Summer in Kraków offers no shortage of festivals, but few make such striking use of the city’s riverside setting as the BNP Paribas Green Film Festival. Returning from 10 to 16 August 2026, the week-long event transforms Czerwieński Boulevard, beneath Wawel Hill, into an open-air cinema and meeting place where film, science and environmental discussion come together.
Now in its ninth edition, the festival has become one of the world’s largest events dedicated to environmental cinema and remains the only ecological film festival of its kind in Poland. Across seven days, around 100 films will be screened, accompanied by talks, exhibitions, workshops and conversations that invite audiences to think about the changing world around them.
It is certainly one of the highlights of Kraków’s summer cultural calendar which offers an opportunity to experience the city from a different perspective, spending warm August evenings beside the Vistula while discovering films from around the world.
Cinema with a View
The festival’s main venue on Czerwieński Boulevard has become an attraction in its own right. As the sun sets behind Wawel Castle and the riverside fills with walkers and cyclists, the outdoor cinema creates an atmosphere that is difficult to replicate indoors.
Alongside the main screenings, audiences can visit the CANPACK Cinema discussion space, attend screenings at the Echo Miasta Film Stage on Kapelanka Street, and enjoy a dedicated programme for younger viewers. Directors, filmmakers, scientists and climate experts will also be on hand throughout the week, giving visitors the chance to continue the conversation long after the credits roll.
Rather than focusing solely on environmental challenges, the programme aims to highlight practical ideas, innovation and community action, making complex issues accessible through storytelling and discussion.
Opening with Clean Air Day
The festival begins on Monday 10 August with Clean Air Day, an evening dedicated to one of the most pressing environmental issues facing cities across Poland.
Running from 5.00 pm until 10.00 pm, the programme includes a screening of Till the Last Breath, followed by a conversation with director Ewa Ewart. Visitors can also hear from Paweł Ścigalski, Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Kraków for Climate and Air Quality, whose lecture, Air Without Borders, explores the importance of improving air quality beyond administrative boundaries.
Interactive quizzes and educational workshops will also take place throughout the evening, creating an event designed for both adults and younger visitors.
Conversations Beyond the Screen
One of the festival’s strengths is the way it combines cinema with discussion. Throughout the week, audiences can hear from filmmakers, researchers and campaigners who bring additional context to the films being shown.
Among the featured events is the European Climate Pact meeting, bringing together Ambassadors and Partners of the initiative for a public discussion about climate action. The session opens with a lecture by Kamil Wyszkowski, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Poland, examining positive climate trends at a time when global headlines are often dominated by conflict and environmental crises.
The festival will also welcome Miłosz Szymański, creator of the popular foreign affairs podcast Za Rubieżą. His appearance adds an international perspective to a programme that regularly looks beyond environmental issues alone, exploring how politics, society and global events increasingly shape the future of the planet.
Science in Fifteen Minutes
Each evening, visitors can also attend the festival’s popular Scientific Stand-Up sessions.
Held on the main stage in the Festival Village, these short presentations challenge researchers and experts to explain subjects such as sustainability, health, biodiversity and social change in just fifteen minutes. The informal format has become one of the festival’s signature features, offering accessible science without sacrificing depth.
Most sessions begin at 7.30 pm, with Thursday’s programme starting slightly earlier.
A Festival That Reflects Its Message
Environmental responsibility extends beyond the films themselves. Organised by the Green Festival Foundation, the event has been designed with sustainability in mind since its launch in 2018, with organisers aiming to reduce the festival’s environmental impact while promoting greener ways of staging large public events.
The foundation also works throughout the year on environmental education projects, particularly for young people, making the festival part of a wider programme rather than a standalone cultural event.
The perfect place to relax and escape the city rush near Kraków!
