About the event
The Carnaval Sztukmistrzów begins today and runs until Sunday, July 26! Four days of fantastic street performances, stage productions, workshops, street acts, and breathtaking slacklining displays as part of the Urban Highline Festival await! Here’s what you should keep in mind when attending the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów.
When and where does the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów take place?
When: July 23–26, 2026, 9:00–3:00
Where: Lublin – the Old Town, Litewski Square, Perła Brewery (Bernardyńska 15), the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures. You can find a detailed festival map here.
Is admission free?
Most Carnaval Sztukmistrzów events are free of charge and take place throughout the city streets. Watching the highliners walking across the lines is also completely free.
The programme also includes ticketed events.
- Tickets for performances at the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures (Centrum Spotkania Kultur) can be purchased online here, at the festival shop at Grodzka 7, or at the venue one hour before the performance.
- Tickets for paid performances at Perła Brewery (Bernardyńska 15) are available exclusively at the festival shop at Grodzka 7 or one hour before the performance at Perła Brewery.
Information for visitors who have already purchased tickets online
Looking for your ticket?
- Search your email inbox using keywords such as “ticket”, “Stage24”, or the name of your event.
- Click the link included in the email to open your ticket. Please note that each link corresponds to a separate ticket. The system does not send tickets as PDF files.
- That’s your ticket! Keep it handy for entry. You can take a screenshot or, if you’re using mobile internet, simply open the ticket link when entering the performance.
Carnaval etiquette – outdoor events
- Sit down – don’t block the view.
- Give priority to shorter people, children, and those with limited mobility.
- Respect the performance space designated by the artists.
- React enthusiastically! If you enjoyed the performance, show your appreciation with applause, a kind word, or a donation – for most street performers, the hat is their only source of income.
- Have fun – remember that as a spectator, you are part of the performance and sometimes even become one of its actors. Laugh freely at others, but also learn to laugh loudest at yourself.
- Please follow the instructions of the artists and event staff.
Carnaval etiquette – ticketed performances
- Tickets for performances at the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures can be purchased online via Stage24.pl or at the venue one hour before the performance.
- Tickets for paid performances at Perła Brewery (Bernardyńska 15) are available exclusively at the festival shop at Grodzka 7 or one hour before the performance at Perła Brewery.
- Please remember that seating the audience takes time.
- Don’t be late. The performers won’t wait.
- Know what you’re going to see! The Carnaval Sztukmistrzów presents a wide variety of performances, some of which may not be suitable for young children. Indoor productions often showcase contemporary circus, which can be experimental in form, challenging in content, or provocative in theme.
- Please do not take photos, record videos, or use your phone during indoor performances.
- Although we love animals, please do not bring them to performances, especially those held indoors – for their well-being and the comfort of other audience members.
Information point
Anyone wishing to pick up a printed festival programme or receive additional information is welcome to visit our information point next to the Crown Tribunal in the Old Town Market Square. The information point will be open throughout the festival from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, July 26, from 12:00 to 20:00.
Online programme
The full Carnaval Sztukmistrzów programme is available on our website in the Programme section.
You can also download the programme as a PDF.
Festival merchandise
Visit the headquarters of the Workshops of Culture at Grodzka 7 to browse our official festival merchandise. Sweatshirts, T-shirts, scarves, socks, posters, and tote bags are waiting for you. This is also where you can purchase tickets for paid performances.
Festival Club
Throughout the festival, we invite you to the Radość Club at Perła Brewery (Bernardyńska 15). Relax on comfortable deckchairs and pallet seating while enjoying a refreshing drink. Evening afterparties with live music will also take place there. This year’s programme features concerts by Chair, La Bande à Tyrex, and Turfu. DJ sets will be performed by sto koni zwierząt, Maître Mim’s, ALV, cabrón, and Ecléctico Nomádico.
Perła – Browary Lubelskie S.A. is the sponsor of Carnaval Sztukmistrzów 2026.
Accessibility information
The Carnaval Sztukmistrzów is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere where everyone can feel comfortable and fully participate in the festival. To support this goal, our dedicated Accessibility Volunteers have prepared a pre-visit guide containing detailed accessibility information, suggestions for visitors with sensory sensitivities, and guidance for blind, visually impaired, deaf, and hard-of-hearing guests. You can download it here.
Fun for the whole family
The Carnaval Sztukmistrzów is a festival for everyone and generally has no age restrictions. However, we recommend checking the programme before attending each performance to make sure it is suitable for children. Every performance includes a recommended minimum audience age.
Young circus enthusiasts are invited to Litewski Square every day for special accompanying events. The programme includes the FrikArt circus activity zone and open slackline workshops organised by the Urban Highline Festival.
To help keep our youngest visitors safe, the festival information point offers special wristbands for children. Parents can write their phone number on the wristband, making it easier to reunite families if a child gets separated.
Traffic information
Please note that, by decision of the Lublin City Hall, Królewska Street, which borders the Old Town, remains closed to traffic throughout all summer weekends, including the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów. This traffic organisation is in effect from Friday at 18:00 until the end of Sunday.
Due to the Tour de Pologne Women finale taking place in Lublin on Sunday, July 26, temporary traffic restrictions will also be introduced. From 4:00 to 23:00, Dolna 3 Maja Street, 3 Maja Street, and Krakowskie Przedmieście will be closed to vehicle traffic. More information is available on the ZDTM Lublin website.
Visitors can also rent bicycles through the Lublin City Bike system. The nearest stations are located by Lublin Castle and City Hall.
What if it rains?
Just in case, it’s a good idea to bring an umbrella and a raincoat. In the event of heavy rain, some shows may be relocated or cancelled. Any updates will be announced on the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów Facebook and Instagram profiles.
About the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów is the largest festival in Poland showcasing contemporary circus arts. For years the event has attracted crowds of residents and tourists to the city. They are drawn not only by world-class circus performances, but also by the magical atmosphere of the festival. The program includes clowning, acrobatics, juggling, and illusion shows presented as engaging circus performances, as well as attractions for children and concerts. It is the most performatively diverse festival in the country. In addition, the Carnaval is accompanied by the Urban Highline Festival—the oldest and largest highline festival in the world held in an urban space. Most of the festival program is free of charge and takes place in streets, squares, and public spaces. Some events are ticketed and can be seen in theatres and performance halls.
Details
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
July 23–26, 2026
Lublin
Admission free. Selected events are ticketed.
More information about the festival can be found on the website carnavallublin.eu.
Organizers of Carnaval Sztukmistrzów: the Workshops of Culture in Lublin, the City of Lublin
Honorary Patronage of the event is held by Krzysztof Żuk – Mayor of Lublin
Media patrons: TVP Kultura, Radio Nowy Świat, Wyborcza.pl, TVP3 Lublin, Radio Lublin, Kultura Enter, Onet
Partners: Firmament, Institut Français, Centre for Culture in Lublin, Circus Dance Festival, Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council, Totalizator Sportowy
Sponsors: Perła – Browary Lubelskie S.A., Bogdanka S.A.