Guitars, Market Square, and 5 Chords. Join the Guinness World Record in Wrocław on May 1st!

Since 2003, thousands of guitar enthusiasts have gathered at Wrocław's Market Square to break the Guinness World Record for the largest guitar ensemble once again. Back in 2003, there were only 588 participants, but by 2025, that number had grown to 8,122. How many Ukrainians and Belarusians are among them, what song do they play, and how can you join? We asked the organizers and past participants.

Interestingly, it took Wrocław four years to reach its first global triumph. Before that, the record-holder was the American state of Tennessee, where 1,557 guitarists played simultaneously in 1994. Inspired by this story, record initiator Leszek Cichoński decided to test the readiness of Polish guitarists. 588 people gathered in the first year, 916 in 2004, and in 2005, they broke the thousand-person barrier with 1,201 players. On the fourth attempt in 2006, the goal was achieved: 1,581 people — the record was set. Since then, the Poles (not without help from international guests!) caught the bug and have surpassed their own achievements 11 times, cementing Wrocław's place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Why is Wrocław so keen on breaking its own record, and why do foreigners come there? We’ve gathered 5 main reasons for you.

Most participants say they don’t go for the numbers anymore, but for the sense of unity. When thousands of people are in the square, it feels like the entire city center is right there with you. Leszek Cichoński often says that "Hey Joe" is a magical song — there’s no politics or borders in it, just pure energy. Despite its simplicity, when 8,000 guitars hit that final E major chord together, it creates a vibration that can be heard for miles.

May 1st is a public holiday in Poland, and families flock to the Market Square. It’s a great adventure for kids. "Last year, my younger son, who is 10, was the one who dragged me to the square. He goes to music school here and heard about the event from his teacher," says Yauhen, a Wrocław resident originally from Brest, Belarus. "This year, there’s no question whether we’re participating. Oczywiście!" "I’ll be participating for the first time this year with my six-year-old son," shares Anna, a Minsk native living in Wrocław. "I love the guitar, and my son is just starting to take an interest, though he’s already convinced he’s a talent. I bought him a ukulele on OLX for 50 PLN — it’s a light four-string instrument that’s easier to learn and carry on a child's shoulders."

"Hey Joe" isn’t difficult at all — it’s just 5 chords with no barre (C-G-D-A-E). A beginner only needs a couple of days to prepare. Or five — if you learn one chord a day. "To be honest, if you hit a wrong note at some point, it won’t be noticed among eight thousand guitarists. But it’s better to practice so you feel comfortable," advises Adrian Miniarski, a guitar and ukulele teacher, during workshops. Even if your Polish isn't quite at a "C" level yet, your fingers on the "C" chord will save the day. By the way, it’s better not to overthink the lyrics — it’s an old ballad about a man killing his wife for cheating. The song starts right off with: "Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand?" But no one in the square sings it with a grim face. What matters here is the symbolism of Jimi Hendrix as an icon of freedom and virtuosity. It’s a sort of "oath of allegiance" to rock music.

The record's mastermind, Leszek Cichoński, turns 70 this year! He still personally conducts the crowd. Plus, upon registration (which is mandatory to officially count toward the record), you receive:

1. A participant ID (wristband), which grants access to the record zone and concerts.
2. An official "Certyfikat Rekordzisty 2026."

The organizers note: "We don’t keep statistics by nationality, but we see more and more people with Belarusian and Ukrainian roots. The participant lists from past years include Kyiv, Minsk, Hrodna, Lviv, and Dnipro. Even if someone writes 'Wrocław' as their location, names like Mikalai, Serhii, Vadzim, Kanstantsin, or Oleksiy speak for themselves. Music, a shared rhythm, and a passion for art are more than enough to join the Record," say the organizers.

There will be a rehearsal run before the official record attempt, and registration starts early in the morning. Even a beginner without Polish language skills or a music school background won’t get lost, but these phrases will boost your confidence:

• "Gitary w górę!" (Guitars up!) — the main command from the stage. At this moment, you should raise your instrument above your head.
• Bicie rekordu (Breaking the record) — in Poland, you "beat" (bić) a record rather than just setting it.
• Wspólnota (Community/Unity) — that feeling we all gather there for.

Przełamać lody (To break the ice) — why not have a chat with your fellow world-record holders?

The Record is part of a large festival that begins on Thursday, April 30, and lasts until Saturday, May 2. There will be guitar tuning stations, workshops, plenty of volunteers, and, of course, rock stars. The full festival program, map, and details can be found on the organizers' website.