Angel in the Town Festival in Lanckorona

Once a year, in December, Lanckorona turns into a town of angels. The winter festival Anioł w Miasteczku (Angel in the Town) is three days of events in many places at once: an Angel Christmas Market runs on the market square, while concerts, exhibitions and workshops take place in houses, galleries and halls. The 23rd edition will be held on 11–13 December 2026 — the year Lanckorona celebrates the 660th anniversary of its town charter.

Market and programme

The heart of the festival is the Angel Christmas Market on Lanckorona's square: handicrafts, Christmas decorations, treats and gifts throughout the festival. For a few years now the municipal culture centre, together with the Egida association and local women's groups, has organised a Lanckorona nativity scene contest and a tasting of Christmas Eve dishes during the market.

In 2026, on Saturday 12 December from 13:00 to 15:00, “Szczodre Gody” is planned: a presentation with a tasting of Christmas Eve food, the final of the nativity contest and a puppet-and-cabaret show, “Lanckorona Nativity for the 660th Anniversary”, recalling figures important in the town's history. Many organisers contribute to the festival, and the detailed programme appears in the culture centre's calendar closer to the date.

Angel of Lanckorona

Every year during the festival the honorary title Angel of Lanckorona is awarded to people who have contributed to the town's culture and community. The award has existed since 2004; recipients include Kazimierz Wiśniak (2004), Marek Grechuta (2006, posthumously), Jacek Zieliński (2011) and Jerzy Kucia (2025). The event was initiated by the “Na Bursztynowym Szlaku” ecological and cultural association.

Lanckorona as the backdrop

The festival is best combined with a walk around Lanckorona itself. The village lies about 30 km south of Kraków at around 545 m above sea level and has kept its wooden buildings from the second half of the 19th century. King Casimir the Great granted it town rights on 31 March 1366, and on top of Lanckorona Hill stand the ruins of the royal castle where the Bar Confederates held out in 1771.

Tripto tips

Allow 2–3 hours for the market and a short walk, half a day or more for the full programme. The square lies on a slope and can be slippery in December: bring warm, waterproof shoes. Parking is scarce on festival weekend, so arrive early. The market is open to all, but workshops and some concerts may have their own rules — check the Lanckorona culture centre calendar.