On 11 April 2026, the premiere of the documentary “Wielka Warszawska” (2026, 27 min) took place at the History Meeting House (Dom Spotkań z Historią) in Warsaw.
The event was opened by Professor Hanna Schreiber, who introduced the perspective of intangible cultural heritage in Warsaw, referring to the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the work of the Warsaw Intangible Cultural Heritage Team.
About the film
“Wielka Warszawska” is an original documentary by Barbara Bossak-Herbst and Mateusz Szlachtycz. The film explores the renowned Warsaw horse racing event, which for years has attracted large audiences from the city and across Poland. It shows how a sporting event can become an important element of a city’s identity.
The film is narrated by Marek Siudym, a film, theatre, and cabaret actor, as well as a sports riding instructor and horse enthusiast. It is available below or on YouTube (also with English subtitles): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kniIZo97FeY
We also warmly encourage to experience this tradition in person during this year’s Wielka Warszawska, the flagship event of the Służewiec racing season, which will take place on Sunday, 27 September 2026, at Warsaw’s Służewiec Racetrack. It is not only one of the most prestigious horse races in Poland, but also a distinctive urban celebration, bringing together sport, history, atmosphere and the cultural identity of Warsaw.
The “Intangible Warsaw” series
The film was created as part of the “Intangible Warsaw” documentary series, dedicated to the traditions of the city. The series is developed within the activities of the Warsaw Intangible Cultural Heritage Team, established in 2020 on the initiative of Artur Jóźwik, Director of the Culture Bureau of the City of Warsaw.
The starting point for the project is the report “Intangible Warsaw. Traditions, customs and practices in the co-city”, prepared by Ewa Klekot and Hanna Schreiber. The aim of the series is to capture intergenerational practices, traditions, and customs that shape Warsaw’s identity and strengthen the bonds between its inhabitants and the city.
Other films in the series include: “Warszawskie tango”, “Warszawska gastronomia”, “Godzina W”, “Kwesta na Powązkach”, and “Opowieść szewca z Chmielnej”.
The report connects the ideas of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage with the cultural policy framework of the City of Warsaw adopted in 2020. Both documents emphasize the importance of cooperation, community, and co-creation in contemporary urban culture.
In this context, intangible cultural heritage is understood as a way of creating culture that draws on the past to build social bonds for the future.
