Chełmno’s Światłoczuły Festival: Feel the Magic! (Photos)
Situated on nine hills, Chełmno has never been, and still is not, an ordinary place. Since yesterday (Thursday, 27 August), and for the next two evenings, it will become even more magical as, after dark, images created by artists using light and colour appear on its medieval walls. Add music to the mix and… wow! You simply cannot miss it. Head to Chełmno. The event is supported by the regional government. Short video.
For the next two evenings (from 8 to 11 p.m.), light, sound, animation and modern performance technologies will bring Chełmno’s Market Square, city gates, churches, Old and New Planty parks, and lesser-known corners of the town to life. Admission to the festival, funded by the budget of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, is free.
On Thursday (27 August), Marshal Piotr Całbecki met children at Grudziądzka Gate and presented prizes to the winners of the “Guardians of the Gate” art competition organised by the Chełmno Cultural Centre. The children’s drawings submitted to the competition served as the basis for the “Guardians of the Gate” projection mapping, which brings Grudziądzka Gate to life during the festival. List of winners. The installation was created by Chełmno resident Antoni Ośmiałowiski.
“This is only the festival’s second edition, and it already has an international character. We want the event to grow in the coming years and attract the best artists, while also becoming a place for creative exchange and education. I also want the festival to be an event in which the people of Chełmno, especially the youngest residents, take part. That is why I am particularly pleased that this year’s edition features a projection mapping based on the work of children who took part in the ‘Guardians of the Gate’ competition. It is a beautiful example of how children’s imagination can become part of a major artistic event. I invite you to Chełmno to see how light can reveal the beauty of this extraordinary city anew,” said Marshal Piotr Całbecki.
The festival’s official opening was also attended by Katarzyna Lubańska, Vice-President of the Regional Parliament, Zdzisław Gamański, Chełmno County Head, and Mariusz Kędzierski, Mayor of Chełmno.
Festival visitors can discover twelve installations created by artists and art collectives from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Germany and Armenia:
- “Flora Spectrum” – Chełmno Market Square
- “Heart of the City” – presented on the Town Hall
- “The Super Magic Stone Circle” – city walls near the side entrance to the cemetery, close to 22 Stycznia Street
- “Shadows of History” – corner of Klasztorna and 22 Stycznia streets
- “Kosmosny – an audiovisual show” – Church of the Holy Spirit
- “Facelessmen” – near the Church of the Holy Spirit, close to Wałowa Street
- “Pig Farm” – Rydygiera Park
- “Guardians of the Gate” – Grudziądzka Gate (an installation using works by children who took part in the Chełmno Cultural Centre competition)
- “Between the Words” – at the entrance to New Planty
- “Animals” – near Grudziądzka Gate
- “Hidden Garden” – Old Planty
- “Hydro Breath” – water tower
The organisers have also prepared a competition for the public. Participants are invited to create and publish their own festival report, photo, video or reel on social media. The winner or winners will be the author(s) whose material achieves the greatest reach.
Competition entries must be published during the festival (27 – 29 August) from a publicly accessible account. They must include the hashtag #swiatloczulykonkurs2026 and tag @festiwalswiatloczuly. Competition rules.
A night-time walk through Chełmno also promises to be an interesting experience. Today (28 August) at 8 p.m., participants will set off from Chełmno Town Hall to learn about the history of the illuminated sites and discover the town from a completely different perspective. The walk, titled “Following the Light – Stories of Illuminated Sites”, is free of charge.
A map showing the locations of all the installations is available and can be collected during the event at any of the festival’s information points. Signposted parking areas will also be available.
Światłoczuły Festival in numbers
- 2nd edition
- 3 days of the festival
- 12 light installations
- 3 hours of shows each day (8 – 11 p.m.)
- 9 designated parking areas
- Chełmno: 7 historic churches, 18 Gothic architectural monuments, 2,270 metres of preserved medieval walls
Beata Krzemińska
Spokesperson of the Marshal’s Office
25 August 2026
Last updated: 28 August 2026
