Earlier this month, more than 140,000 people made their way to Gdynia, a vibrant port city on Poland’s Baltic coast, for the 22nd edition of Open’er – a festival where music, youth and summer collide. For many Gen Zers, especially high schoolers, it felt like the final rendezvous before adulthood.

This year’s Open’er, held on 2–5 July at Gdynia-Kosakowo airport, brought an exciting mix of my favourite artists and global superstars, from world-famous rappers such as Future to iconic acts like Massive Attack and Linkin Park. There were indie darlings such as Mother Mother and Girl in Red, and, most excitingly, the festival gave space to rising young talents such as Ravyn Lenae.

The selection of artists may seem random at first glance, but there is a clear pattern of the choices this year. While the annual festival attracts people of all ages, there’s a noticeable shift in the vibe – a growing presence of Gen Z entering the party scene.

Festivals have always drawn young people looking for new experiences, of course. Open’er was once synonymous with Polish millennial youth culture, but now it’s obvious that the organisers are looking towards Gen Z for inspiration. The line-up felt like I was scrolling through my ‘For you’ page on TikTok.

And rightfully so – because screaming the lyrics of your favourite song with your friends while the sun sets over the stage is a feeling like no other.

My favourite act was Future (even though he was fashionably late): as soon as he appeared, the crowd lit up and the energy was infectious. Another standout was Camila Cabello: she performed her most iconic songs and also entertained her vast audience with an intricate set, props and impressive choreography.

Of course, there were still things to complain about: high food and drink prices, long queues for bathrooms, transport issues – all fairly standard for an event of this size. But these problems all intensified on the last day.

As storm clouds rolled across the previously clear sky, I didn’t realise how much they would foreshadow the chaos to come. Since it was a Saturday, even more people showed up – free from their weekday jobs – swelling the crowds. Rain hammered down, and the festival grounds turned packed and hectic.

Exiting the venue was even worse: the main gate was closed due to the crowding, which meant, for me and many others, a nearly two-kilometre walk to the nearest bus stop or car park. Those wanting taxis had to deal with two-hour waits. If I had to sum up that day in two words? “Perfect storm”.

Still, despite the madness of the final night, it was a thrilling experience. If you get a chance to go, you absolutely should. Open’er, though sometimes messy and chaotic, is unforgettable – especially when spent in good company.