Kraków’s Polish Aviation Museum has been nominated for a 2026 BohaterONy Award, recognising its work in preserving Polish aviation history and bringing overlooked stories from the country’s past to wider audiences.
The museum is among five institutions shortlisted in the Institution category of the BohaterONy Awards named after the Warsaw Insurgents. The public can vote for its favourite nominee until 30th October 2026.
Celebrating the women who shaped Polish aviation
One of the initiatives highlighted in the museum’s nomination is its Aviation Women’s Day, held on 7th and 8th March 2026. The second edition brought together exhibitions, talks, workshops and family activities, with a programme celebrating women’s contributions to Polish aviation.
Among the guests were accomplished aviators Adela Dankowska, Jolanta Przybylak, Barbara Bocian and Bożena Falcman. Visitors could also meet women working in aviation today, including pilots, an air traffic controller and an aircraft mechanic.
The event featured an exhibition titled Girls in the Clouds: The 95th Anniversary of the First Women’s Flight Around Poland, marking an extraordinary journey undertaken in 1931.
Pilots Maria Wardasówna, Maria Lierówna, Danuta Sikorzanka and Wanda Olszewska flew PZL.5 aircraft along a route around the borders of the Second Polish Republic, covering nearly 3,000 kilometres. Their achievement offered an early example of women making their mark in a profession largely dominated by men.
The programme also saw the launch of the first part of a bilingual publication, Women in Polish Aviation: Biographies, alongside guided tours exploring the history of female aviators and educational activities for families.
By bringing these stories into the museum, the initiative connects the achievements of pioneering women with the opportunities available to those considering careers in aviation today.
What are the BohaterONy Awards?
Established in 2019, the BohaterONy Awards form part of the nationwide BohaterON: Get History Involved! campaign. The initiative honours people and organisations that promote knowledge of 20th-century Polish history, deliver historical education and keep the legacy of the Warsaw Uprising alive.
Awards are presented across eight categories, covering institutions, companies, teachers, public figures, journalists, non-profit organisations, history enthusiasts and creators.
Five institutions have been nominated in this year's Institution category. Alongside the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków, they are:
A jury will award Bronze, Silver and Gold BohaterON distinctions, while a separate public vote will select the audience award winner in each category.
For Kraków, the nomination recognises a museum whose work extends beyond displaying historic aircraft. Its exhibitions and educational events also explore the people behind aviation history, including women whose achievements deserve a wider place in the national story.
See more: Step Inside Historic Aircraft at Kraków’s Polish Aviation Museum
