Home MEETINGS STAR GDANSK – MTLG Destination Update 2026

GDANSK – MTLG Destination Update 2026

A slew of hotels are mushrooming in the city of amber

Nov 13, 2026

NEED TO KNOW IN 2026

Gdansk is taking another important step forward as a meetings destination in 2026. Following the opening of the new Hall D at AMBEREXPO, the complex is being completed with a 168-room ibis Styles hotel directly connected to the exhibition and congress venue. Hall D offers approximately 3,700 sqm of usable space and can accommodate congresses for up to 1,000 participants. The city’s hotel offer has also gained a notable new addition: The Brick, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, which opened in July 2026 on Granary Island. The 60-room boutique property is the first Marriott hotel in Gdansk and the second Tribute Portfolio hotel in Poland. Together, these developments strengthen Gdansk’s year-round offer for international meetings, business travel and premium stays.

DID YOU KNOW?

Just beyond Gdansk’s historic centre lies one of the city’s most atmospheric hidden gems – Wisłoujście Fortress, the oldest coastal fortress on the Polish coast. Once known as the “Gate to the Republic of Poland”, it guarded access to the port, and its central tower also served as a lighthouse from the late 15th century. Today, after extensive revitalisation, the fortress is one of the Museum of Gdansk’s branches open to visitors year-round. Its courtyards, bastions and waterfront setting also host the annual Wisłoujście Festival, which brings electronic music and contemporary visual culture into the historic fortifications. From the tower, visitors can also enjoy panoramic views towards Gdansk and the Bay of Gdansk.

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA IN 2026

Discover Gdansk’s amber heritage through the Amber Respite Workshops – an original hands-on programme at the Amber Museum. Designed and led by an amber expert, the three-hour experience invites participants to slow down, disconnect from everyday routines and discover traditional methods of working with Baltic amber. Using hand tools and techniques inspired by historic craftsmanship, participants shape, polish and create their own unique amber piece to take home.

The experience combines creativity, local heritage and wellbeing in one of Gdansk’s most distinctive museums. The programme also includes an individual visit to the Amber Museum, allowing participants to explore the story, diversity and craftsmanship of the “gold of the Baltic”. With a format accommodating up to 40 participants, it offers an authentic and memorable addition to an incentive programme in Gdansk.

PERFECT GIFT

Two gifts capture the spirit of Gdansk particularly well: Baltic amber and Goldwasser. Locally designed amber jewellery reflects centuries of craftsmanship and the city’s close connection with the “gold of the Baltic”. For something equally distinctive, visitors can take home Goldwasser – Gdansk’s legendary herbal and spice liqueur containing flakes of 23-carat gold. Its story dates back to the late 16th century and Ambrosius Vermöllen, a Mennonite newcomer from the Netherlands who settled in Gdansk. Today, Goldwasser is available in several bottle sizes, including travel-friendly 40 ml and 100 ml formats, making it an easy and memorable gift to pack. Both amber and Goldwasser offer visitors a tangible piece of Gdansk’s history to take home.

gdansk_poland — Photo Credit: Gdansk Convention Bureau

TOP EVENTS

Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 (URC 2026) – 25–26 June 2026
Gdansk hosted one of the year’s most important international political and economic events dedicated to the recovery and modernisation of Ukraine. Co-organised by the governments of Poland and Ukraine, URC 2026 brought together more than 7,500 participants, 67 official delegations and representatives of 38 international organisations, alongside financial institutions, businesses and local governments.

766th St. Dominic’s Fair – 25 July–16 August 2026
One of Europe’s oldest and most recognisable outdoor fairs once again transformed the historic centre of Gdansk into a vibrant meeting place for craftspeople, artists, collectors, food lovers, residents and visitors.

The Phantom of the Opera – 24–27 June 2026
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s world-famous musical came to ERGO ARENA as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations. For the first time in Poland, audiences could experience the production in its original English-language version, performed on an arena scale with a company of more than 100 artists, musicians and technical crew.

Andrea Bocelli – 14 August 2026
World-renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed at Polsat Plus Arena Gdansk as part of his Romanza – 30th Anniversary World Tour, celebrating three decades since the release of one of the most important albums of his career.

Inside Seaside – 13–14 November 2026
Gdansk’s major indoor music festival returns to AMBEREXPO for two days of concerts and accompanying cultural events. The 2026 line-up includes international artists such as Jessie Ware, The Streets, Editors, Goat, Hinds, Hermanos Gutiérrez and Kneecap.

GDANSK'S FEATURES

Natural and cultural factors

Gdansk continues to combine its unique maritime heritage with a constantly evolving cultural offer. In April 2026, the city launched the Gdańsk Centre for Contemporary Art, bringing together existing institutions in five locations and strengthening the city’s contemporary art scene.

2026 also marks the centenary of Oliwa becoming part of Gdańsk, celebrated through cultural and historical projects highlighting the district’s distinctive heritage. At the same time, development of the future Museum of Westerplatte and the War of 1939 is progressing, adding a new dimension to one of Europe’s most significant historical sites. Together with the Baltic coast, beaches, historic Main Town and post-industrial shipyard areas, these developments give event delegates an increasingly diverse cultural experience beyond the meeting room.

General and transport infrastructure

Gdansk’s international accessibility has expanded significantly in 2026. During the summer season, Gdansk Lech Wałęsa Airport offered 105 scheduled routes to 82 airports in 29 countries, operated by 11 airlines. New connections included Athens, Nice, Brussels, Dubrovnik, Palermo and Tallinn.

A particularly important development was Icelandair’s arrival in September 2026, making Gdansk the airline’s first Polish destination and providing convenient onward connections to North America. From 14 December 2026, Air Arabia will also launch direct flights between Gdansk and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, operating five times a week. The new route will strengthen Gdansk’s links with the Middle East and provide convenient onward connections to destinations across Asia and beyond. These new connections further enhance Gdansk’s accessibility for international congresses, corporate meetings and incentive groups.

Tourist infrastructure

Gdansk’s accommodation offer continues to grow in 2026. Prize by Radisson Gdansk opened in April as the brand’s first hotel in Poland, adding 125 rooms in a central location near the Motlawa waterfront. Collegia Hotel is another new addition, offering 98 rooms within a mixed-use complex near the University of Gdansk, with restaurants, conference facilities and a fitness centre. In August, The Bricks, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, opened as the first Marriott hotel in Gdansk, further expanding the city’s upscale accommodation offer. In the second half of 2026, a new ibis Styles hotel directly connected to AMBEREXPO is scheduled to open, offering 168 rooms and strengthening accommodation options for participants attending trade fairs, conferences and large-scale events.

Meetings infrastructure

One of the most important recent developments in Gdansk’s meetings infrastructure is the expansion of AMBEREXPO. The new Hall D, opened in 2025, adds approximately 3,700 sqm of usable space and features a mobile auditorium system allowing the venue to host congresses for up to 1,000 participants. The technologically advanced hall can also accommodate exhibitions, concerts, television productions and other large-scale formats. The development is complemented by a new 168-room ibis Styles hotel scheduled to open directly at the AMBEREXPO complex in the second half of 2026. Together, the new hall, hotel and redesigned entrance zone create an integrated environment for conferences, trade fairs and business events, further strengthening Gdańsk’s capacity to host international meetings throughout the year.

Marketing buzz

Gdansk has gained significant international recognition in 2026. The city received the GDS Innovation Award 2026 for a project developed by the Gdansk Tourism Organisation that places people with disabilities directly at the centre of accessibility audits and destination improvements.

Gdansk also holds the title of European Capital of Gastronomic Culture 2025–2026, reflecting the growing international profile of its culinary scene. The MICHELIN Guide Poland 2026 further strengthened this visibility: Arco by Paco Pérez retained its MICHELIN Star, Eliksir remains Poland’s only MICHELIN Green Star restaurant, and Brut Bistro received a new Bib Gourmand. Together, these distinctions position Gdansk around sustainability, accessibility, gastronomy and high-quality urban experiences.

GDANSK FACT SHEET

Destination population:	489,328
*The number of 4 and 5* category hotel rooms:**	2678
*The number of 4 and 5* category hotels:**	22
The size of the largest hall in the city (in m2):	16,130
Maximum hall capacity in theatre style (the largest hall in the city)	13,440
Banquet hall maximum capacity (the largest hall in the city):	4,000
Average internet speed when organising events (Mbps):	180