What is PolArt?
The Festival of Polish Visual and Performing Arts (PolArt) is an arts festival that celebrates Polish culture and heritage through dance, music, theatre, film, visual arts and literature.
It is the largest and longest running national multi-cultural arts festival that has been hosted in Australia by a discrete ethnic group and is the largest Polish cultural festival outside of Poland.
Over the years, PolArt has drawn crowds in the hundreds of thousands and has established a reputation for being a family friendly, community festival focusing on artistic activities that allow audiences to immerse themselves in all forms of Polish art and culture.
History
Originating in Sydney under the name of ArtPol in 1975, the festival was the brainchild of the Federation of Polish Women in Australia and New Zealand and was created to promote and contribute to the multicultural character of both nations. This truly remarkable community initiative unites communities across Australia and New Zealand with first, second, third and now fourth generation Polish youth the main performers and volunteers.
PolArt festivals are held every 3-4 years in capital cities around Australia, and now New Zealand. They have been held in Sydney (1975, 1991, 2003, 2022), Adelaide (1981, 1994, 2009), Brisbane (1988, 2000, 2018), Melbourne (1984, 1997, 2015), Hobart (2006) and Perth (2012), with each festival growing larger and more popular than the previous.
PolArt has proudly showcased Polish culture through art, dance, literature, music and theatre to Australian audiences for more than 45 years. The all-ages family friendly festival draws crowds in the hundreds of thousands. It is the largest and longest-running festival of its kind outside of Poland. PolArt features unique local and international Polish artists and performers.
The 16th Festival of Polish Visual and Performing Arts
The 16th festival arrives in Wellington, NZ in December 2025, inviting audiences from all over Australia and New Zealand to see, hear, taste and feel all things Polish.
PolArt Wellington 2025 festival dates are 27 December 2025 – 6 January 2026, inclusive.