20th International Festival of Sacred Music, Warsaw

The International Festival of Sacred Music in Warsaw is currently ranked as one of the most famous Warsaw festivals and also one of the most important world festivals of this type. For the first time it was held in 1991. Przemysław Kapituła, a Polish organist, thought it would be an opportunity to celebrate John Paul II's fourth pilgrimage to the homeland. Although the idea was to organize such event only once, the celebration evolved into an annual festival of impressive scale.

The basic aim of the Festival is to present music works connected with Christianity and other religions, in the most attractive possible way. The concerts, full of outstanding soloists, choirs and orchestras from all over the world, are held in antique churches in Warsaw, mainly at the Cathedral. However, the festival does not only consist of concerts.

There are also musicological sessions and European organmakers' exhibitions.

Polish Primate, Cardinal Józef Glemp, and Warsaw Metropolitan, Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz, are the patrons of the Festival.