For four days every July, Gdańsk transforms into one giant open air stage. Parks, squares and streets become places where theatre breaks free from traditional venues, bringing artists and audiences together in a shared public space.
The International Street and Open Air Theatres Festival FETA is one of Poland’s longest running and most respected festivals dedicated to street theatre. Created in 1997, it was born from the celebrations surrounding Gdańsk’s millennium and has since grown into an international event that welcomes companies from across Europe and beyond. Every edition combines contemporary street theatre, physical theatre, new circus, puppetry, dance and large scale outdoor performances, creating a programme that is as diverse as the city itself.
The 2026 edition, held from 9 to 12 July, carried the theme “Wanderings In Time”, inviting audiences to reflect on memory, change and the passing of time. Around 30 companies from Poland and abroad filled the city with performances ranging from intimate, interactive productions to visually spectacular shows that blended theatre, acrobatics, circus and performance art.
Unlike traditional theatre festivals, FETA removes the barrier between performers and spectators. There is no curtain, no stage separating artist from audience, and often no spoken language required. Whether watching a poetic dance performance, an acrobatic circus act or a comic street show, every spectator becomes part of the experience simply by sharing the same public space.
This gallery captures a selection of the performances that brought the streets of Gdańsk to life during FETA 2026, celebrating the creativity, imagination and extraordinary visual energy that have made the festival a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar for nearly three decades.
