Thursday at the Festival – An Unforgettable Opening and Outstanding Concerts

The day began with the first meetings of the Academy of the Finest of Arts, which attracted huge crowds. Festivalgoers also enjoyed a parade of iconic vintage Volkswagen T1 and T2 buses, continued the long-standing tradition of attaching their flags to the Main Stage, and took part in the annual "Get Even with Diabetes" Run at noon. Then, at exactly 3:00 PM, thousands of Festivalgoers gathered in front of the Main Stage to recite the Festival Pledge together before Roman Polański officially declared the Festival open.

Moments later, the Main Stage came to life with its first performances. The Golden Spinning Top vote winners rose brilliantly to the challenge of opening the Festival, followed by the first powerful dose of heavy music from Vended. At 6:00 PM, L.U.C. & Rebel Babel Orchestra presented music from the award-winning film The Peasants. Accompanied by singers and dancers dressed in traditional folk costumes, the orchestra delivered a performance that was every bit as spectacular visually as it was musically.

At the same time, the Second Stage was buzzing with energy. Festival favourites Lej Mi Pół turned up the atmosphere even further, while fellow winners of the 17th Emerging Bands Competition for the 32nd Pol'and'Rock Festival, Trackstone and Wiraszko, proved why they had earned their place in this year's line-up. The day's programme also featured performances by some of Poland's best-known artists, including Jucho, Lipali, Varius Manx & Kasia Stankiewicz, and Łzy.

Back on the Main Stage, Swedish melodic death metal band Orbit Culture reminded everyone why Scandinavia is regarded as one of the world's great homes of metal music. Then came Dropkick Murphys, whose performance sparked absolute mayhem in front of the stage. The band's infectious energy, combined with the audience's incredible response, created one of the most memorable moments of the Festival so far.

For many Festivalgoers, however, Godsmack were the day's most anticipated act. Both devoted fans and those discovering the band for the first time were treated to a performance that will undoubtedly go down in the history of the Most Beautiful Festival in the World. Powerful riffs, iconic hits from the late 1990s and early 2000s, an electrifying two-drummer battle, and an unforgettable moment when Sully Erna, seated at the piano, asked for the stage lights to be switched off, leaving only the glow of thousands of phones held high by the crowd. The endless sea of lights was a breathtaking sight. The band themselves won't forget the evening either. Sully Erna told the audience from the stage that it was the biggest show in Godsmack's history.

And the excitement didn't end there. Closing Thursday's programme, Myslovitz delivered a set filled with the band's greatest hits. The crowd stretched as far as the eye could see, while thousands of voices joined together to sing classics such as Długość Dźwięku Samotności and Chłopcy, bringing the Festival's first official day to a truly unforgettable close.