Lubliner Festival – Jewish Culture Festival is an event that, for the seventh time, will become an integral part of the cultural and social landscape of historic Lublin, filling the cultural void left by the former Jewish quarter, which no longer exists.
The main objective of this now well-established annual event is to preserve, promote, and celebrate the rich heritage of Jewish culture in its broadest sense. During the six-day festival, audiences experience a diverse musical program ranging from Hasidic songs and lyrical compositions to Jewish cabaret, klezmer music, and contemporary interpretations inspired by the musical traditions of Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews. The festival program is further enriched by a variety of workshops, lectures, and discussion meetings. Events take place in carefully selected venues of historical significance, including the former Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin rabbinical academy, the Centre for Culture in Lublin, and other public spaces throughout the city.
Although the Jewish community co-created the history and identity of Lublin for nearly seven centuries, today only faint memories and scattered associations remain in the consciousness of many of its inhabitants. Yet it was the Jewish community of Lublin that became one of the largest and wealthiest in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. From the 16th century onward, the city was home to the renowned Talmudic Academy. It was also where Rabbi Jacob Isaac Horowitz, known as the Seer of Lublin, lived. His grave, located in the old Jewish cemetery, continues to attract Hasidim and visitors from around the world.
Lubliner Festival is a grassroots cultural initiative founded on the principles of dialogue, mutual understanding, and openness, while maintaining a strictly non-political character.
The project grows out of Lublin’s multicultural heritage and reflects the values that underpin the city’s preparations for the European Capital of Culture 2029 programme.
Our mission remains to build bridges, foster dialogue, and strengthen understanding across cultural and social divides.
By combining tradition with contemporary artistic expression, the festival opens a window onto Lublin’s not-so-distant Jewish past, allowing residents and visitors alike to immerse themselves—if only for a moment—in the culture of the city’s former neighbours and friends.
The Lubliner Festival – Jewish Culture Festival is organised by the Ner Tamid – Eternal Light Foundation, whose mission is to preserve the memory of Jewish ancestors and promote the heritage and culture of the Jewish people. The festival is co-organised by the Centre for Culture in Lublin, with the support of the City of Lublin.
The festival is non-commercial and educational in nature. Admission to all events is free of charge.
The Centre for Culture in Lublin, the festival’s co-organiser, is the largest municipal cultural institution in the region. It carries out multidisciplinary artistic and educational activities while promoting and disseminating culture through a wide range of programmes and by creating opportunities for artistic creativity and community engagement.
The festival is co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage through the Culture Promotion Fund, a state special-purpose fund, under the “Music” Programme implemented by the National Institute of Music and Dance.
The festival is also co-financed by a grant from the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.
The project is carried out with the support of the City of Lublin.
The festival is financed in part by the PZU Foundation.
The ZAiKS Authors’ Promotion Fund is a partner of the event.
The project’s Main Sponsor is Perła – Browary Lubelskie S.A.