St Dominic’s Fair in Gdańsk

St. Dominic's Fair in Gdańsk (Jarmark św. Dominika) is Poland's largest open-air trade and cultural festival: every summer, for more than three weeks, the streets of Gdańsk's historic Main Town fill with stalls, stages and food stands. With a tradition dating back to 1260, it is one of the oldest fairs in Europe – and a great reason to time a summer trip to the Baltic coast. Expect antiques, crafts, amber, regional food and free concerts.

Where and when

The fair takes place in central Gdańsk, around Long Street (Ulica Długa), Long Market and the surrounding streets – a few minutes' walk from Gdańsk Główny station. Gdańsk is about three hours from Warsaw by fast train, and its airport has direct flights from many European cities. The 2026 edition ran from July 25 to August 16; the dates for 2027 had not been announced as of October 2026, but the fair traditionally runs from late July into mid-August.

A fair with 760 years of history

The tradition goes back to 1260, when Pope Alexander IV allowed Gdańsk's Dominican friars to grant indulgences on the feast of their founder, St. Dominic. Merchants followed the pilgrims, and by the 16th century traders from Germany, Flanders, England and Spain came to the August market. The fair died out after World War II and was revived in 1972, when a rooster became its symbol. Editions are counted from 1260, so 2026 was the 766th.

The rooster and the old Hanseatic fair

Since the 1972 revival the fair's mascot has been a rooster, and recent editions have filled the Main Town's lawns with brightly hand-painted rooster sculptures – a favorite photo stop. For a sense of the fair's past scale, a 16th-century papal envoy, Giulio Ruggieri, described an August market lasting more than two weeks, with around 400 ships calling at Gdańsk, then one of the richest ports of the Baltic.

Things to do at the fair

• Hunt for antiques – furniture, paintings, porcelain, clocks and curiosities; for regulars this is the heart of the fair.
• Browse crafts and art – ceramics, jewelry and amber, Gdańsk's signature material.
• Eat your way through regional cheeses, smoked meats, baked goods and international food courts.
• Catch a show – concerts, parades along Long Street and activities for kids.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you are in Gdańsk in summer – entry is free and the atmosphere is unique. It does get very crowded, especially on weekends and evenings, so browse antiques on a weekday morning. Keep an eye on your wallet and phone, carry some cash in Polish złoty (PLN), as not every stall takes cards, and download the map from the organizer's website. Many stallholders speak some English. Don't forget the landmarks right in the middle of the fair: Artus Court, the Neptune Fountain and St. Mary's Church.

Practical information

As of October 2026:

• Hours during the fair: daily 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; food stands until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Admission: free.
• Visitors: about 1.5 million in 2026, according to the organizer.
• Getting there: walk from Gdańsk Główny station or take a tram; driving into the center during the fair is slow and parking is scarce.