For one weekend, the centre of Legnica will become a working forge, where fire, steel and traditional skill meet in front of the city's historic Town Hall.
Blacksmithing is often associated with another era, when forged iron was an essential part of everyday life and the village smithy was a familiar feature of the landscape. In Legnica, however, the craft will take on a very public role this August, as master smiths gather in the city's Market Square for the 25th International Blacksmith Tournament for the Silver Keys of Legnica.
Taking place on 28 and 29 August 2026, the jubilee edition brings together blacksmiths from Poland and abroad for a competition built around traditional craftsmanship. Organised by Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji w Legnicy, the event places the working process itself at the centre of the experience, with the main forging stations located in front of the historic Legnica Town Hall.
The anniversary gives the tournament particular significance, but its format remains rooted in the fundamentals of the craft. There are no shortcuts through modern equipment. The rules prohibit welding and modern locksmithing tools, requiring competitors to rely on fire, anvils, hammers and tongs.
An insect becomes a test of mastery
This year's pre-competition challenge is unusually specific: the “Master Insect” theme asks each participating smith to arrive with a detailed metal sculpture of an insect measuring at least 30 by 30 centimetres.
It is a deceptively demanding subject. Insects are defined by intricate structures, from wings and legs to antennae and segmented bodies. Translating those details into metal requires control over both the material and the traditional techniques used to shape it.
The finished sculptures will form part of the competition's artistic dimension, but the tournament is equally concerned with how blacksmiths work. The restrictions on equipment mean that traditional methods are not simply part of the visual presentation. They are fundamental to the challenge.
That makes the tournament different from a static display of historical objects. Visitors can watch skilled craftspeople transform heated metal in real time, seeing the physical effort and precision that sit behind a finished piece.
On Friday afternoon, the Market Square will begin to take on the atmosphere of an open-air forge. From 17:00 to 19:00, “Evening Blacksmith Variations” will offer a series of artistic forging demonstrations, allowing visitors to see the craft outside the formal competition.
The evening then moves into a broader end-of-summer programme, with electronic music from Dakoss, DJ Misza, Ardo and DJ Wajs, followed by an international headline set from Shaun Baker.
A competition becomes a city gathering
Saturday brings the central competitive element. From 12:00 to 18:30, the smiths will work live in front of the public, producing their pieces within a strict timeframe and following a freelance theme.
That combination of competition and demonstration makes the Market Square a temporary workshop as much as an event space. Rather than placing traditional craftsmanship behind glass or presenting it solely through finished objects, the tournament allows the public to witness the decisions, techniques and physical work involved.
The programme also deliberately extends beyond the blacksmiths themselves. At 14:00, children from Legnica's Młodzieżowe Centrum Kultury will perform for visitors, while Peyotte Bluesband takes the stage from 16:00 to 18:00.
At 19:00, attention returns to the competition with the announcement of the winners and presentation of the Silver Keys of Legnica. The awards provide the formal conclusion to the tournament, but not to the day's programme.
Half an hour later, WoWaKin will bring the event towards its final celebration with a folk concert and public square dance. The transition from forging competition to communal dancing reflects the broader character of the anniversary weekend: craftsmanship is the reason for the gathering, but the Market Square becomes a shared civic space around it.
For Legnica, that is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the tournament. The event does not preserve blacksmithing by keeping it in the past. Instead, it places an old craft directly into contemporary public life, where visitors can see its tools, techniques and creative possibilities at close range.
After 25 editions, the Silver Keys tournament demonstrates that traditions can survive not simply through remembrance, but through practice. In Legnica's Market Square, fire and steel will once again become something to watch, listen to and experience together.
Visitor Information
Event: XXV International Blacksmith Tournament for the Silver Keys of Legnica
Dates: 28–29 August 2026
Venue: Legnica Market Square (Rynek), in front of the historic Town Hall
Admission: Free
Organiser: Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji w Legnicy
Theme: “Master Insect” (Mistrzowski Owad)
Main competition: Saturday, 29 August, 12:00–18:30
Awards: Saturday, 29 August, 19:00
