polenmARkT — Festival of Polish Culture

From Slavic Studies to City Life

polenmARkT originated in 1997 as a student initiative at the Institute of Slavic Studies at the University of Greifswald. Over the decades, what started as a small series of events has grown into one of the most significant festivals of Polish culture outside of Poland — supported by the association polenmARkT e.V. together with the university, the city, and the Polish partner city of Goleniów.

Format: Readings, Concerts, Theater, Cabaret, Workshops

The program includes readings by Polish authors — often in bilingual formats with translators —, panel discussions on history and current affairs, classical, jazz, and alternative concerts, theater evenings, cabaret, film screenings, exhibitions, language courses, and art workshops. Culinary delights and cultural evenings with dance and folklore are also part of the program.

Polish-German Bridge

Geographically close to the Polish border, polenmARkT sees itself as a bridge between the two neighboring countries. The partnership with Goleniów (PL) is regularly renewed through the festival; many events are explicitly designed as German-Polish dialogue.

Dates Spread Throughout the Year

Unlike other festivals, polenmARkT does not concentrate its events into a single block but spreads them throughout the year — with a focus in late autumn when the actual festival block takes place. This creates continuous points of contact between Polish culture and Greifswald city life.

Local Context

Greifswald is part of the Vorpommern-Greifswald district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Polish border is only about 60 km to the east — polenmARkT reflects this proximity as well as the historical connections of Pomerania with Poland, positioning itself as Greifswald's second major "neighborhood festival" alongside Nordischer Klang.