The annual meeting with craftspeople and folk artists has been a thing since the 1970s. This year, some 100 exhibitors will show up in the Main Market Square, showcasing both traditional techniques and contemporary handicrafts inspired by our heritage. Wood, clay, fabric, lace, metal… Each stall will tell a different story linked to a particular region, workshop and material, and to the knowledge of how to use them, passed down from generation to generation. Workshops and demonstrations by artists will take place over 16 days.
The Summer Music and Dance Festival taking place simultaneously will feature performances by ensembles and bands from Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Italy and Turkiye, hosted on the Town Hall Stage. The programme also features the Folk Artists’ Day and a fashion show inspired by traditional designs.
The outdoor attractions will be accompanied by a programme at the Potocki Palace, including a debate taking place as part of the Handmade in Kraków series, focusing on the state of handicrafts and traditional crafts and their place in the contemporary urban landscape (12 August), as well as the Living Heritage. Preserving Traditions and Developing Best Practices conference (13 August).
The symbol of the fair’s anniversary edition – a large-scale installation in the Main Market Square – draws on Poland’s basket-weaving traditions, which were added to the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2025. The Museum of Krakow will have its own stand at the fair, promoting the Art and Trade. Krakow of Craftsmen exhibition, which is currently on display at the Krzysztofory Palace.
