The celebration of the European Blues Challenge Katowice 2026 on Staromiejska Street began even before the Open Stage platforms fully started! First came the warm-up — full of humor, ease, and Silesian character — performed by our representatives: Red. Chirowski and Pan Wydro. The following day, KATO Blues FACES was filled by a concert from Maciek Lipina, who promoted his latest album Południowy, carrying the audience through stories rooted in Silesian sensitivity. In the following days, we hosted the program Stories Written with Blues, broadcast live from 13 Staromiejska Street with special guests and an audience present! The next evening was crowned by a phenomenal concert from Józef Skrzek — full of emotion, space, and sounds that stay with a person for a long time. The culmination of that week was the day dedicated to Leszek Winder: the unveiling of his star on the Walk of Fame, the premiere of the book Silesian Blues, and a concert by Śląska Grupa Bluesowa. Only after these events did the time come for the three-day Open Stage — and Katowice truly began to play at full volume!
The first day of Open Stage immediately showed that we were entering the festival at full power. The KATO Blues FACES Summer Festival Stage launched and instantly filled Staromiejska Street with music. Zieliński Band opened the day with energy, ease, and feeling that set the tone of the entire event from the very first minutes. Shortly afterward, Tom Eylenbosch, the Belgian pianist awarded during EBC as the best in the “solo/duo” category, captivated the audience with his New Orleans piano, classic blues, and boogie-woogie, played with charisma and stage freedom. The evening closed with Onusblues — strong, sincere, and full of character, exactly the way the best festivals end. And when the last chords faded away, the Easttop Harmonica Clinic workshops led by Michał Kielak began, followed by a jam session that carried the blues evening even further. Improvisations, harmonicas, playing together — an atmosphere difficult to recreate in words.
On the second day, Staromiejska once again turned into the city’s blues artery. The Ponycars opened the day with rock’n’roll edge and German precision that immediately attracted the audience. After them, Russell Alexander from the United States took over the stage — he entered like a force of nature, played like fire, and left behind wide smiles and tremendous energy. The finale belonged to Krem Band, who stepped onto the stage, did their thing, and swept everything away so thoroughly that the audience did not want to let them go. And when evening fell, Swing City Katowice launched a dance party that made 13 Staromiejska Street literally dance. It was a day full of music, people, and that Katowice energy we love most.
The third day led us straight to the grand finale at NOSPR — and it did so in the best possible style. Katowice played loud and wide, on two stages: Staromiejska Street and the Market Square. Dusty Highway began the day with energy and ease that immediately gathered people in front of the stage. After them, Black Pin Blues played atmospherically and beautifully, with that Silesian blues breath that stops passersby in their tracks and makes them stay longer. At the same time, on the Market Square, Vibe Brothers Band filled the space with groove and great connection with the audience — the city center was alive with music from the very first sounds. The finale belonged to Spluva, whose concert echoed throughout the whole center of Katowice. People stopped, recorded videos, smiled, and absorbed the atmosphere. It was an ending to the three days of Open Stage that would have been hard to imagine any better.
Just before the entrance to KATO Blues FACES, we also unveiled a new plaque commemorating the European Blues Challenge Katowice 2026 — a symbol that these days will be written into the city’s history. It was unveiled by the Mayor of Katowice Marcin Krupa, President of the European Blues Union Davide Grandi, and the KATO Blues FACES team. It was a moment full of pride — for Katowice, for us, and for everyone who created this exceptional blues celebration.
These were days that showed how strong the blues community is and how beautifully Katowice can play. And although they have passed, the energy we created together will stay with us for a long time.
