Bielsko-Biała: Poland’s Capital of Culture 2026 | Animation, fashion & more | Pulse of Culture

What do Bolek and Lolek, spectacular mountain bike stunts, fashion in a historic castle and traditional Polish crafts have in common? They’re all part of the story of Bielsko-Biała – Poland’s Capital of Culture for 2026.

This week, Pulse of Culture takes you to southern Poland to discover the city’s creative side and the cultural stories that have made it one of the country’s most intriguing destinations.

We begin with Happy Bike Beskidy, where cycling, live performances and spectacular freestyle MTB stunts come together. We meet Polish freestyle MTB rider and Guinness World Record-holder Kamil Kobędzowski.

Then we head into the world of Polish animation. Bolek, Lolek and Reksio are among the best-known characters created in Bielsko-Biała, and we visit the studio behind these much-loved classics to see how their legacy is being preserved – and how animation is being made more accessible to children with visual impairments.

Fashion then takes over a historic Bielsko-Biała castle, bringing together contemporary design and centuries-old local traditions, including lace and handmade paper flowers.

And in Culture Beats: a new Warsaw exhibition celebrates the extraordinary career of Krystyna Zachwatowicz-Wajda, while Krakow’s Manggha Museum shines a light on the often-overlooked history of women samurai.

Pulse of Culture is a weekly English-language magazine for anyone with a connection to Poland, including tourists, the diaspora, and the simply curious. New episodes are released every Sunday. Host: Sally Jastrzębska

Chapters:
00:00 Bielsko-Biała: Poland’s Capital of Culture 2026
01:03 Happy Bike Beskidy: bikes, music & spectacular stunts
01:35 Kamil Kobędzowski: Polish MTB & Guinness World Record holder
04:23 Bolek, Lolek & Reksio: the story of Polish animation
05:23 Preserving animation for future generations
08:23 Bielsko-Biała fashion: Tradition meets modern design
12:10 Culture Beats: Krystyna Zachwatowicz-Wajda at 96
14:16 Women samurai: a new exhibition in Krakow

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