In brief

• Organizers of the Warsaw Independence March expect turnout of around half a million, up from about 300,000 last year.
• Prime Minister Tusk said no ban is planned and called speculation about one disinformation.
• The march goes ahead on November 11 under a pyrotechnics ban and a weapons ban, following a deadly attack in Krakow.

Organizers predict record turnout

Rafał Buca, spokesman for the Independence March association, said interest in this year's march is clearly higher than in previous years. The number of buses and organized group travel from towns across the country has risen three- or fourfold, and more volunteers have signed up to help. Last year the organizers estimated about 300,000 participants. Buca said it was hard to predict this year's figure, which could be around half a million or more (Co z Marszem Niepodległości po tragedii w Krakowie? Jasna deklaracja Donalda Tuska – Onet) (Tusk przecina spekulacje: Marsz Niepodległości nie będzie zakazany. Premier apeluje o brak kontrmanifestacji – Bankier.pl).

Government rejects ban

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Sunday that no one intends to ban the march and that claims otherwise are disinformation. He appealed to participants to avoid aggression, to show respect for police securing the event, and to refrain from counter-demonstrations („Marsz Niepodległości przejdzie”. Organizator zabrał głos po ataku w Krakowie – RMF24) (Święto Niepodległości w Krakowie może zostać odwołane – Wirtualna Polska).

Krakow attack and debate

The debate follows a Saturday attack on Krakow's Main Market Square, where a 24-year-old gunman opened fire from a car at people in the square. Six people were killed and 16 injured, including two police officers and the attacker. A national day of mourning is in effect. Some right-wing circles speculated that the government wanted to use the tragedy to cancel the march (Tusk reaguje na doniesienia o zakazie marszu. Jasne stanowisko premiera – Wirtualna Polska) („Spekulacje to dezinformacja”. Donald Tusk o zakazie Marszu Niepodległości – Rzeczpospolita). Organizers rejected calls to cancel. Buca wrote that the march would go ahead and that hundreds of thousands of people would attend regardless (Marsz Niepodległości. Prezydent Karol Nawrocki podjął decyzję – RMF24).

Security measures and route

The march is set to begin at 2 p.m. at Dmowski Roundabout and proceed along Jerozolimskie Avenue and across the Poniatowski Bridge toward the PGE National Stadium meadows, where a closing event called the Independence Stage is planned. The Mazovian voivode has imposed a total ban on pyrotechnics, and a ban on carrying weapons, including unloaded ones, applies on November 11 (Marsz Niepodległości 2026 pod hasłem „zamach na TK”? Trwa mobilizacja kibiców – RMF24). Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński has ordered services to ensure a peaceful course of the gatherings.

Krakow event under review

In Krakow, deputy mayor Jan Hoffman has said the city's Independence Day celebrations could be reformatted or cancelled. The final decision rests with the voivode, Krzysztof Klęczar.