NaCzarter Team
45th Mrągowo Country Picnic 2026 — country legends by Lake Czos
The 45th International Country & Folk Picnic plays at the amphitheatre by Lake Czos in Mrągowo on Friday and Saturday, 24-25 July 2026. The Friday 45th Anniversary Gala kicks off the concerts, and from 23 to 26 July the free "Picnic in the Town" takes over the streets. The special guest is Albert Lee, a guitar legend straight from Los Angeles. You won't buy amphitheatre concert tickets from us — those go through the official sellers.
This is one of the oldest festivals in Poland. Only Opole, Sopot and the Warsaw Autumn are older, so we're talking about a genuine veteran. Country has been playing in Mrągowo since the early 1980s, and over these four and a half decades it has become the town's calling card. Anyone who's been once knows the deal: hats, guitars, a campfire vibe and an amphitheatre by the water where the sound carries across the whole of Czos.
When and where exactly
Let's split two things. The amphitheatre concerts are on 24 and 25 July. The 45th Anniversary Gala falls on Friday 24.07. And the "Picnic in the Town" — the free gigs, dances and side events on and around Mrągowo's market square — runs from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 July. So even without an amphitheatre ticket, you've got something to do for four days.
| Day | What's happening | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 23.07 | "Picnic in the Town" begins — free concerts and side events | Mrągowo, market square and town |
| Fri 24.07 | 45th Anniversary Gala — the main concert evening | Amphitheatre by Czos (ticket) |
| Sat 25.07 | Second concert evening at the amphitheatre | Amphitheatre by Czos (ticket) |
| Sun 26.07 | Finale of the "Picnic in the Town" | Mrągowo, town |
Who's playing in 2026
The biggest name is Albert Lee — a Brit living in Los Angeles, a guitarist who has played with half the legends of rock and country. Alongside him, a strong lineup from the Polish country and folk scene: Tomasz Szwed, Michael Lonstar, Zbigniew Hofman & Babsztyl, Gang Marcela, Alicja Boncol, Cezary Makiewicz. As every year, the roster mixes old hands with younger blood, so expect both the classics and fresh material.
How to buy tickets
Let's be clear right away: we don't sell tickets for the Country Picnic. NaCzarter is a yacht charter service, not the festival box office. Tickets for the amphitheatre concerts go through third-party sellers — ebilet.pl, kupbilecik — and through the official site piknikcountry.pl. It's best to check the current programme, times and prices at the source, since the details tend to firm up closer to the date. Fresh news also lands on the Picnic's Facebook page. The "Picnic in the Town" is free — no ticket needed there.
How to combine the Picnic with a charter on the Masurian Lakes
We have to be honest here, because this is a classic trap. You can't sail up to the Picnic on a charter yacht or a houseboat. Lake Czos, where the amphitheatre sits, isn't part of the navigable Great Masurian Lakes route accessible to cabin boats. The River Dajna links Czos only to small local lakes, not to the main route. So you simply can't moor beneath the stage.
On the other hand, Mrągowo works brilliantly as a land trip from your charter base. The closest you'll get is from Mikołajki on Lake Tałty — about 20-25 km by road. You leave the yacht in the harbour, grab a car, a bus or a bike, and within an hour you're at the amphitheatre. An evening at the concert, back on the water in the morning. For many crews it's the ideal plan: a day under sail on Śniardwy or Tałty, and country by Czos in the evening.
If you're planning a week like that, take a look at available yachts on the Masurian Lakes or — when the date is close — at last-minute deals. Prefer to sleep on the water without a licence and have a base a bit closer? Check out houseboats on the Masurian Lakes, from which you can also comfortably pop over to Mrągowo by car.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly is the 45th Mrągowo Country Picnic in 2026? The amphitheatre concerts by Czos take place on 24-25 July 2026, with the 45th Anniversary Gala on Friday 24.07. The free "Picnic in the Town" runs from 23 to 26 July.
Can I buy Country Picnic tickets from you? No. We don't sell tickets. Amphitheatre tickets are available from third-party sellers (ebilet.pl, kupbilecik) and at piknikcountry.pl. The "Picnic in the Town" is free.
Can I sail to the festival on a charter yacht? No. Lake Czos isn't connected by a navigable route to the Great Masurian Lakes, so you can't get there by cabin boat. Treat Mrągowo as a land trip — the closest point is Mikołajki, about 20-25 km by road.
Who is the special guest in 2026? Albert Lee, a guitarist from Los Angeles, respected worldwide. Alongside him, a strong lineup of Polish country and folk performers.
Will there be a TV broadcast? The Country Picnic is mainly a live event at the amphitheatre. It's best to confirm the programme and any broadcasts as they're announced at piknikcountry.pl and on the festival's Facebook page.
Cover photo: Cover photo: Lesnydzban — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
