If you’re looking for a fun-filled way to kick off the summer, Poland’s Pyrkon 2026 is scheduled for June 19–21. It’s a great opportunity to meet some of the talent behind Star Wars storytelling.
Among the international guests at Poland’s most renowned fantasy convention are actors Giancarlo Esposito (Moff Gideon) and Anton Lesser (Major Lio Partagaz), as well as acclaimed writers Kieron Gillen (Darth Vader (2015), Doctor Aphra (2016)) and Kevin J. Anderson (The Jedi Academy Trilogy, The Young Jedi Knights series, Tales of the Jedi comics, and more).
Tickets are still available via eBilet, with three-day passes priced at 360 zł (approximately €85):
https://www.ebilet.pl/en/biznes/targi/pyrkon
The Star Wars Zone at the upcoming Pyrkon festival will feature a diverse array of high-quality exhibitions showcasing the passion and skill of Polish artisans, droid and prop builders through meticulously crafted replicas and collections. Highlights include Aldona “ATAT” Talarczyk’s decade-long project of recreating Queen Amidala’s intricate Naboo gowns, the SW Armory’s collection of Imperial armor and weaponry, and the SW Shipyard’s life-sized vehicles like the snowspeeder and probe droid. Additionally, visitors can encounter Kasprop’s full-scale droid replicas, including the formidable Droideka and Trade Federation battle droids.
On May 4th, Pyrkon socials also announced an exhibition of full-size cockpits of three iconic ships – an X-wing, a TIE Fighter and the Razor Crest, created by fans from Project X1. Organizers promise “visitor props and sets meticulously crafted to create a truly immersive experience [where] you’ll literally sit at the controls of those legendary machines and be transported to the heart of the space adventure“.
Held annually in Poznań, Pyrkon has been growing in both popularity and scale, steadily turning into one of Europe’s largest fantasy and sci-fi conventions. First organized in 2000 by SF Club “Second Age” (Klub Fantastyki „Druga Era”), the event has expanded from around 500 attendees in its inaugural year to a record-breaking 66,785 visitors in 2025.
Since 2011, Pyrkon has taken place at the Poznań International Fair (MTP Poznań EXPO), a vast venue offering over 110,000 square metres of exhibition space and nearly 35,000 square metres of outdoor area.
Today, Pyrkon is widely considered one of the largest non-profit fan conventions in Europe. Its extensive three-day program covers everything from cosplay, collectibles, comics, and manga to board games, RPGs, LARP, literature, science, music and more.
Despite its local cult following, Pyrkon has remained somewhat under the radar internationally. However the festival certainly deserves the attention of Star Wars fans —especially since 2023’s introduction of a dedicated Star Wars Zone featuring international guests, cosplay showcases, exhibitions, screenings, and fan meetups.
Beyond the convention itself, Pyrkon also offers a chance to explore Poznań—a picturesque city with a rich cultural life and nearly 800 years of history.
While the official Pyrkon website is available in both Polish and English, the English version is still being expanded. For now, it’s best to use the Polish version with your browser’s auto-translate feature when browsing in order to see a full and most up to date version of the schedule and guest list.
The 2025 edition featured Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles) as guest of honor, alongside numerous Star Wars-themed attractions. Highlights included the fan-made documentary Wojny Gwiazd: Fandom zrodzony z pasji (Star Wars: Fandom Born of Passion), exhibitions of costumes and prop replicas, large-scale LEGO displays such as the Death Star Wall Project, meetings with members of the Polish Garrison of the 501st Legion and other cosplay groups, an exhibition of Queen Amidala’s Costumes by Aldona Talarczyk (ATATCostumeArt), lightsabre trainings, etc.
More about the Pyrkon 2025 Star Wars Zone here: https://pyrkon.pl/en/program-en/star-wars-fan-zone-strikes-back/
Article by Nenko Genov.