Warsaw is searching for what makes it extraordinary. Over 100 unique spots, people, and phenomena were submitted to the “Phenomenon of Warsaw” competition, and residents can now vote for their favorite among 12 shortlisted candidates. Results will be revealed by late September.
Warsaw’s Quest for Uniqueness
The capital city is seeking the elements that make it exceptional. In the “Phenomenon of Warsaw” competition, more than 100 unusual locations, individuals, and phenomena were submitted. Now, residents can vote for their favorites from 12 selected proposals. The results of the poll will be announced by the end of September.
The Competition’s Focus
The “Phenomenon of Warsaw” competition highlights what makes the city unique. In the first phase, participants described places, people, and events, ranging from nature, the Vistula River, and parks to architecture, neon lights, and intangible symbols reflecting Warsaw’s character. Surprisingly, even the city’s distinct scent was proposed as a phenomenon.
Jury Announces Three Winning Entries
The jury selected three most intriguing nominations in the “Phenomenon of Warsaw” competition. The authors of the winning submissions will receive prizes of 1,500 zł, annual Museum of Warsaw entrance cards, and gift packages.
First Prize: The Nurogęś Movement
Dorota Tymoszuk-Nova won first place for her submission, “Phenomenal Nurogęś,” which describes the efforts of officials and volunteers to protect Nurogęś walks from the Royal Baths to the Vistula River. “If I could evaluate the phenomenon of what I want to write about, it relates to a place, event, people, and initiative. Everything about it is extraordinary—the way Warsaw unites, cares for its values, and stops for a moment. It’s the Nurogęś! A time when the city pauses,” she wrote.
Second Prize: August 1st as a Memorial
Agnieszka Pogorzelska secured second place with a reflection on Warsaw’s August 1st: “At the ‘Hour of W’ the entire city falls silent for a minute. This is the beginning, as the reason thousands of Poles and tourists gather at Piłsudski Square to sing ‘(Un)Banned Songs’ is a tribute to the uprising’s memory.”
Third Prize: Multimedialny Park Fontann as Warsaw’s Agora
Aldona Zawada’s proposal, “My Agora. Multimedialny Park Fontann,” claimed third place. She compared the park to the ancient agora, a shared public space where daily life thrived. “For me, this is the modern agora in Warsaw—a place where the lives of many intersect, including mine. I return here for answers, clarity, and everyday existence,” Zawada explained.
Voting Opens for the Final Round
From all submitted entries, a jury selected 12 phenomena for public voting. Participants can choose the option they find most meaningful and justify their selection through a special form on Wyborcza.pl/fenomenwarszawy. Winners of the best justifications will also receive 1,500 zł, an annual Museum of Warsaw entry pass, and unique gift packages.
Voting Period and Results
The voting will run until September 12, with the final results to be announced on September 30, 2025. The competition and poll are organized by the Warsaw Museum, Warsaw City Government, and “Gazeta Wyborcza.”
Jury Members
The competition jury includes: Sylwia Chutnik (writer), Bogna Świątkowska (cultural promoter, president of Bęc Zmiana Foundation), Łukasz Ostoja-Kasprzycki (guide, Warsaw history popularizer), Jerzy Majewski (Warsaw scholar, journalist), Karolina Ziębińska (director of the Museum of Warsaw), Edyta Mydłowska (representative of Warsaw City Government), and a representative from “Wyborcza” editorial team.
Source: MiejskiReporter, Warsaw City Government (UM Warszawa)
