Food choices are made every day, from what ends up on the family shopping list to the decisions made by restaurants, businesses and public institutions. On 16 October, the III Wrocław Food Forum will bring these different perspectives together at Teatr Muzyczny Capitol.
This year's forum is centred on the theme “What harvest does awareness bring: The role of three sectors in shaping the future of food”, with discussions looking at how knowledge and awareness can influence the way food is produced, distributed and consumed.
The free event will run from 10:00 to 17:00, with registration opening at 09:00. Places are limited and advance registration is required.
Consumers, businesses and local government
The programme brings together three groups that have different roles in Wrocław's food system: consumers, food businesses and local authorities.
The first part of the day will focus on consumer awareness, including how to read food labels, recognising highly processed food, common claims and misconceptions around nutrition, and research into food habits among younger people.
The business-focused session will turn to shorter supply chains, cooperation between farmers and restaurants, newer food retail ideas such as vending machines, and ways of turning food waste into useful resources.
The final block will look at the role of municipalities. It will include an analysis by the Union of Polish Metropolia, followed by a discussion involving representatives of Wrocław, Kraków and Warsaw on local food policies.
The forum is organised around the idea that food policy is not solely a matter for individual consumers. What happens between farms, businesses, institutions and households also has a distinctly local dimension, particularly for a city such as Wrocław and its surrounding area.
Looking beyond the conference format
The organisers are also taking a less conventional approach to the day's programme. Talks and panel discussions will be accompanied by artistic elements, including a vocal performance and an exhibition in the Capitol foyer featuring work connected with food.
A performative lunch, prepared by Fundacja Mniej Więcej, is scheduled for 13:50. The organisers describe it as a networking and culinary experience built around facts and myths surrounding the food system.
A metropolitan perspective
The III Wrocław Food Forum is being held with the Union of Polish Metropolia named as a partner. The organisation brings together representatives of Poland's 12 largest cities and works on issues affecting cities and their metropolitan areas.
Marcin Wojdat, Director for Analysis and Research at the Union of Polish Metropolia, said:
“Large cities do not function in isolation from their surroundings. This can be seen very clearly in the case of food. Where it comes from, how it reaches residents and the role played in its production by municipalities in metropolitan areas should be one of the most important challenges in regional strategies for strengthening resilience. At the Union of Polish Metropolia, we are examining how these relationships look in Poland's 12 largest urban centres and their metropolitan areas. The Wrocław Food Forum is a good opportunity to compare our analyses with the experiences of local governments and experts, and to discuss the importance of food for the development and functioning of contemporary cities.”
For Wrocław, that regional dimension is particularly relevant. The city's food supply extends well beyond its administrative boundaries, connecting residents with farmers, producers, restaurants and communities across the wider metropolitan area.
III Wrocław Food Forum
Date: 16 October 2026
Time: 10:00-17:00, on-site registration from 09:00
Venue: Teatr Muzyczny Capitol, Wrocław
Admission: Free, registration required
Registration is already open through the organisers' online form. Attendance is limited because of the capacity of the Capitol venue and the format of the performative lunch.
For anyone interested in food, urban policy, local business or the relationship between Wrocław and its surrounding region, the forum offers a chance to hear several sides of the conversation in one place.
See more: Free STI Testing and Specialist Consultations Available to Wrocław Students
Source: Wrocław City Council
