F.A.Q.
All you need to know!
For the audience
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów is a festival dedicated to contemporary circus arts that has been held in Lublin since 2009. During the festival, the city welcomes street performers and world-class circus artists from across the globe, who captivate audiences with breathtaking performances and spectacular shows. The streets come alive with jugglers, acrobats, and clowns who leave audiences in fits of laughter. The performances take place in close proximity to the public, which is often invited to become an active part of the shows.
A key element of the festival is its curated programme, showcasing some of the most compelling contemporary circus productions. These include indoor and outdoor performances, site-specific works, and productions presented in a traditional circus tent. The invited productions reflect the most significant and innovative trends shaping contemporary circus arts around the world.
Carnaval has been held at roughly the same time each year for many years, typically during the last weekend of July. In 2026, the festival will take place from 23 to 26 July (Thursday to Sunday).
Stage productions are presented in a circus tent, theatre venues, and open-air stages.
Street performances and busking acts can be found in Lublin’s main squares (such as Litewski Square, Łokietka Square, and Po Farze Square), as well as along the streets and in the hidden corners of the Old Town and the city centre.
You can find the full Carnaval Sztukmistrzów programme on the festival website under the Programme section.
Of course the programme is also available as a PDF file!
During the festival, visitors are welcome to stop by the Information Point located in Łokietka Square, where our friendly volunteers will be happy to answer any questions and provide information about Carnaval.
Any updates and changes in the programme will be announced on the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów Facebook and Instagram profiles.
You can enjoy Carnaval Sztukmistrzów free of charge. A large part of the festival programme takes place in public spaces, where no admission fee is required. However, you are encouraged to support the performers by contributing to their hat after the show. For many street artists, these donations are their only source of income.
Tickets are required for the festival’s stage performances. You can purchase them via Stage24 or through the Centrum Spotkania Kultur website. You can also purchase them in person at the festival shop at Grodzka 7 and at the venue one hour before the performance.
Tickets for the comedy stage performances are available for purchase at the festival shop at Grodzka 7 and at the venue one hour before the performance. The ticket price is 20 zł per person.
Looking for your ticket?
Search your email inbox using keywords such as “ticket”, “Stage24”, or the name of your event.
Click the link included in the email to open your ticket. Please note that each link corresponds to a separate ticket. The system does not send tickets as PDF files.
That’s your ticket! Keep it handy for entry. You can take a screenshot or, if you’re using mobile internet, simply open the ticket link when entering the performance.
Please note that, by decision of the Lublin City Hall, Królewska Street, which borders the Old Town, remains closed to traffic throughout all summer weekends, including the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów. This traffic organisation is in effect from Friday at 18:00 until the end of Sunday.
Due to the Tour de Pologne Women finale taking place in Lublin on Sunday, July 26, temporary traffic restrictions will also be introduced. From 4:00 to 23:00, Dolna 3 Maja Street, 3 Maja Street, and Krakowskie Przedmieście will be closed to vehicle traffic. More information is available on the ZDTM Lublin website.
There are several convenient ways to get to the city centre:
By public transport – use the Jakdojade app to find the most convenient bus connections.
By bicycle or city bike – Lublin has an extensive network of cycling paths leading to the city centre.
By electric scooter – shared e-scooters are available throughout the city.
By car – both public and private car parks are available in and around the city centre.
By taxi or ride-hailing app – Bolt, Uber, and local taxi companies offer convenient transport across the city.
Whichever mode of transport you choose, head towards Lublin City Centre and the Old Town, where most of the festival events take place.
Rain or shine?
Don’t let a little rain stop the fun! Our street performers usually carry on through light rain. However, the artists make the final call on whether it is safe to perform. If the weather gets heavy, a show might be delayed or cancelled for safety reasons. We suggest keeping an umbrella handy so you can enjoy the magic, rain or shine.
Any updates and changes in the programme will be announced on the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów Facebook and Instagram profiles.
We strive to make Carnaval Sztukmistrzów as accessible as possible for everyone. Here’s a PDF guide on this topis (Polish language only).
Ticketed performances take place in the fully accessible Opera Hall of the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures (Centrum Spotkania Kultur). Visitors with reduced mobility will be offered the most comfortable seating available.
Visitors with disabilities and their personal assistants are entitled to a 30% discount on tickets for paid performances (please complete the form). Tickets can be purchased via Stage24.
The Sunday performance of “Ceramic Circus” will include live audio description. Most performances in the festival programme are either non-verbal or rely primarily on movement and physical expression.
If you require volunteer assistance to help you reach a performance, please get in touch. Contact us at least three days before the event by email at wolontariat@warsztatykultury.pl or by phone at +48 81 533 08 18.
You can also let us know about your accessibility needs by completing our accessibility request form.
For more information about accessibility at Workshops of Culture, please visit our website.
For four days, buskers who entered this year’s busker contest will face off against one another, bringing out the best gags, tricks and personal charm. Vote for them in the online form!
Outdoor performances
- Take a seat – don’t block anyone’s view.
- Make room for shorter spectators, children, and people with reduced mobility. Stay within the audience area designated by the performer.
- Show your appreciation. React, laugh, applaud, and if you enjoyed the performance, thank the artist with a kind word, a handshake, or a donation. For most street performers, the hat is their only source of income.
- Have fun! As a member of the audience, you are often part of the performance – and sometimes even part of the cast. Laugh freely, enjoy the moment, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself too.
- Follow the instructions of the performers and festival staff at all times.
Indoor performances
- Buy tickets online through our official ticketing partners or at the venue from one hour before the performance, subject to availability.
- Arrive early. Seating the audience takes time, so please be patient – and why not get to know the person next to you while you wait?
- Be on time. Late admission may not be possible.
- Know what you’re coming to see. Carnaval Sztukmistrzów presents a wide variety of performances. Some indoor productions explore contemporary circus and may be experimental, challenging, or deal with mature themes, making them unsuitable for young children.
- Please do not use flash photography, record performances, or use your mobile phone during indoor shows.
Keep an eye on your belongings. Large crowds make it easy to lose – or have someone else “find” – valuable items.
Look after your children, and if you notice a child nearby who appears to need help, please stay alert and inform a member of the festival staff if necessary.
Yes and no. At the vast majority of street performances, taking photos is allowed. The exception is circus performances held in enclosed spaces (for example, inside the circus tent). Information about photography restrictions will be provided on information signs and announced by the presenter from the stage.
At the festival information point, you can collect a special wristband for the youngest festival visitors. Please write a parent or guardian’s contact number on the wristband. This will help us reunite you with your child as quickly as possible if they get separated from you in the crowd.
In the festival programme on our website, each performance includes a recommended audience age range.
We love animals, so for the comfort, well-being, and safety of your pet, we recommend leaving them at home during Carnaval. Carnaval Sztukmistrzów attracts tens of thousands of visitors, with intense sounds and a unique concentration of stimuli that can cause significant stress and may frighten even pets that are used to busy environments. We leave our four-legged friends at home, and we encourage you to do the same.
Oh! There are so many wonderful things to see and do, but we won’t list them all here – there simply wouldn’t be enough space. You can visit the Tourist Inspiration Centre (ul. Jezuicka 1/3, tel. +48 533 391 569) for more tips and recommendations.
We invite you to explore accommodation options on the following websites: nocowanie.pl, booking.com, and lubelskie.travel. Lublin also offers many accommodation options in student dormitories. It is worth considering this option if you are planning a low-budget trip.
A paid public toilet is available on Zamkowa Street and in Litewski Square – open daily from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
During Carnaval Sztukmistrzów, additional temporary toilets are also provided.
Terms and Conditions 2026 soon
F.A.Q.
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów is a festival dedicated to contemporary circus arts that has been held in Lublin since 2009. During the festival, the city welcomes street performers and world-class circus artists from across the globe, who captivate audiences with breathtaking performances and spectacular shows. The streets come alive with jugglers, acrobats, and clowns who leave audiences in fits of laughter. The performances take place in close proximity to the public, which is often invited to become an active part of the shows.
A key element of the festival is its curated programme, showcasing some of the most compelling contemporary circus productions. These include indoor and outdoor performances, site-specific works, and productions presented in a traditional circus tent. The invited productions reflect the most significant and innovative trends shaping contemporary circus arts around the world.
Carnaval has been held at roughly the same time each year for many years, typically during the last weekend of July. In 2026, the festival will take place from 23 to 26 July (Thursday to Sunday).
Stage productions are presented in a circus tent, theatre venues, and open-air stages.
Street performances and busking acts can be found in Lublin’s main squares (such as Litewski Square, Łokietka Square, and Po Farze Square), as well as along the streets and in the hidden corners of the Old Town and the city centre.
You can find the full Carnaval Sztukmistrzów programme on the festival website under the Programme section.
Of course the programme is also available as a PDF file!
During the festival, visitors are welcome to stop by the Information Point located in Łokietka Square, where our friendly volunteers will be happy to answer any questions and provide information about Carnaval.
Any updates and changes in the programme will be announced on the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów Facebook and Instagram profiles.
You can enjoy Carnaval Sztukmistrzów free of charge. A large part of the festival programme takes place in public spaces, where no admission fee is required. However, you are encouraged to support the performers by contributing to their hat after the show. For many street artists, these donations are their only source of income.
Tickets are required for the festival’s stage performances. You can purchase them via Stage24 or through the Centrum Spotkania Kultur website. You can also purchase them in person at the festival shop at Grodzka 7 and at the venue one hour before the performance.
Tickets for the comedy stage performances are available for purchase at the festival shop at Grodzka 7 and at the venue one hour before the performance. The ticket price is 20 zł per person.
Looking for your ticket?
Search your email inbox using keywords such as “ticket”, “Stage24”, or the name of your event.
Click the link included in the email to open your ticket. Please note that each link corresponds to a separate ticket. The system does not send tickets as PDF files.
That’s your ticket! Keep it handy for entry. You can take a screenshot or, if you’re using mobile internet, simply open the ticket link when entering the performance.
Please note that, by decision of the Lublin City Hall, Królewska Street, which borders the Old Town, remains closed to traffic throughout all summer weekends, including the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów. This traffic organisation is in effect from Friday at 18:00 until the end of Sunday.
Due to the Tour de Pologne Women finale taking place in Lublin on Sunday, July 26, temporary traffic restrictions will also be introduced. From 4:00 to 23:00, Dolna 3 Maja Street, 3 Maja Street, and Krakowskie Przedmieście will be closed to vehicle traffic. More information is available on the ZDTM Lublin website.
There are several convenient ways to get to the city centre:
By public transport – use the Jakdojade app to find the most convenient bus connections.
By bicycle or city bike – Lublin has an extensive network of cycling paths leading to the city centre.
By electric scooter – shared e-scooters are available throughout the city.
By car – both public and private car parks are available in and around the city centre.
By taxi or ride-hailing app – Bolt, Uber, and local taxi companies offer convenient transport across the city.
Whichever mode of transport you choose, head towards Lublin City Centre and the Old Town, where most of the festival events take place.
Rain or shine?
Don’t let a little rain stop the fun! Our street performers usually carry on through light rain. However, the artists make the final call on whether it is safe to perform. If the weather gets heavy, a show might be delayed or cancelled for safety reasons. We suggest keeping an umbrella handy so you can enjoy the magic, rain or shine.
Any updates and changes in the programme will be announced on the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów Facebook and Instagram profiles.
We strive to make Carnaval Sztukmistrzów as accessible as possible for everyone. Here’s a PDF guide on this topis (Polish language only).
Ticketed performances take place in the fully accessible Opera Hall of the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures (Centrum Spotkania Kultur). Visitors with reduced mobility will be offered the most comfortable seating available.
Visitors with disabilities and their personal assistants are entitled to a 30% discount on tickets for paid performances (please complete the form). Tickets can be purchased via Stage24.
The Sunday performance of “Ceramic Circus” will include live audio description. Most performances in the festival programme are either non-verbal or rely primarily on movement and physical expression.
If you require volunteer assistance to help you reach a performance, please get in touch. Contact us at least three days before the event by email at wolontariat@warsztatykultury.pl or by phone at +48 81 533 08 18.
You can also let us know about your accessibility needs by completing our accessibility request form.
For more information about accessibility at Workshops of Culture, please visit our website.
For four days, buskers who entered this year’s busker contest will face off against one another, bringing out the best gags, tricks and personal charm. Vote for them in the online form!
Outdoor performances
- Take a seat – don’t block anyone’s view.
- Make room for shorter spectators, children, and people with reduced mobility. Stay within the audience area designated by the performer.
- Show your appreciation. React, laugh, applaud, and if you enjoyed the performance, thank the artist with a kind word, a handshake, or a donation. For most street performers, the hat is their only source of income.
- Have fun! As a member of the audience, you are often part of the performance – and sometimes even part of the cast. Laugh freely, enjoy the moment, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself too.
- Follow the instructions of the performers and festival staff at all times.
Indoor performances
- Buy tickets online through our official ticketing partners or at the venue from one hour before the performance, subject to availability.
- Arrive early. Seating the audience takes time, so please be patient – and why not get to know the person next to you while you wait?
- Be on time. Late admission may not be possible.
- Know what you’re coming to see. Carnaval Sztukmistrzów presents a wide variety of performances. Some indoor productions explore contemporary circus and may be experimental, challenging, or deal with mature themes, making them unsuitable for young children.
- Please do not use flash photography, record performances, or use your mobile phone during indoor shows.
Keep an eye on your belongings. Large crowds make it easy to lose – or have someone else “find” – valuable items.
Look after your children, and if you notice a child nearby who appears to need help, please stay alert and inform a member of the festival staff if necessary.
Yes and no. At the vast majority of street performances, taking photos is allowed. The exception is circus performances held in enclosed spaces (for example, inside the circus tent). Information about photography restrictions will be provided on information signs and announced by the presenter from the stage.
At the festival information point, you can collect a special wristband for the youngest festival visitors. Please write a parent or guardian’s contact number on the wristband. This will help us reunite you with your child as quickly as possible if they get separated from you in the crowd.
In the festival programme on our website, each performance includes a recommended audience age range.
We love animals, so for the comfort, well-being, and safety of your pet, we recommend leaving them at home during Carnaval. Carnaval Sztukmistrzów attracts tens of thousands of visitors, with intense sounds and a unique concentration of stimuli that can cause significant stress and may frighten even pets that are used to busy environments. We leave our four-legged friends at home, and we encourage you to do the same.
We’ve only scratched the surface. For personalised recommendations and insider tips, connect with the Tourist Inspiration Centre to start planning your perfect trip.
Jezuicka 1/3, tel. 81 533 29 1569
They’ll be happy to help you make the most of your time in Lublin!
We invite you to explore accommodation options on the following websites: nocowanie.pl, booking.com, and lubelskie.travel. Lublin also offers many accommodation options in student dormitories. It is worth considering this option if you are planning a low-budget trip.
A paid public toilet is available on Zamkowa Street and in Litewski Square – open daily from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
During Carnaval Sztukmistrzów, additional temporary toilets are also provided.
Terms and Conditions 2026 soon
F.A.Q.
For artists
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów is a festival dedicated to contemporary circus arts that has been held in Lublin since 2009. During the festival, the city welcomes street performers and world-class circus artists from across the globe, who captivate audiences with breathtaking performances and spectacular shows. The streets come alive with jugglers, acrobats, and clowns who leave audiences in fits of laughter. The performances take place in close proximity to the public, which is often invited to become an active part of the shows.
A key element of the festival is its curated programme, showcasing some of the most compelling contemporary circus productions. These include indoor and outdoor performances, site-specific works, and productions presented in a traditional circus tent. The invited productions reflect the most significant and innovative trends shaping contemporary circus arts around the world.
Carnaval has been held at roughly the same time each year for many years, typically during the last weekend of July. In 2026, the festival will take place from 23 to 26 July (Thursday to Sunday).
Stage productions are presented in a circus tent, theatre venues, and open-air stages.
Street performances and busking acts can be found in Lublin’s main squares (such as Litewski Square, Łokietka Square, and Po Farze Square), as well as along the streets and in the hidden corners of the Old Town and the city centre.
Send us your application! Include a link to a video of the performance, your country of origin, your mode of transport, and optionally the estimated costs for the show.
By email to info@carnavallublin.eu.
Yes, we announce open calls on an ad hoc basis, depending on the needs and the programme objectives for a given year.
F.A.Q.
For Artists
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów is a festival dedicated to contemporary circus arts that has been held in Lublin since 2009. During the festival, the city welcomes street performers and world-class circus artists from across the globe, who captivate audiences with breathtaking performances and spectacular shows. The streets come alive with jugglers, acrobats, and clowns who leave audiences in fits of laughter. The performances take place in close proximity to the public, which is often invited to become an active part of the shows.
A key element of the festival is its curated programme, showcasing some of the most compelling contemporary circus productions. These include indoor and outdoor performances, site-specific works, and productions presented in a traditional circus tent. The invited productions reflect the most significant and innovative trends shaping contemporary circus arts around the world.
Carnaval has been held at roughly the same time each year for many years, typically during the last weekend of July. In 2026, the festival will take place from 23 to 26 July (Thursday to Sunday).
Stage productions are presented in a circus tent, theatre venues, and open-air stages.
Street performances and busking acts can be found in Lublin’s main squares (such as Litewski Square, Łokietka Square, and Po Farze Square), as well as along the streets and in the hidden corners of the Old Town and the city centre.
Send us your application! Include a link to a video of the performance, your country of origin, your mode of transport, and optionally the estimated costs for the show.
By email to info@carnavallublin.eu.
Yes, we announce open calls on an ad hoc basis, depending on the needs and the programme objectives for a given year.
