Politics · Local life
Kraków returns to the polls: what is at stake in the 11 October runoff
Łukasz Gibała and Monika Piątkowska will meet in the second round of Kraków’s early mayoral election. Gibała leads after the first round, but the outcome on 11 October remains undecided.
Kraków has not yet chosen its next mayor. After the first round on Sunday 27 September 2026, Łukasz Gibała and Monika Piątkowska remain in contention. The city’s Public Information Bulletin confirms another vote on Sunday 11 October and publishes the municipal electoral commission’s decision dated 28 September.
Results beyond the estimates
According to results from all polling stations reported by Radio ZET on 28 September, Łukasz Gibała received 36.38% of the vote, against 29.91% for Monika Piątkowska. PiS candidate Michał Drewnicki finished third with 17.50%. Turnout reached 43.50%.
With no candidate winning more than half of valid votes, a second round is required. The gap between the finalists is 6.47 percentage points. These figures are not the exit polls released on election night, which produced different estimates.
Two political paths face each other
Łukasz Gibała founded the Kraków dla Mieszkańców association, “Kraków for Residents”. Monika Piątkowska is a senator supported by the Civic Coalition (KO) and the Polish People’s Party (PSL). The vote therefore brings together two candidates with different political bases, with voters still to make the final decision.
Why an early election?
As TVP Info explains in its election coverage, the election follows Aleksander Miszalski’s removal in the May referendum. He had been elected to lead the city in 2024. September’s vote is therefore not part of the regular municipal election cycle: it is intended to choose his successor.
What to watch before 11 October
A first-round lead is not enough to determine the eventual winner. Analysis of the next stage will focus particularly on voter mobilisation and the choices of those whose preferred candidate was eliminated. Their votes do not transfer automatically to either finalist.
A useful way to follow this local campaign will be to compare the candidates’ concrete proposals and how they explain their funding and implementation. This article presents results and the timetable; it is neither a ranking of platforms nor a voting recommendation.
The key date
The second round will take place on Sunday 11 October 2026. Official documents and voter information are brought together on Kraków’s BIP portal, listed among the sources below.
Original AI-generated illustration. A conceptual composition, not documentary evidence, with no depiction of the candidates.