New Year's Eve (Sylwester) 2024-2025 in Warsaw

Warsaw is an excellent destination to ring in the New Year thanks to vibrant nightlife and beautiful holiday lights adorning the city center. The holiday, called Sylwester in Poland, is marked by mass festivities on the streets despite the cold weather. To warm up with some hot chocolate or mulled wine, stop by the Barbakan Christmas Market at the Castle Square with the giant Christmas tree and a holiday light show.

Christmas Market Events at Old Town Market Square

The nearby Old Town Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta) hosts The Old Town’s ice rink, which is open on New Year's Eve as part of the Christmas Market. You can stop by anytime to enjoy its winter wonderland atmosphere, music, and entertainment. On December 31st and January 1st, the market is open from 11 am until 9:30 pm.

New Year's Eve Show at Hala Koszyki

Be sure to also come by Hala Koszyki for a one-off musical concert, which is held annually and features iconic artists of the Polish music scene. During the previous years, the stage at this bustling market hall showcased groovy performances of Reni Jusis, DJ Kasp, and Natalia Kukulska, the star of the Polish pop and R&B genre. This year, the lineup features a Polish Warsaw-based alt-pop-rock band, Sorry Boys. Admission to the event is completely free, but if you'd like both to enjoy the concert, while tasting delicious dishes, consider booking a table at one of the restaurants at Hala Koszyki. The celebration kicks off at 7 pm and runs until late into the night, sometimes until 4 am on New Year's Day.

New Year's Eve Concerts & Plays

Known as the cultural centre of Poland, Warsaw hosts numerous theatre events to celebrate the New Year. At the Stefan Jaracz Ateneum Theatre, visitors have a chance to spend their New Year's Eve by witnessing a crime story, "The Mousetrap", unfold right in front of their eyes. The event takes place at 4 and 8 pm and tickets cost 160-230 Polish złoty.

Teatr Polski im. Arnolda Szyfmana is another great place to witness a fascinating play, "Dom otwarty", starting at 7 pm. Tickets start at 143,10 Polish złoty. To experience an evening of classical music, visit Sala Koncertowa Fryderyk, which hosts mesmerizing Chopin Recitals. The concert takes place at 5:30 and 7 pm, while tickets start at 65 Polish złoty.

New Year's Eve Parties in Warsaw

There's no shortage of incredible nightlife options in Warsaw, offering various ways to ring in the new year. Starting from the Hard Rock Cafe with its open bar and catchy music to Casino Night at Hala Mirowska, you'll send off 2024 with a bang. The party at Hard Rock Cafe costs 350 Polish złoty to attend and kicks off at 8 pm. Hala Mirowska opens its doors also at 8 pm, but tickets range between 399 Polish złoty to 799 Polish złoty. Various hotels throughout the capital also hold their own New Year's Eve parties, so consider checking in with your accommodation regarding any upcoming festivities.

New Year's Eve Fireworks in Warsaw

The most massive New Year's Eve celebration in Warsaw previously took place in Defilad Square, near Warsaw’s Palace of Culture and Science, the second tallest building in Poland and the sixth tallest in the EU with a total height of 778 feet (237 m). However, since 2017, the city hasn't held an official fireworks display out of concern for animal and bird welfare. The festivities typically start with a live music concert and end with a spectacular pyrotechnic display at midnight.

Warsaw is famous for its spectacular fireworks, however, in 2020, the city ran a laser show over the facade of the Palace of Culture and Science and in the sky above the city. The city continues the laser show tradition even now. While fireworks aren't forbidden and can be launched by residents of Warsaw, the city administration highly discourages the practice.