Poland in the UK

Following last year's Polish Heritage Days (PHD) success in the United Kingdom, with over 100 events organised across the country, the Polish Embassy in London announces the eighth edition of the initiative. We encourage you to submit proposals of your own or ones related to the 2024 patrons chosen by the Polish Sejm and Senate and the following commemorations: the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising and the Battle of Monte Cassino, the 20th anniversary of Poland's accession to the European Union, and the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO.

Polish Heritage Days is a celebration of Polishness and values such as freedom, dignity, human rights, and solidarity. PHD includes events organised throughout May across the UK to promote Polish culture, the heritage of past generations, Polish social solidarity, strengthening of communities, and highlighting the Polish diaspora's positive role in the UK. The Embassy encourages Polish and British organisations to participate in the initiative and share their inspiring stories with local communities.

The official symbol of PHD is the red and white chequered flag which was the emblem of Polish pilots fighting in the Battle of Britain. Thanks to the promotional activities of the Polish Embassy in London, it has become the hallmark of Poles in the UK.

"I encourage everyone to organise initiatives and projects that will bring our fascinating history and culture closer to the local communities around the United Kingdom. Let us continue this wonderful tradition of acknowledging all things Polish. This year, we want to recognise many important events: the 80th anniversary of both the Warsaw Uprising and the Battle of Monte Cassino, the 25th anniversary of Poland joining NATO, and 20 years of Polish presence in the European Union. Indeed, there are plenty of reasons to cherish our history and tradition, and to highlight the positive contribution of the Polish community to the cultural, economic, and social life of the United Kingdom. I encourage you to inform local governments and media about your projects to increase their impact," said Polish Ambassador to London Piotr Wilczek.

Further information on PHD and the application process can be found on the Polish Embassy in London website and our social media. We encourage you to follow the hashtags #PLHeritageDays and #PolesinUK, as well as our Facebook page.

For further details on PHD, please contact your respective consular district : 

polishday.london@msz.gov.pl (organisations in the consular district of London);

polishday.manchester@msz.gov.pl (organisations in the consular disctrict of Manchester);

edinburgh.publicaffairs@msz.gov.pl (organisations in the consular district of Edinburgh);

polishday.belfast@msz.gov.pl (organisations in the consular district of Belfast).

Applications for PHD events must be submitted by 26 March 2024, with results being announced on 10 April 2024.