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Turbocharged growth: Poland’s 2026 investment surge

Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Finance Minister Andrzej Domański have unveiled Poland’s 2026 economic agenda, promising a surge in public investment across infrastructure, industry, and defense. With GDP growth of 3.6% in 2025 and record private-sector dynamism, the government aims to position Poland as Europe’s growth leader and narrow the gap with the United Kingdom within five years

Martyna Maciuch
22.02.2026, 11:55
Premier Donald Tusk
“Poland has become an oasis of stability and growth,” Donald Tusk, the head of government stated, adding that the country aims to catch up with the United Kingdom within five years. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

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The government is heralding 2026 as a year of acceleration, following what was expected to be a breakthrough year in 2025. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced plans to accelerate the growth of investment next year. “Poland has become an oasis of stability and growth,” the head of government stated, adding that the country aims to catch up with the United Kingdom within five years.

After positioning 2025 as a pivotal year, the government now frames 2026 as one of rapid momentum.

“And this will be turbo acceleration,” Prime Minister Tusk declared.

The Prime Minister, together with Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański, outlined the scope of plans for 2026 at a press conference held at the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW).

A year of “turbo” acceleration

Prime Minister Donald Tusk first described 2026 as a year of acceleration in his New Year’s address. At the time, he promised greater momentum in building the armed forces, as well as in infrastructure and industrial investment, including in the defense sector. He also declared that the principle of local content – “Polish first” – would become a firm rule in public procurement in 2026.

The conference at the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW) followed the same format as last year’s event, when the Prime Minister and Finance Minister announced what was to be a breakthrough year. Mr. Tusk himself referenced that earlier conference in his speech.

“When we met here, in this very room, a year ago, I said that 2025 would be a breakthrough year for the Polish economy. Admit it – you didn’t really believe it was possible in such challenging times. Yet it happened. Just as I sensed a certain risk back then, today I can say with much greater confidence that 2026 will be a year of acceleration. And I mean real turbo acceleration,” the Prime Minister told attendees.

What the data will show

He added that, despite challenges, the Polish state has become an oasis of stability and growth.

“The key is hard facts – data. It is on their basis that I present this – some might call it audacious – optimism. Poland is an undisputed growth leader in Europe,” the Prime Minister said at the conference.

He noted that GDP growth in 2025 is expected to reach 3.6 percent, while investment growth for the year stood at 4 percent. For 2026, he projected a 10 percent increase in investment.

Donald Tusk also cited examples that, in his view, demonstrate the strength and stability of the Polish economy, pointing to a strong currency, the value of Polish government bonds, and continued wage growth.

“The stock exchange is the best example of how domestic and foreign investors read the data on the Polish economy. In 2025, the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW) achieved historic growth – and we have no intention of slowing down. Finance Minister Andrzej Domański promised me – and he will likely confirm this publicly – that in five years we will catch up with the United Kingdom. We are catching up with countries like Japan, New Zealand, Israel, and Spain. I see no reason not to aim even higher,” Prime Minister Tusk said.

Finance minister announces PLN 200 billion for defense

“Last year, we announced that 2025 would be a breakthrough year – and it certainly was. The Polish economy demonstrated strength and dynamism, placing us among the leaders in growth across the EU. This was backed by concrete measures, such as deregulation. We also mobilized substantial European funds – from the Recovery and Resilience Facility – as well as public resources, and private sector investment has begun to flow. Investment momentum in 2026 will be at least twice as high as in 2025,” Finance Minister Andrzej Domański said at the conference.

He also outlined the planned allocation of public-sector investment. Poland intends to spend:

  • PLN 200 billion (EUR 41.7 billion) on national defense
  • PLN 25.2 billion (EUR 5.25 billion) on road infrastructure
  • PLN 15 billion (EUR 3.13 billion) on environmental protection, including building retrofits for energy efficiency
  • PLN 7.5 billion (EUR 1.56 billion) on the next phase of Port Poland
  • PLN 14 billion (EUR 2.92 billion) on rail infrastructure
  • PLN 2.4 billion (EUR 0.50 billion) on maritime economy investments
  • PLN 16.2 billion (EUR 3.38 billion) on local government projects (the combined investment planned by Poland’s 15 largest cities)
  • PLN 8 billion (EUR 1.67 billion) for Poland’s first nuclear power plant

The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs announced record public investment in housing for 2026. Expenditure in this area totaled PLN 3.8 billion (EUR 0.79 billion) between 2020 and 2023. For 2024–2026, it is set to reach PLN 14.2 billion (EUR 2.96 billion), he stated at the conference.

“Economic stability and a certain predictability require that housing be more accessible,” the Minister said.

How to boost Investment

Andrzej Domański also outlined additional public-sector measures aimed at increasing investment in Poland. These include supporting the international expansion of Polish companies, continuing the financial-market stimulus policy announced in 2025, and the recently announced creation of the Council of the Future, which is designed to support startups. Initially, the council will focus on the space and AI sectors, Domański said. He added that Poland plans to raise its contribution to the European Space Agency from EUR 250 million in 2023–2025 to EUR 550 million in 2026–2028.

“In 2025, we recorded a record number of mergers and acquisitions in international markets. Some may say that’s a lot. I say Polish companies are capable of much more. That is why, together with the Polish Development Fund (PFR), we have created a full package of tools to facilitate the international expansion of Polish firms. These include credit instruments, guarantee schemes, and advisory support,” the Minister said.

He also provided updates on previously announced projects:

  • The DeepTech Fund, mentioned last year, is now operational.
  • Work on Personal Investment Accounts (OKI) is ongoing, with public consultations underway.
  • The Innovate Poland Fund has launched.
  • ETFs will soon be available, making stock market investment more accessible.

Domański presented this as part of the government’s vision for a capital ecosystem. He emphasized that, through these tools, an additional PLN 100 billion (EUR 20.8 billion) in investment capital could be mobilized by 2040.

“Mr. Prime Minister, I accept the challenge: five to six years to catch up with the United Kingdom in GDP per capita, adjusted for price levels – the same measure in which last year we overtook Japan,” Andrzej Domański concluded.

A breakthrough year: What the government promised

In 2025, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, presenting his vision for a breakthrough year, pledged PLN 650–700 billion (EUR 135–146 billion) in investment in the Polish economy, measures to stimulate the financial market, and increased funding for science in Poland.

The Finance Minister at the time also announced plans to boost innovation funding. This was to be achieved, in part, by adapting the experience of the Tibi Plan, developed by the French economist whose program had generated billions in innovation investments in France. As part of this adaptation to the Polish context, the Innovate Poland program was launched in November 2025.

Deregulatory measures were also promised, designed to make it easier for Polish entrepreneurs to operate. In a conference session, InPost CEO Rafał Brzoska was invited to propose initiatives. The result was the creation of the Sprawdzamy – Entrepreneurial Initiative for Poland group. By the end of 2025, 119 proposals from the initiative had been successfully implemented.

Key Takeaways

  1. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, together with Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Andrzej Domański, announced the government’s plans for 2026 under the banner of a “Year of Acceleration.” These plans include investments in infrastructure, industry, and the Polish armed forces.
  2. According to the Prime Minister, Poland is a leader in economic growth in Europe, with GDP growth reaching 3.6 percent in 2025. The strength of the Polish economy is also reflected in a strong zloty, labor market data, and the value of Polish government bonds, Tusk said at the conference.
  3. This is another conference following the same format as last year, when the government announced that 2025 would be a “breakthrough year.” At that time, the plans included multi-billion-zloty investments, deregulation measures, and financial-market stimulus.