The 5th International Hansa Congress took place in Visby, a medieval city on the Swedish island of Gotland, from 8 to 2025 June 45. The slogan for this year's edition is "Further together", emphasizing the idea of cooperation between European cities through a common cultural, economic and social heritage.
The convention officially began on 5 June at 20 p.m. in Almedalen park during an evening ceremony, preceded by a colourful parade of the Hanseatic cities.
From June 6 to 8, the centre of Visby was transformed into a vibrant Hansemarkt – a traditional market where member cities showcase local products, crafts and customs. The streets of Cramérgatan and Strandgatan were filled with stalls, music and the smells of regional food. This was the heart of the event – a place for meetings, conversations and cultural exchange.
The International Hansa Congress included the HANSEartWORKS festival, during which artists from Hansa cities presented performances, installations and multimedia projects. These included the interactive installation "Thanks to Pollinators" by Kamila Chomicz from Gdańsk and the performance "eMOTIONS" by Ryszard Baloń from Stargard, combining graphics with artificial intelligence technology.
This year's edition saw the first Hansa Organ Festival - a review of organ music with the participation of artists from 15 Hansa cities. Concerts took place in the Sankta Maria Cathedral and in churches on Gotland, combining historical sounds with a modern approach to liturgical music. History buffs could visit the Sankta Maria Cathedral in an unusual way - with a guide stylized as a medieval townsman. The route included places that are not normally accessible, such as the attic or narrow, stone stairs, allowing you to look at the historic temple from a completely different perspective.
The international event ended on June 8 – also with a parade and a joint farewell of the participants. The Hansa Congress is not only a sentimental journey to the past, but above all a living platform for cooperation between European cities – combining tradition with modernity, locality with international dialogue. The event in Visby shows that the values that united the Hansa cities centuries ago remain relevant today: solidarity, openness and cooperation across borders.
The Kołobrzeg Institute of Culture and Promotion was represented by Mariusz Juszko and Piotr Rybczyński.
The next, 46th International Hansa Congress will be held on June 11-14, 2026 in Stargard.
