“What Happens After Dark?” Kraków’s Night Mayor Speaks in Warsaw

Kraków’s Night Mayor, Jacek Jordan, presented the city’s approach to building a sustainable night-time economy during a meeting held in Warsaw.

The event took place in February at Fabryka Norblina and focused on how urban decision-makers are rethinking safety, mobility, culture, and economic activity at night. It was organised by Urban Land Institute Poland, the Polish branch of Urban Land Institute (ULI) — the world’s oldest and largest network of experts dedicated to real estate development and land use.

One of the keynote speakers was Andreina Seijas, an internationally recognised researcher on the night-time economy, advisor to the cities of Barcelona and Sydney, and co-founder of the NightTank think tank. She stressed that managing night-time activity in cities cannot be reduced to a single issue such as safety, because the night is a multidimensional phenomenon.

Seijas also highlighted the simple principle of the agent of change, which mean that those introducing change should also bear the costs of mitigating the tensions it creates. This principle should work both ways — when residential developments appear near existing nightlife areas, and when new night-time activities are introduced close to established residential neighbourhoods.

From the perspective of London’s municipal administration, Julieta Cuneo from the 24 Hour London office summarised the city’s approach in one sentence: night-time life encompasses all activities and spaces that allow residents to participate in social and cultural life between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This definition broadens the discussion beyond permits and licences, emphasising residents’ participation in the city’s night-time life and distributing responsibility for its shape far beyond venue owners alone.

Kraków’s perspective was presented by Jacek Jordan — the city’s Night Mayor and Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable Night-Time Economy. The establishment of the 30-member commission by the Mayor of Kraków stands out among similar initiatives in other cities. The body meets regularly and includes not only representatives of evening and night-time industries, but also community representatives, city and district councillors, municipal officials, and uniformed services. Together, this broad group of stakeholders develops recommendations for the Mayor of Kraków.

Jordan pointed to the positive impact of additional patrols by municipal services in the historic city centre during last year’s summer season, which significantly reduced the number of offences. However, he emphasised that it is impossible to “station a police officer on every corner,” and that in the long term negotiations, shared standards, and joint responsibility among all participants in night-time life are essential.

Piotr Zmyślony, a professor at Poznań University of Economics and Business, noted that Poland is still experimenting with different models of night-time governance and that there is currently no nationwide framework for local governments.

In conclusion, participants agreed that the night in the city is not only about culture or entertainment, but also a real challenge for urban policymakers. While it can generate economic and social value, this is only possible if it is approached systematically — taking into account transport, safety, spatial planning, infrastructure, and cooperation between different stakeholders. Otherwise, tensions and conflicts are inevitable.

The Commission for a Sustainable Night-Time Economy established by the Mayor of Kraków is one example of such a systemic approach in practice.

In the coming months, based on experiences and observations from the previous season, the Commission’s members will prepare recommendations for additional measures ahead of the upcoming tourist season. The work of the Commission can be followed through the Public Information Bulletin.