Last weekend’s Festival of Fiery Wings, Hiwasai 2026, once again brought the spirit of Japanese pop culture to Opole, gathering fans from across Poland for a weekend full of creativity, games, and shared passion. The festival took place on January 31 and February 1, 2026, at the Stanisław Staszic Vocational School, organized by OKF Fenix. As one of the region’s most recognizable fandom events, Hiwasai continues to prove that Opole is an important point on the Polish convention map.
Between panels and activities, people sat together, talked, laughed, and took countless photos, enjoying the simple joy of being part of a shared community built around anime, manga, games, and Japanese culture. From the very beginning, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. Colorful cosplays filled the halls, with the cosplay competition especially attracting long lines of participants and spectators alike (the jury of which we have interviewed during last year’s edition).
The program offered plenty of attractions: quizzes with great prizes (including the one we organized, which was met with a fantastic response), retro and modern gaming stations (a standout attraction was the chance to play the classic Hugo game via a telephone line, recreated in the style of the original European TV show), a karaoke room, and a fan-dubbing zone prepared by members of the Polish NanoKarrin community (who also performed a concert at the end of day one). This year’s vendor area was spread throughout the venue, giving an opportunity to explore even more stalls filled with handmade products, art, and merchandise. Artists and creators were happy to share their work, adding another layer of warmth and authenticity to the event.
Hiwasai 2026 was, above all, about people — meeting, creating, playing, and celebrating together — leaving everyone with great memories and anticipation for the next edition. We give our most sincere thanks to the organizers for allowing us yet again to participate in the celebration and we hope for the ability to return as part of the media participants during future installments.
(photos: OPOlink.pl)
