No superhero in the annals of fantasy could hope to encompass all the highlights, not to mention the finer nuances, of the Pyrkon programme in a brief text. Their number may not quite match the count of celestial bodies in our galaxy, though it comes incredibly close. For that reason, as in previous years, what follows is a subjective selection of standout moments.
Few attractions draw audiences as effectively as celebrated names and familiar faces. In this regard, Pyrkon has recently particularly pampered film and television fans. Previous editions featuring guests such as Edward James Olmos (Blade Runner, Blade Runner 2049, Battlestar Galactica) and Bruce Boxleitner (Tron, Tron: Legacy, Babylon 5) show that the organisers consistently aim for the uppermost echelon of Hollywood talent. This year's guest list includes Giancarlo Esposito, most recently associated with Better Call Saul, an actor who has collaborated with directors such as Spike Lee, Jim Jarmusch and Francis Ford Coppola. Within the fantasy genre, he has appeared in productions including The Mandalorian, alongside more recent titles such as Captain America: Brave New World and The Electric State.
The literary programme will feature acclaimed Polish authors such as Elżbieta Cherezińska, Radek Rak, Michał Gołkowski, and Rafał Kosik. Among the international guests, Kevin J. Anderson undoubtedly deserves special mention as one of the most recognisable contemporary writers of science fiction and fantasy. He gained international recognition through his collaboration with Brian Herbert, the son of Frank Herbert, on new novels set in the world of Dune. His body of work also includes titles connected to the Star Wars universe. Cinda Williams Chima, in turn, is an American author of young adult fiction, best known for the urban fantasy series The Heir Chronicles and the high fantasy cycle Seven Realms. Representing a younger generation of fantasy writers is British author Taran Matharu, who achieved popularity through his Summoner and Contender series. His most recent novel, Dragon Rider, serves as an introduction to the forthcoming series The Soul Bound Saga.
This year, planet Pyrkon will also welcome space guests whose origin is nevertheless distinctly earthly. Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot an American space shuttle during the Discovery mission in 1995, and later the first woman to command a shuttle mission in flight aboard the Columbia in 1999. In 2005, NASA selected her to lead the Discovery shuttle's "Return to Flight" mission: the first crewed flight following the Columbia disaster of 2003. Pyrkon will also host Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, the second Pole in history after Mirosław Hermaszewski to participate in a space mission under the auspices of the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as the first Polish astronaut to reach the International Space Station. It promises to be a rare and symbolic meeting between ESA and NASA.
Say "Pyrkon" and one immediately thinks of cosplay. Say "cosplay" and Pyrkon comes equally quickly to mind. Participants who, through meticulously crafted costumes, transform themselves into characters drawn from across the worlds of fantasy are perhaps the festival's most distinctive feature. They can be seen virtually everywhere - across the MTP grounds, in the surrounding streets, on trams and even in local shops. The most accomplished among them will compete in the Masquerade, one of Europe's most prestigious cosplay contests. This year's participants will be assessed by internationally recognised creators and performers with extensive stage experience and involvement in major cosplay competitions: Yuji Koi, Helper and Kula Cosplay.
Pyrkon's concert stages also remain among the festival's most popular attractions and, as ever, the programme is strikingly diverse. Audiences will be able to see legendary acts such as the Kielce-based band Ankh, the Finnish group Lordi, the French ensemble Skáld, and Żywiołak, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. Looking for a different vibe? There will be no shortage of alternatives. Festival-goers will also have the opportunity to hear and see performers including Główny Zawór Jazzu, Pianohouse, Ranko Ukulele and the Łany Song and Dance Ensemble of the Poznań University of Life Sciences. Together with the latter, participants will be able to celebrate Kupala Night, which this year coincides precisely with the Pyrkon weekend.
Pyrkon has always been an event open to diversity, regardless of age, background or any other categorisation. Priority queues for people with disabilities will be available at festival entrances, while security staff will facilitate access by enabling entry through the turnstiles. One new initiative this year will be special sunflower lanyards - the international symbol of hidden disabilities - allowing participants to signal to fellow attendees and festival staff that they may require assistance. A sign language interpreter will be present in Pavilion 10. Those wishing to step away from the crowds without leaving the festival grounds will be able to make use of the Low-Stimulation Zone. Further information can be found in the "Accessible Pyrkon" section of the festival website.
The Gżdacze - Pyrkon's volunteers - are to the festival what red blood cells are to the human body. More precisely, they are orange blood cells, in reference to the colour of their T-shirts. They act as the guardians of order within the Pyrkon galaxy, specialists in handling the seemingly unmanageable, and an ever-present source of support for organisers, creators and guests alike. Festival-goers are warmly encouraged to ask for their assistance and to appreciate their efforts, as they remain the event's quiet and often unsung heroes.
As for Pyrkon itself, the scale of the undertaking speaks volumes: 13 pavilions, 33 concerts, more than 300 guests, over 400 exhibitors and approximately 2,000 programme events. In the 26th year - in Earth terms - of its inter-universe mission, Pyrkon continues to boldly go where no other fantasy festival has gone before.
Mateusz Malinowski
translation: Krzysztof Kotkowski
Pyrkon Fantasy Festival
19-21 June,
Poznań International Fair grounds
for more, see: Pyrkon Fantasy Festival
Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2026
