Life Festival Oświęcim is an idea of Darek Maciborek, music journalist in radio RMF FM.

The main concept of the festival is building peaceful relations beyond cultural and state borders in which there is no place for anti-Semitism, racism, and other forms of xenophobia. The message of peace and tolerance comes from the town that neighbors the largest Nazi German concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The first Life Festival took place in June 2010 and lasted three days. The audience had a chance to hear music in a variety of forms. The headliner of the final concert at MOSiR Stadium was Ray Wilson (ex-Genesis) and Berlin Symphony Ensemble. Support acts to the their show were popular Polish groups: Varius Manx, Trebunie Tutki (with their Jamaican reggae friends Twinkle Brothers), Voo Voo (with their Ukrainian friends UkraInni) and Hungarian Nomada. On stage at The Old City Square in Oświęcim appeared: Kasia Kowalska (renowned Polish singer), Hatikva 6 (Israel) and multi-national Mosa Sisic & The Gipsy Express. Other events of Life Festival 2010 included: sophisticated and touching performance of Mahler's symphony by an orchestra under maestro Pawel Przytocki and with an internationally recognized soprano Marjana Lipovšek as well as film screenings focused on the Balkans and Israel history.

Over 18 thousand people attended the second edition of Life Festival (11-18 June 2011). They witnessed unforgettable performances by James Blunt and Matisyahu during the final concert in which participated also T.Love and RotFront. Free concert at the Old City Square included artists such as: Blue Cafe, Kana, [dunkelbunt] and Krzywa Alternatywa. Other memorable events were: a concert by Dalibor Karvay, soloists of the Vienna Opera and Orchestra of the Karol Szymanowski's Philharmonic in Cracow, a monodrama "White Blouse" played by Krystyna Janda and opening of a special mural by famous Polish artist Edward Dwurnik.