One of Białystok's most enduring summer music traditions continues as internationally acclaimed organists perform in the city's historic Archcathedral.
Every summer, the sound of the organ echoes through one of Białystok's most recognisable landmarks as audiences gather for the Cathedral Organ Concerts. Now in their 31st edition, the series has become an established part of the city's cultural calendar, welcoming distinguished performers from Poland and abroad for a season of evening recitals in the Archcathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Running throughout July and into early August, the concerts celebrate both the rich heritage of organ music and the remarkable acoustics of the cathedral. Each recital presents a different programme, giving audiences the opportunity to hear interpretations that range from centuries-old masterpieces to contemporary compositions.
Andrew Galuska Headlines This Week's Concert
The next recital takes place on Friday, 24 July, when American organist and composer Andrew R. Galuska takes to the cathedral's organ loft.
Galuska has established an international reputation as a concert organist, conductor, lecturer and composer. Having studied at institutions including the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, he has performed in prestigious churches, universities and concert venues across North America and Europe.
His musical interests span six centuries of repertoire, although he is particularly recognised for his interpretations of Romantic and twentieth-century composers. Alongside his performing career, he is also an active composer, making this recital especially distinctive by combining established classics with his own works.
The programme opens with John Cook's Fanfare before moving through familiar favourites such as George Shearing's Amazing Grace and Virgil Fox's Simple Gifts. The audience will also hear Galuska's own Let There Be Peace on Earth and his Concert Variations on a Theme of Louis Couperin, alongside Léon Boëllmann's celebrated Gothic Suite.
A Summer Tradition in Białystok
For more than three decades, the Cathedral Organ Concerts have introduced audiences to leading performers from around the world while making classical music accessible in an informal setting.
Unlike many concert series held in traditional performance halls, these recitals take place within the historic surroundings of the Archcathedral Basilica, where the architecture and acoustics become part of the musical experience. The combination of exceptional performers and a remarkable venue has helped establish the festival as one of the region's best-known summer cultural events.
This year's programme reflects the festival's international outlook, bringing together artists from Poland, the United States, Hungary and Italy.
The 2026 Concert Season
The 31st Cathedral Organ Concerts began on 26 June and will continue until 7 August, welcoming performers from Poland, the United States, Hungary and Italy to the Archcathedral Basilica. While several concerts have already taken place, audiences can still enjoy the remaining recitals and a series of free accompanying performances at churches in Białystok and Drohiczyn.
Main Concert Series
Concerts already held
26 June, 7:15 pm – Chamber Choir of the University of Białystok, conducted by Edward Kulikowski, with Józef Kotowicz (organ, Białystok)
3 July, 7:15 pm – Dariusz Hajdukiewicz (organ, Białystok)
10 July, 7:15 pm – Roman Szlaużys (organ, Warsaw), presented with free admission as part of the East of Culture / Another Dimension 2026 festival
17 July, 7:15 pm – Agnieszka Radwan-Stefańska (organ, Kraków)
Featured concert
24 July, 7:15 pm – Andrew R. Galuska (organ, United States)
Upcoming concerts
31 July, 7:15 pm – Zsolt Máté Mészáros (organ, Hungary)
7 August, 7:15 pm – Ennio Cominetti (organ, Italy)
Free Accompanying Concerts
In addition to the main ticketed recitals, the festival includes a programme of free accompanying concerts at churches in Białystok and Drohiczyn, extending the musical celebrations beyond the Archcathedral Basilica.
Concert Already Held
Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Białystok
28 June, 6:45 pm – Chamber Choir of the University of Białystok, conducted by Edward Kulikowski, with Józef Kotowicz (organ, Białystok)
Upcoming Concerts
Church of St Casimir the Prince, Białystok
26 July, 7:00 pm – Andrew R. Galuska (United States)
2 August, 7:00 pm – Zsolt Máté Mészáros (Hungary)
Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Białystok
9 August, 8:45 am – Ennio Cominetti (Italy)
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Drohiczyn
26 July, 8:00 pm – Jan Bokszczanin (Warsaw)
2 August, 8:00 pm – Paweł Korytkowski (Białystok)
Beyond the main recitals at the Archcathedral Basilica, the festival also extends to churches in Białystok and Drohiczyn, where a series of free accompanying concerts offers additional opportunities to enjoy organ music in historic sacred spaces across the region.
Now in its 31st edition, the Cathedral Organ Concerts remain one of Białystok's most enduring summer cultural traditions. For visitors spending time in Podlaskie, the festival offers the chance to experience internationally acclaimed musicians in one of the city's most impressive landmarks while discovering a musical tradition that has brought audiences together for more than three decades.