The largest literary festival in Central Europe, Kraków's annual Conrad Festival (named after the eminent Polish writer who wrote exclusively in English) hosts artists from around the world, in a range of disciplines - not only literature. Decidedly international, each year probes a specified theme, and each day of the festival culminates in a meeting with one Polish writer and two foreign writers. The Kraków Book Fair coincides with the festival, and the Conrad Award is also given to the author of the best prose debut published in Poland in the previous calendar year.

In 2025, the festival's them is 'Radical Hopey', and guests will include Kamel Daoud, Vincenzo Latronico, Emily St. John Mandel, plus cultural analyst and strategist Sem Devillart.