This Sunday, June 1, marks a historic moment for Poland as the country heads into the decisive second round of its presidential election. Widely seen as one of the most contentious and closely-watched electoral cycles in recent history, it has sparked massive public interest, much of it unfolding online. With a growing share of the population turning to livestreams for political news and debate, YouTube Live viewership in Poland has surged in recent months, outpacing growth across all other major language segments on the platform.
Polarized press and political smears in Poland’s election
Poland’s presidential election cycle has unfolded amid unusually fierce polarization and controversy. International observers noted that the campaign was conducted in a “highly polarized” environment, with heated rhetoric on issues like immigration, LGBT rights and judicial reform. The OSCE pointed out that some candidates used “inflammatory messaging” targeting migrants, the LGBT community and other groups. Observers also raised concerns about the independence of institutions overseeing the vote, including the constitutional court chamber responsible for validating results. These tensions reflected deeper divisions over recent constitutional changes and Poland’s place in Europe.
The campaign also featured chaotic debates and media battles. A planned one-on-one debate between the frontrunners, liberal Civic Platform candidate Rafał Trzaskowski and PiS-supported nationalist Karol Nawrocki, collapsed amid a fight over which networks would host it. Instead, rival broadcasters staged two overlapping forums: a right-wing channel debate that excluded Trzaskowski and a separate pro-opposition event for his camp. Parliamentary Speaker Szymon Hołownia (also a candidate) decried the arrangements as a “scandal and a breach of democratic procedures”. When the debate finally took place, scenes grew surreal: for example, Nawrocki theatrically handed Trzaskowski a rainbow flag (to taunt his social agenda) and a left-wing candidate grabbed it onstage.
Also read: Political livestream content sees 56% spike in yearly viewership
Media and campaign integrity became a recurring flashpoint, with international observers warning of deep media polarization; both state and private outlets were accused of favoring one side while marginalizing the other. Mid-campaign, the government’s cybersecurity agency alleged that foreign-funded ads sought to sway voters, a claim META disputed, and parties traded accusations of illicit smear tactics. Even debates descended into theatrics and discord, and high-profile leaders publicly traded charges of wrongdoing, blurring the lines between official duties and electioneering. When the first round concluded, no candidate secured a decisive victory and a polarized, fragmented electorate was forced into a runoff, underscoring just how contested and unpredictable this cycle has become.
Poland’s YouTube Live surges ahead of all other major language segments
In Poland, the 2025 presidential race has not only dominated headlines across print, TV, and radio: it has also fueled a boom in alternative, independent coverage via livestreaming. Major broadcasters have run wall-to-wall specials, while opposition-aligned outlets and citizen journalists have found a home on platforms like YouTube Live, offering unfiltered commentary, real-time fact-checking, and interactive Q&A formats. In a market where political discourse carries more weight than in many other European countries, this dual ecosystem of traditional and digital media has engaged viewers around the clock.
Given this backdrop, a jump in livestream viewing isn’t shocking, but the scale is remarkable. In the past 90 days, Poland alone saw its total watch time climb by 25%, a growth rate unmatched by any other major market.
This staggering rise underscores how deeply the election has resonated with Polish audiences, and how livestreaming has become a vital outlet for political content. As the campaign moves into its decisive phase, these viewership trends suggest that YouTube Live will remain a central battleground for both information and influence.
Beyond raw numbers, the election’s impact is clear to see in Poland’s all-time livestream rankings. Entirely on the strength of election coverage, two channels broke into Poland’s top five.
Kanal Zero sits in fourth on the all-time ranking; Run by journalist, and one-time independent candidate, Krzysztof Stanowski, the channel’s spring broadcasts routinely drew hundreds of thousands of viewers. His livestream of the candidates’ debate peaked at over 330,000 concurrent viewers, highlighting the appetite for real-time political discussion outside traditional media.
Also read: Top news and politics livestreaming media channels of 2024
Even more striking, the channel of another candidate, Sławomir Mentzen, ranks in second now. In back-to-back interviews just days ago, Mentzen hosted Karol Nawrocki, attracting 358,000 live viewers, and then Rafał Trzaskowski, whose session peaked at a staggering 627,000 concurrent viewers. That stream now holds the runner-up spot in Poland’s livestream history: just 30,000 viewers shy of the all-time record.
These figures make one thing clear: Poland’s presidential election has transformed the country’s livestreaming landscape, pushing ordinary political coverage into record-breaking territory. From veteran journalists to candidates themselves, every debate and interview has drawn audiences comparable to major entertainment events, underscoring just how central livestreaming has become to public discourse.