{"id":13426,"date":"2026-08-20T14:21:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apartmore.pl\/what-to-do-in-september-in-gdansk\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T14:21:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:21:26","slug":"what-to-do-in-september-in-gdansk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apartmore.pl\/en\/what-to-do-in-september-in-gdansk\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do in Gda\u0144sk in September? Events, Races, and the End of the Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

In September 2026, Gda\u0144sk hosts four major events: the Goldberg Festival until September 6, the Gda\u0144sk Dance Festival from September 12 to 20, the film festival in neighboring Gdynia from September 21 to 26, and the Garmin Gda\u0144sk Half Marathon on the last weekend of the month. The month opens with morning ceremonies at Westerplatte on September 1. After the school year begins, the city center becomes less crowded, and the Baltic Sea water retains its summer temperature for the first two weeks. Dates, times, and locations below.<\/p>\n

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\"The
D\u0142ugie Pobrze\u017ce in the evening. Photo: Gerda Arendt, Wikimedia Commons, CC0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Key Events, September 2026<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
When<\/th>\nWhat<\/th>\nWhere<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
September 1<\/td>\nAnniversary of the outbreak of WWII, dawn ceremonies<\/td>\nWesterplatte, Defenders of the Polish Post Office Square<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
until September 6<\/td>\n20th Goldberg Festival, early music<\/td>\nGda\u0144sk, historic interiors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
September 12\u201320<\/td>\n18th Gda\u0144sk Dance Festival<\/td>\nKlub \u017bak, al. Grunwaldzka 195\/197<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
September 21\u201326<\/td>\n51st Polish Feature Film Festival<\/td>\nGdynia, 35 minutes by SKM from Gda\u0144sk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
September 26, 8:00 PM<\/td>\nNight Five, race through the illuminated city<\/td>\nstart and finish: Polsat Plus Arena Gda\u0144sk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
September 27, 10:00 AM<\/td>\nGarmin Gda\u0144sk Half Marathon<\/td>\nstart and finish: Polsat Plus Arena Gda\u0144sk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

September 1: Westerplatte at Dawn<\/h2>\n

Gda\u0144sk begins September with ceremonies at the place where the war began. The main commemorations take place at Westerplatte early in the morning, at the hour when the first shots were fired, while wreaths are simultaneously laid at Defenders of the Polish Post Office Square and at the Cemetery of Victims of Hitlerism in Zaspa. Admission is free, and the city typically runs additional free buses to Westerplatte on this day.<\/p>\n

The city announces the detailed program in the last days of August, so it’s worth checking the times on gdansk.pl<\/a> just before your visit. If you miss the morning ceremonies, Westerplatte itself is open all day, and at this time of year it’s much quieter to walk around than in July.<\/p>\n

Early Music in Historic Interiors: Goldberg Festival<\/h2>\n

The twentieth edition of the Goldberg Festival runs from late August until September 6. The program is based on early music played on period instruments in historic interiors with natural acoustics. The concerts are intimate and performed without amplification, so they sound different from events in large halls.<\/p>\n

You can find the repertoire and venues for individual concerts, as well as tickets, at goldbergfestival.pl<\/a>. Prices vary by concert, and some events are free.<\/p>\n

Ten Days of Dance: Gda\u0144sk Dance Festival<\/h2>\n

From September 12 to 20, Klub \u017bak transforms into the stage for the eighteenth Gda\u0144sk Dance Festival. The program features performances by Polish and international companies, usually in the evenings, with ticket prices starting from several dozen zlotys. If dance theater is new to you, this is a good time to try it: the performances are short, and tickets are much cheaper than for major concerts. The current program and ticket sales are handled by Klub \u017bak<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From the city center to \u017bak, you can take a tram for about fifteen minutes, getting off at Opera or Politechnika stop.<\/p>\n

Garmin Gda\u0144sk Half Marathon: September 26 and 27<\/h2>\n

This is an event that changes the rhythm of the entire city center on the last weekend of September, even for those who aren’t running.<\/p>\n

\"Polsat
Polsat Plus Arena Gda\u0144sk, start and finish of the half marathon. Photo: Dariusz Boczek, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saturday, September 26, 8:00 PM: Night Five.<\/strong> Five kilometers through the illuminated streets of Gda\u0144sk, with start and finish at Polsat Plus Arena. Earlier, from 4:20 PM, children run through the streets at distances from 200 to 1,000 meters.<\/p>\n

Sunday, September 27, 10:00 AM: half marathon.<\/strong> The classic 21.0975 kilometers, start and finish at Polsat Plus Arena, first runners at the finish around 11:00 AM, awards ceremony at 1:30 PM.<\/p>\n

The race village at the arena operates on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and on Sunday from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Registration for Night Five closed before the deadline, so if you’re thinking about participating in the next edition, it’s worth signing up early. We’ve described the route details, transportation, and accommodation separately in the article Garmin Gda\u0144sk Half Marathon 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One practical note for everyone who will be in Gda\u0144sk as tourists that weekend: on Sunday morning, some streets in the city center are closed and public transport runs on detours. If you have a train or flight then, leave earlier than usual.<\/p>\n

Cinema in Gdynia: Polish Feature Film Festival<\/h2>\n

From September 21 to 26, Gdynia hosts the 51st Polish Feature Film Festival, the most important review of Polish cinema of the year. From Gda\u0144sk G\u0142\u00f3wny, you can get there by local train in about 35 minutes; trains run every several minutes, so staying in Gda\u0144sk and spending evenings at the festival is a perfectly sensible combination. Program and tickets: festiwalgdynia.pl<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sea and City Without Queues<\/h2>\n

The Baltic Sea warms up slowly and releases heat just as slowly, which is why in the first half of September the water is usually warmer than in June. The beaches in Brze\u017ano and Stogi are almost empty then, the food stands are still operating, and the sunsets become earlier and more spectacular.<\/p>\n

\"Historic<\/figure>\n

It’s also the best time for things that require queuing during peak season: a cruise on the Mot\u0142awa, going up the tower of St. Mary’s Church, the Museum of the Second World War, or the European Solidarity Centre. In September, you can enter them almost immediately.<\/p>\n

September with Children<\/h2>\n

After the school year begins, queues at attractions in the Tri-City noticeably shorten. It’s worth considering a weekend at Majaland in Gda\u0144sk<\/a>, where queues for rides practically disappear in September, as well as the Gda\u0144sk ZOO in Oliwa, which is most beautiful at this time of year. Additionally, on Saturday, September 26, children can run in their own races at Polsat Plus Arena\u2014a nice souvenir from the weekend.<\/p>\n

Where to Eat Well<\/h2>\n

We’ve compiled our recommendations for craft burgers in Gda\u0144sk in a separate article<\/a>, and if you’re looking for a photo-worthy view, we also have a guide to outdoor photo session locations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Accommodation in Gda\u0144sk in September<\/h2>\n

September is a time when the city center becomes less crowded, but two dates are exceptions: the first weekend of the month and the half marathon weekend, when tens of thousands of runners with their families come to the city. If you’re planning to visit on September 26 or 27, book early.<\/p>\n

We operate over 150 apartments in the very center of Gda\u0144sk, in the Old Town, Granary Island, and along the Mot\u0142awa, so you can walk to most of the places described above. Check-in at any time, direct booking on our website, no portal commissions.<\/p>\n

View apartments in central Gda\u0144sk<\/a><\/p>\n

Frequently Asked Questions: September 2026 in Gda\u0144sk<\/h2>\n