In 2026, Europe will gain a pioneering new meeting place for journalists. The BREAKWATER. Word and Solidarity journalism festival will be the first event of its kind and scale, designed for reporters from Poland, the Nordics, and Central and Eastern Europe. The festival will take place on 24–27 September at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk.
The festival aims to become a hub for high-quality, cross-border and investigative reporting — a place where stories can transcend the boundaries set by the Baltic Sea.
“We called it Breakwater because a breakwater is the last barrier that keeps a port safe, protecting it from storms. In the same way, quality journalism is today the final bulwark shielding society from disinformation, censorship, government overreach, and the greed of business and big tech,” says Wojciech Cieśla, president of Fundacja Reporterów, the organisation behind the festival. “The location is no coincidence. Gdańsk, one of the Baltic’s key ports, has for centuries symbolised openness, dialogue across divides, and a turbulent history. It is the birthplace of Solidarity — the civic movement that peacefully won freedom and democracy. Gdańsk’s breakwaters are the perfect refuge for the best reporters: ready to collaborate and unafraid to fight.”
The festival is developed and organised by Fundacja Reporterów, an independent Polish centre dedicated to investigative journalism and media innovation, together with a team of experts drawing on extensive cross-border journalism experience.
The mission is to strengthen real skills, foster lasting cooperation across the region, and promote journalism grounded in facts. “This is an event for journalists, reporters, media workers, freelancers, podcasters, NGO activists, watchdogs, whistleblowers, students — and everyone who believes journalism matters,” says Cieśla. “Gdańsk, the cradle of Polish democracy, is the natural port for a festival built on openness, dialogue, and press freedom.”
The first edition of Breakwater. Word and Solidarity is organised in partnership with the City of Gdańsk, the University of Gdańsk, the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre, the European Solidarity Centre, Journalismfund Europe, and UTSYN – the Center for Security and Resilience.
