The Polish Jazz Festival in London, in partnership with the Warsaw Tourism Organisation, brings the sound and energy of Poland’s capital to Union Chapel this Sunday September 13th, with Warsaw Jazz Takeover, a special event celebrating Warsaw’s extraordinary jazz heritage and thriving contemporary music scene.
Part of the Polish Jazz Festival, which runs across London from September 11th – 27th, the evening brings together Marcin Masecki Trio, Warsaw Village Band and HVMBLE, with a special guest appearance from award-winning London-based guitarist Robert Luft. The programme spans contemporary jazz, improvisation, Polish folk and experimental music, alongside a panel discussion, afterparty and dedicated Warsaw Zone, where audiences can discover more about the city and its culture.
Warsaw has been at the heart of Polish jazz for more than 70 years. From the legendary Jazz Jamboree to Warsaw Summer Jazz Days and the popular Jazz in the Old Town, the city has played a central role in the development of Poland’s distinctive jazz tradition. Today, venues including Jassmine, 12on14 Jazz Club and Klub SPATiF continue to provide a home for the city’s vibrant music community.
Warsaw Jazz Takeover offers London audiences the chance to experience something of that scene in a single evening, bringing together artists from different generations and musical worlds.
Led by award-winning pianist and composer Marcin Masecki, a key figure in Poland’s contemporary music scene, the Marcin Masecki Trio moves freely between jazz, classical music, improvisation and experimental composition.
The internationally acclaimed Warsaw Village Band has spent more than two decades reimagining traditional Polish folk music through contemporary rhythms, improvisation and a distinctive urban energy. Their work has earned international recognition, including a BBC Radio 3 World Music Award.
One of the new generation of groups emerging from Warsaw’s contemporary jazz scene, HVMBLE combine modern jazz with open improvisation and a restless, exploratory approach. The trio features award-winning musicians Mateusz Tomiak, Kosma Góra and Wojciech „Greeny” Zieliński.
Robert Luft joins the line-up for a special appearance. The award-winning London-based jazz guitarist is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and winner of the 2016 Kenny Wheeler Prize. His acclaimed debut album, Riser, was released on Edition Records in 2017.
The evening begins with „Secrets of the Warsaw Jazz Scene”, a special panel discussion exploring the history and contemporary culture of jazz in the Polish capital, featuring Mike Flynn of Jazzwise and Piotr Metz of Polish Radio Trójka.
The concert begins at 18:00, followed by a Soul Service DJ set and afterparty, continuing until late. Throughout the evening, audiences can also visit the dedicated Warsaw Zone, with activities, competitions and information celebrating the Polish capital and encouraging visitors to discover the city for themselves.
Warsaw Jazz Takeover is powered by the Warsaw Tourism Organisation.
The Polish Jazz Festival is the UK’s only festival dedicated exclusively to Polish jazz. Following a sold-out inaugural edition in 2025, the festival returns to London from September 11th – 27th 2026, presenting a multi-venue programme across Cadogan Hall, Union Chapel and Kings Place.
Bringing together established masters and a new generation of Polish artists, the festival explores the rich history and continuing evolution of Polish jazz, alongside the wider Polish musical landscape. The 2026 programme includes EABS, Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet, Urszula Dudziak, Kayah, Leszek Możdżer, Marcin Masecki, Warsaw Village Band and Kosmonauci, among others.
The Polish Jazz Festival in London is supported by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Polish Cultural Institute in London, the Polish Tourism Organisation and the Warsaw Tourism Organisation.
British Poles is the media patron of the Festival.
WHERE: Union Chapel, 19b Compton Terrace, London N12UN
WHEN: Sunday, 13 September 2026, 18.00
TICKETS: here
MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: here
