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Piernikalia Festival 2026
It's going to be a divine celebration in an ancient land – that's the promise of this year's Piernikalia, which will have ancient Greece as its theme. From 18 to 23 May, students from the Nicolaus Copernicus University will take over the city, and the stage at Toruń's Olympus will host performances by Zalia, Brodka, Żabson and Enej, among others.
The first Piernikala accents will be waiting for the academic community this coming weekend, 16 and 17 May. On Saturday, the Faculty of Fine Arts invites you to the third edition of the Student Art Fair, during which young artists will present and exhibit their unique works for sale. The event will take place on 16 May from 10:00 to 18:00 in the Faculty of Fine Arts building at ul. Sienkiewicza 30/32. The following day, the “Od Nowa" Academic Centre for Culture and Art will open its doors to welcome guests to a performance of “Constellations" by the NCU Antrakt Student Theatre. Admission is free, and the performance begins at 6.00 pm.
The Juwenalia Student Festival week will kick off with some social events. On Monday 18 May at 7.00 pm, board game and karaoke enthusiasts will gather at Kotłownia. On the same day, doctoral students from the Nicolaus Copernicus University will also be holding their own event. It's a chance to take a breather, get to know one another and kick off the Juwenalia Student Festival week together with music and a barbecue. The event will start at 12:00 at Kotłownia; registration is required.
fot. Andrzej Romański
Just like last year, there will also be a silent disco evening. On Tuesday 19 May from 9.00 pm, the foyer of the NCU Main Auditorium Aula will become a space for everyone to enjoy their favourite beats together – participants will be given headphones, allowing them to choose the music channel that best suits their tastes. The following day, students will gather at the University Sports Centre, where an open-air cinema will be set up. Two films were selected via an online vote to be screened that evening: “Asterix and Obelix: The Mansions of the Dragon Emperor" and “Asterix and Obelix: The Secret of the Magic Potion". The screening starts at 8.30 pm.
On Thursday 21 May, the Student Government invites the entire academic community of the Nicolaus Copernicus University to a world of diverse cultures, passions and experiences – to celebrate Diversity Day together. At the Copernican Integration Centre between 10:00 and 15:00, participants will find six themed zones where they can discover something new, meet interesting people and spend time in an inspiring atmosphere. The atmosphere of the city's biggest student event will also liven up the evening at the Laba. 'Before Piernikalia Party' will start at 9.00 pm.
The Piernikalia Student Festival will officially open with a traditional parade. During a press conference held on Wednesday 13 May, Marta Kuta, President of the Nicolaus Copernicus University Student Self-Government, invited all students of the Nicolaus Copernicus University to take part in this colourful opening ceremony.
“The Piernikalia parade will set off on 22 May at 5 pm from the Kotłownia Student Activity Centre," announced Marta Kuta. “I encourage students to dress up to show their presence in Toruń and simply have a good time together."
The march, in which students dressed in costumes reflecting the event's theme will take part, will wind its way through the streets of Toruń to the university campus.
photo Andrzej Romański
Friday and Saturday will be filled with dance, sports and social activities inspired by ancient Greece. Those eager for a challenge will be able to, among other things, take on the Twelve Labours of Heracles, visit the Oracle of Delphi or test their skills in the Hermes Cup race. There are also plenty of team-building activities on offer – alongside traditional games of flanks and beer pong, there will be a mythological-themed game of Mafia to test your sixth sense, as well as a unique version of Tinder straight from Mount Olympus. Student teams will also compete against each other in a traditional mud football match and a volleyball tournament.
The main attraction of the student festival will be the concerts. On Friday 22 May, Zalia, Young Igi, Brodka and Nocny Kochanek will take to the stage. The following day, the winners of the fifth edition of the Band Battle – the band Lota – will perform, alongside Margaret, Żabson and Enej. Admission to the concerts is by ticket only – tickets can be purchased via stage24.
The Student Self-Government also invites you to the “Culture Zone", where creativity-boosting activities will take place on Friday and Saturday – ranging from clay modelling, macramé and wreath-making workshops to sports-themed sessions. The Zone will also be joined by the Radio Sfera team, who on Saturday 23 May invite you to the square by the Student House 9 for a joint breakfast and musical adventures. The programme also includes an interview with Marta Walczykiewicz, Olympic silver medallist in canoeing. The afternoon with Sfera will conclude with a concert by the neo-punk band Złośnik.
The full programme for Piernikalia Student Festival 2026 can be found at piernikalia.umk.pl. You can keep up to date with the latest information on individual events via the Facebook event page.
