When is Polish American Heritage Month?
Polish American Heritage Month is under way
Thu, Oct 1, 2026 – Sat, Oct 31, 2026
The whole of October.
Polish American Heritage Month celebrates the history, culture and contributions of Americans of Polish descent. It began in Philadelphia in 1981 and has been marked in October since 1986, when Congress moved it from August.
About Polish American Heritage Month
The month gives Polish American parishes, clubs, schools and cultural centers a shared time to celebrate their history, from the Revolutionary War generals Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Kazimierz Pulaski to the millions of Poles who came to American cities, mines and farms in later centuries. Its organizers also point back to 1608, when Polish craftsmen were among the skilled workers brought to the Jamestown colony in Virginia, and count 2026 as the 418th anniversary of their arrival.
The observance grew out of the Polish American Cultural Center in Philadelphia. Its president, Michael Blichasz, still chairs the national Polish American Heritage Month Committee, and the committee's 2026 news release counted that year as the 45th anniversary of a celebration that started in Philadelphia and spread nationwide. It was first held in August. In 1984 Congress passed House Joint Resolution 577 designating August 1984 as Polish American Heritage Month, and President Ronald Reagan proclaimed it, noting that the Polish American Congress and other groups were celebrating that month.
In 1986 the observance moved to October. Congress passed House Joint Resolution 547 designating October, and Reagan's proclamation that October 13 urged all Americans to join in. Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush proclaimed the month in later years, including Bush's proclamation for 1992. Since then it has continued mostly through state legislatures, local governments and community groups rather than annual presidential proclamations.
October also contains General Pulaski Memorial Day on October 11, the anniversary of the Polish-born cavalry commander's death after he was wounded at the Siege of Savannah in 1779. Presidents still issue a proclamation for that day each year, and many Pulaski Day parades and festivals fall within the heritage month.
Sources: Polish American Cultural Center: Polish American Heritage Month, Polish American Heritage Month Committee: News release, 2026, Proclamation 5229, Polish American Heritage Month, 1984 (98 Stat. 3627, via GovInfo), American Presidency Project: Proclamation 5548, Polish American Heritage Month, 1986, Federal Register: General Pulaski Memorial Day, 2025. How we check dates.
How to mark Polish American Heritage Month
- Go to a Pulaski Day parade, a Polish festival or a parish dinner in your area during October.
- Make pierogi, golabki or bigos with family or friends, and write down a relative's recipe before it is lost.
- Read about Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Kazimierz Pulaski and their roles in the American Revolution, or visit the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Philadelphia.
- Trace a Polish ancestor through passenger lists, naturalization papers and parish records at a library or the National Archives.
- Read a book by a Polish or Polish American author, such as a Nobel laureate like Wislawa Szymborska or Czeslaw Milosz.
Polish American Heritage Month dates
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wed, Oct 1 – Fri, Oct 31 |
| 2026 | Thu, Oct 1 – Sat, Oct 31 |
| 2027 | Fri, Oct 1 – Sun, Oct 31 |
| 2028 | Sun, Oct 1 – Tue, Oct 31 |
| 2029 | Mon, Oct 1 – Wed, Oct 31 |
| 2030 | Tue, Oct 1 – Thu, Oct 31 |
| 2031 | Wed, Oct 1 – Fri, Oct 31 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Polish American Heritage Month 2026?
Polish American Heritage Month 2026 is Thu, Oct 1, 2026 – Sat, Oct 31, 2026. It falls on the whole of October. In 2027, it is on Friday, October 1, 2027.
Why is Polish American Heritage Month in October?
It was first held in August, but in 1986 Congress designated October instead, and the organizers have kept that month ever since. October also includes General Pulaski Memorial Day on October 11, which presidents proclaim each year.
Who started Polish American Heritage Month?
It began at the Polish American Cultural Center in Philadelphia, whose president Michael Blichasz chairs the national Polish American Heritage Month Committee. Congress recognized the month in 1984 and again in 1986.
Is Polish American Heritage Month a public holiday?
No. Polish American Heritage Month is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.