The 2026 season at PreZero Arena Gliwice is gathering pace. Major music and sporting events are behind us, and concerts by world stars, national team volleyball, and spectacular shows await. Marcin Gawron, CEO of Arena Operator, the company managing the facility, discusses the behind-the-scenes work, its impact on the city, and plans for the coming months. PreZero Arena Gliwice has been nominated for The Best and More.
What’s this year like at PreZero Arena Gliwice?
Very intense – and that’s probably the best summary. 2026 is a season with virtually no downtime. One event ends, and the next one begins shortly after. We’ve already hosted major events, such as the tennis match between the Polish National Team and the Ukrainian National Team as part of the Billie Jean King Cup, and two Tame Impala concerts that attracted nearly 25,000 spectators. A truly strong second half of the year awaits us—concerts by international stars, volleyball, and major productions like „The Phantom of the Opera.” It’s a constant stream of activity and work.
Let’s start with what we can already summarize. Was tennis one of the first major moments?
Certainly a very important one. The Billie Jean King Cup is an international event that always requires significant organizational effort. It’s not just the match—it’s the entire setup, the venue setup, logistics, security, and service to the players and fans. And that’s something we’re very happy about—that we can deliver such events at a high level. This builds trust with the organizers and shows that Gliwice is ready for major sporting events. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve hosted stars like Louis Tomlinson, Tame Impala, and Alphaville. The arena has hosted major events, including Freestyle Heroes, Legends Game Polska with futsal stars, and numerous trade fairs, conferences, and business events, such as the Silesia Fishing Fair and the International Construction Fair Expo Bud.
And what else awaits you in 2026?
A lot, indeed. We have a very strong concert lineup—Guns N’ Roses, Bryan Adams, Scorpions, and André Rieu with the Johann Strauss Orchestra. These are events that attract thousands of people in themselves. Then there’s „The Phantom of the Opera”—a huge, international musical production returning to Poland after many years. It’s a completely different atmosphere than a concert or sports event, but that’s precisely the point—to offer a wide range of options. We’re also ramping up our sports activities—we have Volleyball Nations League matches and further international events coming up.
Looking at the calendar, it’s no longer just a local arena.
Definitely not. And that’s clearly visible in the data. According to research we conducted among Arena guests, as many as 89% of people come to Gliwice specifically for our events. This means we’re a real reason people visit the city. One of our main goals for this year is to have over 500,000 visitors.
What does this mean for Gliwice in practice?
Very specific things. People come for a concert or a match, but they also use hotels, restaurants, and transportation. We can confidently say that this way of operating the facility has a real impact on keeping money in the city. Three-quarters of people use accommodation, and half spend over 500 PLN per person. These are numbers that have a real impact on the local economy. But there’s also another aspect—image. Gliwice is present in the media, on social media, and appears at major events. People are starting to associate the city with a place where something is happening.
So the Arena acts a bit like a „magnet”?
Exactly. We attract events, and with them, people. And this movement spreads further—throughout the entire city.
And what does it look like from an organizational perspective?
It’s a truly extensive undertaking. Often, people only see the end result—a concert, a match, a spectacle. And behind it all lies a tremendous amount of preparation. We are responsible not only for the event organization itself, but also for infrastructure maintenance, safety, guest comfort, and cooperation with the city and partners. All of this must operate simultaneously and without major errors. Sometimes, in a matter of days, we transform the entire arena—from a sports layout to a concert or theater setting. This requires precision and experience. This is similarly true when events take place simultaneously in the Small and Large Arenas, which is no longer uncommon.
And the team is key here?
„Definitely. That’s the absolute foundation. Without the team, none of this would be possible. We have people who truly know their stuff—catering, technical, security, event management. And importantly, they’re passionate about it. Because at this pace, you can’t do it well without commitment. It’s often work in the evenings, on weekends, under time pressure. And yet, everything works, and the events are top-notch.”
This is also evident in attendee reviews.
Yes, that’s what matters most to us. 98% of attendees say they want to return to PreZero Arena Gliwice and will recommend it to others. This means that not only are the events good, but the entire experience is good—from entering the arena, through service, to leaving.
And what about the business offerings? The Business & Conference Center is a crucial element of operations in these types of venues.
Very important, taking place a bit „next to” the main stage, but it has a huge impact. The VIP lounges are a space for companies and partners who want to combine events with building business relationships. It’s not just about watching a concert or a match—it offers comfort, privacy, and the opportunity to meet at a completely different level. Our Business & Conference Center, on the other hand, operates practically year-round. We organize conferences, training sessions, and industry meetings there. This means the arena is alive not only with major events, but also on a daily basis.
So the arena isn’t just about concerts and sports?
Exactly. We combine several functions—entertainment, sports, and business. And they complement each other very well. We have days when we’re preparing a large production in the main arena, and a conference or business meeting is taking place simultaneously. This demonstrates our scale and capabilities.
What are you most excited about this season?
That it all works as a whole. We have world-class events—some behind us, some still to come—we have good attendance, satisfied guests, and a real impact on promoting the city of Gliwice through events organized at the Arena. And most importantly, we have a team that is constantly energetic and eager to work and develop this place.
How would you sum up the 2026 season in one sentence?
An important year, many challenges, but one goal – to act in such a way that PreZero Arena Gliwice functions as well as possible in every respect.
Łukasz Buszman
Beata Sekuła
