Kraków is mourning after a mass shooting in its historic Main Market Square on Saturday 7 November 2026. Police say a man drove into the square in a car — reported to be a black Subaru — and opened fire on people from inside the vehicle using an automatic weapon. At least six people are dead and 16 injured, though officials have not confirmed whether those figures include three bodies found at the suspect's home. The alleged shooter, described as a far-right extremist, was wounded in an exchange with police and detained; one officer was shot while disabling him.

The victims include both Polish citizens and internationals. One British man is among the dead, and the Interior Ministry says five of the wounded come from Austria, Britain, Germany, Portugal and Russia.

The UK Foreign Office has updated its Poland travel advice to reflect the incident, noting the perpetrator is in custody and urging anyone in the area to follow local authorities and monitor local media. There is no indication of an ongoing threat, but the city's mood has inevitably changed in the short term.

Mayor Łukasz Gibała has declared official mourning from Sunday 8 November through Wednesday 11 November. Flags will fly at half-mast, black ribbons and black flags will appear on public buildings, businesses and transport, and all official events are cancelled. Entertainment venues have been asked to tone things down, and many cultural institutions will close or postpone events — so if you have tickets for a museum, concert or exhibition this week, check directly with the organiser before setting out.

Anyone in the city who wants to pay respects can sign the book of condolences in the lobby of Kraków City Hall at Plac Wszystkich Świętych, available from 9 am on 9 November, or add a message online at krakow.pl.

Context for travellers: this is a rare and shocking event in one of Europe's most visited cities. Kraków drew 16.25 million visitors in 2025 — up roughly 10% on the previous year — and was named among Tripadvisor's "best of the best" destinations for 2026. The old town, including the Main Market Square, is normally a busy, relaxed, heavily policed area. If you have a trip booked in the coming days, there's no need to cancel on the basis of this incident, but do expect a subdued atmosphere, possible closures and commemorations, and keep an eye on official updates.