Who is Dr. Iwona Korga — the new Grand Marshal?
The Pulaski Parade Committee approved the candidacy of Dr. Iwona Korga at a meeting in Clark, New Jersey, in October 2025. The official sash presentation ceremony for the Grand Marshal took place on January 15, 2026, at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York.
Dr. Korga is a figure connecting both sides of the Atlantic. She is the president of the Józef Piłsudski Institute of America — one of the oldest and most important Polish cultural institutions in the USA. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union (PSFCU), the largest Polish financial institution in America. By education, she holds a doctorate in humanities from the Pedagogical University of Krakow and a master’s degree in library science from Queens College in New York.
The City of New York honored Dr. Korga during a special ceremony at Gracie Mansion — the official residence of the mayor.
“For our freedom and yours!” — a slogan that takes on new meaning
This year’s parade slogan is “For our freedom and yours!” — words that have accompanied Poles since the November Uprising. In 2026, they take on a special significance.
The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence — a document for whose ideals General Casimir Pulaski fought and gave his life.
For the Polish diaspora, it is also a reminder that Polish-American brotherhood in arms is not just history — it is a living tradition recently confirmed by the Medal of Honor for Sergeant Michael Ollis, who died in Afghanistan while shielding a Polish officer.
Route, date, and program — what you need to know
- Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026, 12:30 PM
- Route: Fifth Avenue, Manhattan — from 35th to 56th Street
- Holy Mass: 9:00 AM, St. Patrick’s Cathedral
The Pulaski Parade is the largest Polish-American event in America. Every year, it gathers tens of thousands of participants and spectators from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Bands, folk ensembles, scouts, students of Polish schools, representatives of parishes, organizations, and clubs march down Fifth Avenue.
Key accompanying events
- April 11, 2026 — 90th Anniversary of the Staten Island Pulaski Parade Committee, Marshal Ball at The Historic Old Bermuda Inn
- April 11, 2026 — Pulaski Association of Business and Professional Men, Man of the Year Banquet, Russo’s on the Bay, Howard Beach
- April 17, 2026 — Wallington Pulaski Memorial Association, 40th Anniversary Gala, Royal Manor, Garfield, NJ
- September 25, 2026 — Parade Banquet, The Venetian, Garfield, NJ
- October 4, 2026 — 89th Pulaski Parade, Fifth Avenue, New York
89 years of tradition — since 1937 on Fifth Avenue
The first Pulaski Parade took place in 1937 and was one of the first ethnic demonstrations in New York. Since then, it has only been canceled three times: in 1942 after the US entered World War II, in 2001 after the September 11 attacks, and in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The parade commemorates General Casimir Pulaski — a hero of both nations, commander of the Bar Confederation, who, after emigrating, fought in George Washington’s army as a cavalry general. He died on October 11, 1779, at the Battle of Savannah. He was 34 years old. Americans call him the “father of American cavalry”.
Last year, the parade was led by Arkadiusz Bagiński under the slogan “1000th Anniversary of the Kingdom of Poland.” Among those who appeared on Manhattan were Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia, Mayor of Krakow Aleksander Miszalski, and CEO of PLL LOT Michał Fijoł. For the first time in New York’s history, an authentic Krakow Lajkonik appeared at the parade.
How to join the 2026 Pulaski Parade?
Applications for contingents and candidacies for marshals of individual groups are accepted until the end of March 2026. Polonia of Long Island is recruiting for a marshal and junior marshal (ages 17–25) representing Copiague.
Contact the organizing committee via the official website: pulaskiparade.org
If you run a Polish-American organization, school, or business and want to field a contingent — apply now. The earlier, the better your position on the parade route.
Voice of Polonia in the USA
