This year marks the fifth time Katowice becomes the centre of academic life during the Interuniversity Inauguration of the Academic Year! This extraordinary event will take place on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, at 4 p.m. at the seat of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (plac Wojciecha Kilara 1, Katowice) and will be preceded by a march of Rector’s retinues through the streets of Katowice.
The joint celebration of the academic year by Silesian universities will include a wide variety of attractions combining science, art, and academic tradition.
Among others:
- 10 a.m. – opening of the Scienceville at the Stanisław Wyspiański Silesian Theatre.
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Scienceville at the Katowice Market Square:
- EduPromoDay – exhibition stands run by scientists from the region – interactive science shows and experiments will inspire visitors to discover the world of science.
- Polish Radio Katowice stand
- The Katowice Market Square will feature a Scienceville – planned
- 3 p.m. – artistic performances by university groups, which will give us a taste of the spirit of Silesian culture.
- 15:40 – solemn march of the Rector’s retinues from the Market Square to the seat of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) to the accompaniment of the Katowice Brass Orchestra.
OFFICIAL PART (NOSPR concert hall, 4 p.m.)
- Official opening of the academic year 2026/2027
- Matriculation and doctoral students’ oath
- Inauguration lecture by Prof. Ewa Chojecka entitled ‘Postindustrialna substancja jako kulturowe dziedzictwo regionu. Co wspólnego z historią sztuki mają wieża szybowa kopalni i maszyna parowa?’ [Post-industrial heritage as part of the region’s cultural legacy. What do a mine shaft tower and a steam engine have to do with art history?]
Artistic setting for the official part:
Cieszyn Brass Band of the University of Silesia; ‘Harmonia’ Choir of the University of Silesia; Silent Choir of the University of Silesia; Academic Choir of the Silesian University of Technology; Medical University of Silesia Choir; Choir of the University of Economics in Katowice.
Concert by the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra
Conductor – Maciej Tomasiewicz
Programme:
- Mendelssohn – Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Rossini – Overture to the opera William Tell
- Grieg – Peer Gynt: Morning Mood, The Death of Åse, Anitra’s Dance, Solveig’s Song, In the Hall of the Mountain King
Informacje o sposobie rejestracji na wydarzenie będą dostępne we wrześniu br.
Organizatorzy:
- Konsorcjum Akademickie – Katowice Miasto Nauki
- Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach
- Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach
- Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach
- Politechnika Śląska
- Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego im. Jerzego Kukuczki w Katowicach
- Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Katowicach
- Akademia Muzyczna im. K. Szymanowskiego w Katowicach
- Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach
- Województwo Śląskie
- Miasto Katowice
- Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolia
Honorary patronage
- Ministry of Science and Higher Education
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Sport and Tourism
- Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
- Polish Academy of Sciences
- National Representation of PhD Students
- Conference of Rectors of Art Universities
- Conference of Rectors of Art Universities
- Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland
- Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities of Technology
- Regional Conference of Rectors of Academic Universities
- Conference of Rectors of Universities of Economics
- Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities
- Mayor of the City of Sosnowiec
- Mayor of the City of Chorzów
- Mayor of the City of Cieszyn
- Mayor of the City of Rybnik
- Mayor of the City of Gliwice
- Mayor of the City of Bielsko-Biała
- Mayor of the City of Bytom
- Mayor of the City of Zabrze
- Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange
Media patronage:
- Dziennik Zachodni
- FORUM AKADEMICKIE
- Polskie Radio Katowice
- Radio Nowy Świat
- TVP 3 Katowice
- TVP Info
- wKatowicach.eu
Institutional partner
Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra in Katowice
Silesian Theatre
Accessibility
The place of the event – the seat of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice (NOSPR) – complies with architectural accessibility standards. Detailed information on the NOSPR website.
