 23rd International Poetry Festival “Poeci bez granic”, meaning “Poets Without Borders”, will take place in Polanica-Zdrój from 12 to 14 November 2026. This will be the 23rd edition of an event that has brought together writers, readers, musicians and local residents around poetry and the spoken word for more than two decades.
The following details have been confirmed:
festival dates: 12–14 November 2026,
location: Polanica-Zdrój,
edition: 23rd International Poetry Festival “Poeci bez granic”.
The detailed programme, list of invited guests and venues for individual events have not yet been published. Before travelling, visitors should therefore check the latest information in the Teatr Zdrojowy events calendar.
The information below describes the festival’s history and character based on previous editions. Individual events planned for 2026 should be treated as confirmed only after the organisers publish the official programme.
“Poeci bez granic” has been part of Polanica-Zdrój’s cultural calendar for more than twenty years. During that time, it has developed into an event that takes poetry beyond books, lecture halls and specialist literary circles.
Previous editions have welcomed poets from Poland and abroad, literary critics, musicians, translators and readers of different generations. This diversity reflects the central idea behind the festival. The borders mentioned in its name are not only geographical. They also include boundaries between languages, generations, artistic disciplines and different ways of experiencing literature.
Earlier editions were not confined to a single auditorium. Poetry entered public spaces, schools and places associated with the everyday life of the spa town. This helped the festival develop an open and accessible character.
“Poeci bez granic” is not intended exclusively for people who closely follow literary publications or are already familiar with contemporary poetry. It also welcomes visitors who simply want to slow down, listen to a well-performed text and discover Polanica-Zdrój through its cultural life.
The history of the festival is closely connected with Andrzej Bartyński, a poet, singer, cultural activist and long-standing president of the Lower Silesian branch of the Polish Writers’ Union. He was one of the initiators of the festival in Polanica-Zdrój and helped shape its distinctive character.
Born in Lviv, Bartyński later became closely associated with Wrocław and Lower Silesia, both professionally and artistically. He published collections of poetry and performed on stage, presenting literature as something that extends beyond the printed page. For him, words had their own rhythm, sound and emotional force, which could be fully revealed through direct contact with an audience.
His name appeared in the titles of previous editions of the festival. This was more than a symbolic tribute to an important poet. Bartyński helped create the idea of an international and welcoming event based on genuine conversation between people.
That idea remains relevant today. At a time dominated by short messages and rapidly changing content, poetry offers something increasingly rare: concentration, carefully chosen words and space for personal interpretation.
The character of previous editions shows that “Poeci bez granic” is more than a series of traditional literary evenings. Over the years, its programme has combined different ways of experiencing poetry and created room for music, conversation and creative activity.
Past editions have included:
meetings with Polish and international poets,
poetry workshops and activities for younger readers,
literary discussions about contemporary poetry,
competitions, book presentations and festival publications,
concerts and musical interpretations of poetry,
the Night of Poets,
a festival anthology,
a Poetic Hyde Park open to different voices and perspectives.
These examples illustrate the tradition and previous format of the festival. They should not yet be treated as the confirmed programme for 2026. They do, however, explain why the event attracts not only writers, but also listeners looking for a cultural experience in a less formal atmosphere.
Combining poetry, music and conversation makes it possible to experience a text from several perspectives. A poem can create one impression when read silently, another when performed by its author, and something entirely different when interpreted through music.
Not at all. The festival may be equally interesting for people who do not regularly read poetry or who primarily associate it with school lessons.
A live performance reveals the rhythm, emotion and layers of meaning that may be missed during silent reading. Meeting an author also provides an opportunity to learn about the circumstances in which a work was created, the writer’s approach to interpretation and the personal story behind the words.
If this is your first literary festival, you do not need to attend the entire programme. Choose one author meeting, concert or discussion and leave enough time for a walk around Polanica-Zdrój and a quiet break.
Regular poetry readers can use the festival to discover new writers, compare different performance styles and encounter works that may not always be widely available in bookshops.
Polanica-Zdrój provides a natural setting for a literary festival. The town has its own unhurried rhythm, which encourages concentration and conversation. The Spa Park, historic buildings, promenade and Mineral Water Pump Room create surroundings in which culture can easily become part of a relaxing stay.
November has a different atmosphere from the busy summer season. The streets are quieter, while the park takes on the muted colours of late autumn. This makes it easier to slow down, focus on individual meetings and reflect on them afterwards.
Walks and activities connected with the town have also featured in earlier festival programmes. Poetry was not separated from its surroundings. It entered the urban landscape and encouraged participants to view familiar places from a fresh perspective.
Between festival events, visitors can walk through the Spa Park, explore the central spa district or simply spend a few moments in silence. This slower pace helps maintain a comfortable balance between a rich cultural programme and genuine rest.
When planning a festival break, the location of your accommodation matters almost as much as the programme itself. Hotel Bukowy Park is situated directly beside the Spa Park, in the central spa district of Polanica-Zdrój.
The historic Teatr Zdrojowy im. Mieczysławy Ćwiklińskiej, one of the town’s most important cultural venues, stands directly opposite the hotel. The exact venues for all events in the 2026 festival programme will, however, only be known once the organisers publish the official schedule.
The hotel’s central location makes it easy to combine cultural events with walks, visits to the spa district and time to rest. Guests can explore much of the town on foot, without having to plan complicated journeys or look for parking between individual events.
Hotel Bukowy Park occupies a carefully restored 19th-century building that fits naturally into the historic surroundings of the spa centre. Guests can choose from a range of rooms and suites, depending on the length and purpose of their stay.
This is particularly convenient during an autumn weekend. After returning from an author meeting or concert, guests do not need to rush straight to the next attraction. They can take a break at the hotel and plan the rest of the day according to their own pace.
A festival day can be full of impressions even if it does not involve physical activity. Several meetings, attentive listening and long conversations with other participants can be surprisingly intense. It is therefore worth leaving time for a good meal and proper relaxation.
Located in the same building, Bukowa Restaurant serves cuisine inspired by regional traditions, seasonal ingredients and products prepared in-house. Lunch or dinner can provide a pleasant conclusion to the day and an opportunity to continue conversations about the texts and performances experienced during the festival.
Guests can also use the hotel’s wellness facilities. The area includes a swimming pool with a counter-current system and water massage, a hot tub, a dry sauna, a steam room and a relaxation space with a salt graduation tower and elements of a salt cave.
Treatments are also available at the Beauty SPA. Guests interested in a particular treatment should make a reservation before arrival to ensure that their relaxation time fits comfortably around the festival programme.
The three-day festival makes it possible to combine cultural events with rest without unnecessary rushing. The exact plan should be adapted to the official schedule once it has been published.
After arriving and checking in, take a short walk through the Spa Park and the central part of Polanica-Zdrój. This is also a good time to confirm the venues for individual events and check whether any changes have been introduced to the programme.
If the opening ceremony or first author meetings take place that day, leave the evening relatively free. After the programme, you can return to the hotel and end the day with dinner or time in the wellness area.
The second day is likely to be the most intensive part of the festival. If several events take place at similar times, choose those that interest you most and leave enough space between them for a break.
There is no need to attend every meeting. A few carefully selected events will allow you to remain focused while still leaving time for lunch, a walk and spontaneous conversations.
Informal meetings between scheduled events are often among the most rewarding parts of a literary festival. They provide an opportunity to exchange impressions, return to the texts you have heard and discover writers whose work was previously unfamiliar.
The last day may offer an opportunity to attend the festival’s closing events, if they are included in the programme. It is also worth allowing time for a relaxed breakfast, a final walk through the Spa Park or a visit to the hotel SPA.
This way, departure does not become an abrupt end to the trip, but a natural conclusion to the entire literary weekend.
Details of cultural events may change, so it is advisable to review the latest information shortly before arrival.
Remember to check:
the current festival programme,
the venues for individual meetings,
admission rules and whether advance registration is required,
room availability for 12–14 November,
available Beauty SPA treatment appointments,
the current restaurant menu,
an alternative plan in case of unfavourable weather.
The official website of Teatr Zdrojowy and the organisers’ communication channels remain the primary sources of information about the festival programme. The hotel reception can assist with questions regarding accommodation and services available during your stay.
The 23rd International Poetry Festival “Poeci bez granic” is scheduled to take place in Polanica-Zdrój from 12 to 14 November 2026.
The latest information should be checked in the Teatr Zdrojowy events calendar and through the organisers’ official communication channels. The programme, list of guests and exact venues may be announced gradually.
No. Previous editions were also open to readers, local residents, young people, musicians and anyone interested in culture. Detailed participation rules for 2026 will be available once the official programme has been published.
Hotel Bukowy Park is located directly beside the Spa Park, opposite Teatr Zdrojowy and within walking distance of the most important places in the central spa district. Before booking, check the hotel’s current accommodation offers and room availability for your preferred dates.
“Poeci bez granic” reminds us that poetry does not have to feel distant or difficult. Sometimes all it takes is one well-performed poem, a conversation with an author or the chance to see a familiar town through someone else’s words and experiences.
Thanks to the festival, a November stay in Polanica-Zdrój can follow a different rhythm. Instead of rushing from one attraction to another, visitors have time to listen, meet others and discover the spa town away from the busiest season.
If you are planning to attend the 23rd International Poetry Festival “Poeci bez granic”, check room availability at Hotel Bukowy Park and create your own literary weekend programme for 12–14 November 2026.