The “Istebna” Regional Ensemble - is likely the oldest still existing Polish regional ensemble. Its roots date back to 1901, and over the course of more than a century, it gained fame, among other things, thanks to a performance before Emperor Franz Joseph during the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of his reign in Vienna in 1908.
It is particularly worth noting that in 2026, the “Istebna” RegionalEnsemble will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its uninterrupted activity.
The ensemble also performed at the presidential harvest festival in Spała in 1933 before President Ignacy Mościcki. In 1934, “Istebna” participated in the Song Festival in Wisła, and in the following three years – in the Mountain Festival, from which Poland’s largest current folklore event originated - Beskid Culture Week.
The “Istebna” ensemble has appeared in many television programs and numerous radio broadcasts. To this day, people fondly recall the wedding scenes in the final episode of the TV series“Czterej pancerni i pies” (“Four Tank Men and a Dog”) in which the ensemble played a significant role.
The ensemble has performed on stages throughout Poland and participated in many renowned folklore festivals both at home and abroad - including in England, Scotland, France, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Macedonia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Turkey, Russia, Hungary, Ukraine, Italy, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, Mongolia, Jordan,Australia, Brazil and three times in China.
In 2019, at the invitation of the Polish Embassy in New Delhi, the ensemble performed in India and Nepal. In 2023, at the invitation of the Polish Embassy in Tokyo, it had the opportunity to perform in Japan. In 2025 it participated in the Andong Mask Dance Festival in South Korea.
