In 2026, Gdynia celebrates its centenary. This is a truly unique anniversary, one that goes beyond official ceremonies; it is an invitation to come together, to be together, to celebrate as one and to experience a city that, from the very beginning, was conceived as a shared project.
It all started with the sea…
For centuries, Gdynia, as a small farming and fishing village, developed in the shadow of larger centres. Its fortunes were transformed by the decision to build a port in 1920. The national mobilisation was so great that both the port and the city were built in just over a decade. And so, on the Kashubian coast, a city grew out of a summer resort – Poland’s ‘window to the world’, the country’s maritime capital, the star of the Second Polish Republic, a symbol of ambition and of a modern, open Poland. In its centenary year, it continues to dazzle with its modernist heritage, its blend of urban life and nature, its openness, and the extraordinary energy of its residents.
Celebrating as a community
The founding spirit, a vision for the future, working together, and boldness in design – these continue to define Gdynia to this day. And it is precisely around this idea that the city’s centenary celebrations have been built. Gdynia’s anniversary is not a story about the past, but about the relationship between the city and its people. The idea behind the celebrations is community – understood as gatherings, co-creation, and being together in the urban space. That is why the centenary programme spans the whole year and comprises dozens of events – from large concerts, through cultural and sporting events, to local initiatives. Each one is an invitation to get into the rhythm of the city.
The centenary of Gdynia being granted city rights will not go unnoticed, just as the city itself did not enter history unremarked. Throughout the year, our city will be buzzing with music, art and sporting events, creating a space for us all to celebrate together. This is a perfect opportunity to visit our beautiful Gdynia and to talk about its history and the people who shaped it. We invite everyone – from near and far – to celebrate this anniversary with us! May it be an unforgettable experience and a memory passed on to future generations, says Aleksandra Kosiorek, Mayor of Gdynia.
Following the official celebrations and the wonderful community music events that took place in February, Gdynia is not slowing down and is offering further opportunities to celebrate its 100th birthday.
A city of festivals in its centenary year
The summer highlight of the celebrations is a time when Gdynia truly radiates its positive energy. The city hosts numerous festivals and major outdoor events – from film and music to literature – which attract global attention.
This anniversary edition will feature events that have become permanent fixtures on the city’s calendar. Among the most eagerly awaited are the Cudawianki in June – concerts, a space for communal celebration and discovering local creativity – and the Sea Festival, which in this anniversary year will be accompanied by the Shanty Festival marking Gdynia’s centenary.
After a 20-year hiatus, the World Kashubian Congress will also return to Gdynia on 11 July, bringing together several thousand people. One of the many highlights of the day will be a concert featuring, among others, the singer with Kashubian roots, Natalia Szroeder.
Another unforgettable event is one of Europe’s largest music festivals – the Open’er Festival – which traditionally takes place in early July. It would be difficult to name a world-class music star who has not yet performed in Gdynia.
It is also worth remembering that for many years now, with the arrival of the summer season, Gdynia has become the capital of women’s jazz. The Energa Ladies’ Jazz Festival, during which you can hear the greatest divas of this musical genre from both Poland and around the world, takes place here.
At the end of August, the centenary edition of the City of Words Festival – Gdynia Literary Award will also be held, and in September, the Musical Theatre, together with the Gdynia Film Centre, will introduce the city to the world of cinema through the Polish Film Festival.
A gathering around Poland’s longest birthday table
One of the most special moments of the anniversary celebrations will undoubtedly be the ‘Summer Birthday Night’ in August. On 22 August, Marshal Piłsudski Avenue will be transformed into a space featuring a kilometre-long birthday table, symbolising the community that has been built over the last hundred years. It is a simple idea, but very ‘Gdynia-esque’: sitting side by side, without divisions, and celebrating together. Food, music, conversation – everything that makes up the city’s everyday life will be celebrated on a centenary scale. In Central Park, we will be able to watch films about Gdynia, and there will also be dance and music zones made available to Gdynia’s musicians and music clubs.
On one of the nights in August, the sky above the city will be lit up by a spectacular display of 1,000 drones. The city is organising this largest show of its kind in Poland in collaboration with Gdańsk Airport. It will be a symbolic tribute to the city, its history and its modern future.
Cultural infrastructure in the centenary year
Culture is also a key driving force behind and organiser of everyday life in Gdynia. Theatres, galleries and arts venues offer a diverse range of activities for everyone. In this anniversary year, Gdynia’s flagship institutions – the city’s showpieces – invite you to enjoy new, unique projects, performances and exhibitions.
The Witold Gombrowicz Municipal Theatre has created a theatrical gift for Gdynia: the production “Gdynia. Fordewind”, and in June, as every year, it will launch the Summer Stage on the beach in Orłowo – it’s worth checking the programme at teatrgombrowicza.art.pl to catch a performance with the sea as a backdrop whilst visiting Gdynia in its centenary year. Meanwhile, the Danuta Baduszkowa Musical Theatre has prepared the spectacular musical “The History of Gdynia Written in a Song”. The premiere of this show is scheduled for early September, and excerpts from the performance will also be shown in selected districts of Gdynia. The Gdynia Cultural Centre is offering a real treat for the youngest audience members, inviting them to a unique musical performance, 'Majka z Kajtkiem jadą trajtkiem' (Majka and Kajtek are travelling by 'trajtek') to mark Gdynia’s centenary.
The cultural events marking the centenary will also include the exhibition ‘Kachu totalny. The Life and Work of Kazimierz Ostrowski’ at the Gdynia City Museum. The opening will take place on 4 July, and the exhibition will run until the end of February next year.
Sport drives the centenary
In this anniversary year, Gdynia will also host national championships in a range of sports and competitions that will attract the best athletes from Poland and around the world. As early as 25 April, Gdynia will welcome one of the country’s most important running events – the Polish Half Marathon Championships. Spanning 41 days of sporting excitement – from 20 June to 31 July – will be Poland’s largest sailing festival: Gdynia Sailing Days. June will also see the Midsummer Night Run – a regular running event and part of the Gdynia Grand Prix. Furthermore, the city will host one of the most spectacular forms of cycling for the first time – the MTB Eliminator – and Poland’s first World Cup race in this discipline. It is also worth mentioning that, after 12 years, Poland’s biggest cycling race – the Tour de Pologne – is returning to Pomerania. To celebrate Gdynia’s centenary, the first stage of the race will start in the very heart of the city. It is worth checking the full calendar of sporting events at gdyniasport.pl.
Let’s meet at Gdynia’s birthday celebrations!
To make sure you don’t get lost in the packed centenary calendar of events and to plan at least a few trips to Gdynia, it’s worth visiting the website 100.gdynia.pl. Here you can find plenty of information about the programme of celebrations, events and inspiration for your visits. It’s also worth remembering that Gdynia offers more than just centenary events; it boasts natural beauty every day. It has wide, sandy beaches and atmospheric walks right on your doorstep. Only here can you admire the Modernist City Centre, awaiting a decision on its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and at the same time almost immediately immerse yourself in the greenery of the forests of the Tri-City Landscape Park. A stroll along the Baltic Sea, a morning run in the woods, sailing or relaxing on the beach – all this is part of everyday life here. Few cities can boast such a harmonious blend of urban life and nature, and it is precisely this balance that makes Gdynia a unique place to return to.