Before Goran Bregović’s concert, Bolesławiec mayor Piotr Roman painted a picture of a major event that would draw crowds to the city. During a City Council session in May 2026, he compared Bolesławiec with London, Opole, Sopot and Kielce. He spoke about large concert halls, tickets costing more than PLN 300, and people planning to travel from Kraków, Wrocław and Jelenia Góra.
Roman also argued that the only possible problem could be the “huge number of people” who would come to Bregović’s only free concert in Europe. He predicted that visitors would use local restaurants and buy Bolesławiec ceramics. Reality proved far less impressive.
City confirms: around 2,000 people
The istotne.pl editorial team analysed six photographs taken from a drone and 1,993 frames from surveillance footage. Our report shows that at the peak, around 1,900 people were visible in the drone photograph. The cautious estimate ranges from 1,650 to 2,200 people.
Our findings were confirmed by the City Office. According to data provided by BOK-MCC, estimated attendance at concerts on the main stage was:
- Nadija – 600 people,
- TABU – 1,000 people,
- SVAHY – 500 people,
- Goran Bregović & Wedding and Funeral Band – 2,000 people,
- ADHD – 1,200 people,
- Wiktoria Kida – 1,500 people,
- Zeppelinians – 1,000 people.
– said Agnieszka Gergont, press spokesperson for the Bolesławiec City Office.
Bregović therefore attracted the largest audience among the performers listed, but the difference between the expensive international star and the much cheaper concerts was not enormous. Around 1,500 people watched Wiktoria Kida, while ADHD drew around 1,200.
The crowd began to shrink
A chart prepared by the editorial team shows changes in the number of people visible within the camera’s range. The highest concentration was recorded at around 8:26 p.m. Afterwards, the number of visible attendees clearly declined.
At least PLN 100 of the fee per spectator
According to initial statements, Goran Bregović’s fee and that of his band, including flights, amounted to around PLN 200,000. With attendance of 2,000 people, this means the fee alone came to around PLN 100 per attendee.
Additional costs included the musicians’ flights, the stage, sound and lighting, security, and technical and organisational services. The event’s final settlement is expected to be known at the end of September. Only then will it be possible to determine the concert’s full cost and establish what share of the expenses was covered by sponsors and what share by the municipal institution.
For comparison, performances by some other bands cost around PLN 11,000.
“Piotr Roman’s oversized ego”
Residents writing to the editorial team point to the huge difference between the mayor’s earlier predictions and the actual attendance.
– This is Piotr Roman’s oversized ego once again; he wanted to show off. It’s a shame it costs so much – readers commented.
The mayor presented bringing Bregović to the city as an achievement of both himself and BOK-MCC director Kornel Filipowicz. He also spoke about the historical ties between residents of Bolesławiec County and the Balkans, and about the concert’s importance for promoting the city.
After the event, however, one basic question remained: did around 2,000 attendees really justify bringing in a performer for PLN 200,000 and incurring tens of thousands of złoty in additional costs?
Chuck Berry was also expected to draw crowds
This is not the first time Piotr Roman’s grand concert predictions have ended in failure. In 2008, the mayor was involved in preparations for Chuck Berry’s performance in Bolesławiec. The authorities were preparing for enormous interest and parking problems.
The istotne.pl editorial team warned at the time that the concert might not take place, as serious doubts had arisen concerning the organiser. Assurances continued almost until the end. Ultimately, Chuck Berry did not come to Bolesławiec, and tickets had to be refunded.
One thing has changed over the years: Bregović did actually perform. The predictions of enormous interest did not come true, however. Instead of the expected crowds and visitors from all over Poland, around 2,000 people attended – only slightly more than at the much cheaper concerts held as part of the local festival.