September has arrived with a packed programme of events in Zabrze, as Zabrzański Wrzesień gets underway to mark the 104th anniversary of the city being granted municipal rights.
Rather than concentrating the celebrations into a single day, this year's programme runs throughout the month, bringing together concerts, exhibitions, sporting activities, family events, meetings and cultural attractions in different parts of Zabrze.
The main celebrations will take place on 26 and 27 September, but there is already plenty on the calendar in the weeks leading up to the anniversary weekend.
A busy start to September
The programme began on 1 September, with several events offering very different ways to spend the first days of the city's anniversary month.
At Kino Roma, celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the cinema release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone got underway. Meanwhile, visitors to Branch No. 2 of the Municipal Public Library can see Sploty, an exhibition featuring work by Małgorzata Mazurkiewicz, a member of Zabrze's Obsydian Artistic Group.
On 3 September, Galeria Café Silesia will open an additional exhibition of posters and designs by Kazimiera Moskała, created for Zabrzański Wrzesień.
The same day will also feature a meeting dedicated to the memory of Professor Witold Żdanowicz, a Zabrze resident, soldier of the 2nd Polish Corps and participant in the Battle of Monte Cassino.
Aquariums, literature and harvest celebrations
The first weekend of September brings an especially varied programme.
On 5 and 6 September, the Municipal Cultural Centre will host the 14th Śląski Weekend Akwarystyczny, bringing together aquarium enthusiasts for two days of exhibitions, talks and meetings with exhibitors. More than 60 aquariums will be on display, alongside specialist presentations.
Saturday will also see Narodowe Czytanie 2026 take place at the Municipal Botanical Garden, with this year's event dedicated to Adam Mickiewicz's Dziady.
The national reading event will also feature as part of the Municipal Harvest Festival in Grzybowice, giving residents another opportunity to take part in the annual literary celebration while enjoying a traditional community event.
On 6 September, the 31st Zabrze International Organ Festival named after Fr Antoni Chlondowski will also begin, adding music to an already diverse opening weekend.
The main anniversary weekend
The programme reaches its high point on 26 and 27 September, when the principal events marking Zabrze's 104th anniversary will take place.
The final weekend will bring residents together for the main city celebrations, marking another chapter in Zabrze's history.
The anniversary itself dates back 104 years, but the story behind the date is made up of the generations who have lived, worked and built their lives in the city.
That sense of local connection runs through this year's programme, with events taking place in the places where Zabrze's communities meet and spend their time.
Check the programme before you go
The full Zabrzański Wrzesień programme is being published on the event's website, together with updates relating to individual events.
With activities continuing throughout September and the main anniversary weekend still ahead, there are plenty of opportunities to find an event that suits your interests and join the city's celebrations.
See more: Markets and High Streets of Zabrze: Stories from the City's Shopping Heart
Source and image credit: Miasto Zabrze
