Kraków is home to people with roots in many countries, cultures and communities, and some of the work that brings them together happens quietly, day after day. On 12 September, the city will recognise some of those helping to make that work possible.
The winners of the latest Krakowski Ambasador Wielokulturowości, or Kraków Multicultural Ambassador, title will be announced during a gala held as part of the “Spotkajmy się na Wesołej” (Let’s Meet at Wesoła) event.
The annual award recognises individuals and organisations whose work supports intercultural dialogue, integration and a more open approach to Kraków’s growing diversity.
An award built around everyday work
The Krakowski Ambasador Wielokulturowości title was established by the Kraków City Council in December 2018. The first awards were presented in 2019, recognising work carried out during the previous year.
Since then, the title has highlighted a wide range of people and organisations. The recipients have included NGOs, cultural institutions, schools, businesses, informal groups and individuals working with migrant communities, education, culture, equality and social integration.
The award is presented annually by the Mayor of Kraków following a recommendation from the Kapituła Wielokulturowości, the city’s multiculturalism chapter.
The current rules are set out in Kraków City Council Resolution No. LXXXV/2418/22, adopted in 2022.
Rather than focusing on one particular profession or type of activity, the award allows the city to recognise the many different ways in which intercultural relationships are built. That can mean organising cultural events, providing support to migrants, creating educational programmes, tackling discrimination or simply creating spaces where people from different backgrounds can meet.
A growing list of Kraków ambassadors
Over the first seven editions, the title has gone to a notably varied group of recipients.
Among the previous winners are Stowarzyszenie INTERKULTURALNI PL, Fundacja Diversity Hub, Olha Menko and Urszula Majcher-Legawiec, who were recognised for activities in 2018.
The following years brought further recipients from Kraków's cultural, educational and community sectors, including Chór w Kontakcie, Collaborate, Krakow!, Anna Wilczyńska, David McGirr, Federacja Znaki Równości, Fundacja na Rzecz Różnorodności Polistrefa, Joanna Antonik and Ziyad Raoof.
Later editions recognised organisations and individuals including Fundacja Wolno Nam, Centrum Kultury Podgórza, Maria Wojtacha, Edyta Jaśkowiak, Stowarzyszenie Willa Decjusza, British International School of Cracow, Jan Słowiński and Jolanta Jurusik.
The 2023 edition included Stowarzyszenie Laboratorium Działań dla Pokoju (Salam Lab), Specjalistyczna Poradnia Psychologiczno-Pedagogiczna dla Dzieci z Niepowodzeniami Edukacyjnymi w Krakowie, Bożydar Pająk and Agnieszka Widacka-Bisaga.
The seventh edition, recognising work carried out in 2024, went to Teatr Łaźnia Nowa / Dom Utopii – Międzynarodowe Centrum Empatii and Aleksandra Zapolska.
The chapter also awarded additional distinctions to Stowarzyszenie „Patchwork”, Fundacja Kocham Dębniki, Kamil Frasiu, Małgorzata Olasińska-Chart and Mateusz Janicki.
Together, the list gives a good indication of the breadth of multicultural activity taking place across Kraków, from arts and education to grassroots community work.
The eighth edition will recognise work from 2025
The 2026 edition is the eighth in the history of the award and focuses on activities carried out during 2025.
Nominations were open to people wishing to highlight individuals, organisations and groups making a particular contribution to intercultural dialogue in Kraków.
The selection process considers several aspects of a candidate's work, including how long they have been active, the results and scale of their activities, their innovation and the range of initiatives they undertake.
The names of the new ambassadors will be revealed at the 12 September gala.
Meeting in Wesoła
The ceremony forms part of “Spotkajmy się na Wesołej”, providing a fitting setting for an award centred on bringing people together.
For Kraków, multiculturalism is reflected not only in large cultural events or official programmes, but also in the everyday connections formed in schools, workplaces, community organisations, neighbourhoods and cultural spaces.
The Multicultural Ambassador title puts some of the people responsible for those connections in the spotlight for a moment.
The new recipients will join a growing group of Kraków ambassadors whose work demonstrates the variety of ways in which the city's communities can meet, cooperate and learn from one another.
The winners of the eighth edition will be announced on Saturday, 12 September 2026.
Kraków's Multicultural Ambassador award offers an annual opportunity to recognise the people and organisations doing practical work to connect the city's diverse communities. On 12 September, a new group will join the growing list of those whose contribution to an open and multicultural Kraków has been formally recognised.
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Source and image credit: krakow.pl
