How Did Adrian Szymaniak Die? Married at First Sight Star’s Brain Cancer Battle Before Death at 39

Polish “Married at First Sight” star Adrian Szymaniak died at age 39 on September 5, 2026, after a more than one-year battle with an aggressive brain tumor. Szymaniak was diagnosed with grade four glioblastoma in July 2025 and underwent surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and privately funded tumor-treating fields therapy before his condition worsened.

Szymaniak’s death was confirmed by his family through his Instagram account. He is survived by his wife, Anita Szydłowska, whom he met on the Polish version of Married at First Sight, and their two children.

His final months were marked by continued treatment and updates about his illness, as he publicly shared his experience in the hope that it could give others facing serious illness some hope.

What caused Adrian Szymaniak’s death?

Szymaniak died after his battle with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer. According to the reports, doctors diagnosed him with grade four glioblastoma in July 2025.

Following the diagnosis, he underwent several forms of treatment, including surgery to address the tumor, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. He also received a privately funded treatment known as TTFields, or tumor-treating fields.

Despite these efforts, the tumor continued to return. His condition eventually deteriorated, and he received round-the-clock nursing care during his final weeks.

Szymaniak died on September 5, 2026, a little more than a year after his diagnosis.

Adrian Szymaniak’s cancer journey

Rather than keeping his illness private, Szymaniak used Instagram to document parts of his experience and discuss the reality of living with cancer.

In a post shared in February, he explained that serious illnesses are not always visible to other people.

“Not every illness is visible. Maybe you are sick. Maybe someone in your family or close ones is battling with a serious illness, cancer,” Szymaniak wrote, according to the translated post.

He also explained why he continued sharing his experience despite the difficult circumstances.

“I share my story because I have no other options, but also because I believe it can give someone hope,” he wrote.

Szymaniak said he tried to focus on gratitude and the future instead of allowing the diagnosis to define every day of his life.

“Instead of the daily sadness and regret, I choose to be grateful for every day. Instead of being helpless, I choose to fight and plan for the future,” he added.

His treatment also prompted a major fundraising effort, with supporters reportedly raising more than £500,000 to help him access treatment.

How did Adrian meet his wife Anita?

Szymaniak’s personal story was closely connected to the reality show that introduced him to his future wife.

He and Anita Szydłowska appeared together on the third season of the Polish version of Married at First Sight. The couple married in 2018 after meeting through the program and later had two children.

Their relationship continued through Szymaniak’s cancer treatment. In December 2025, several months after his diagnosis, the couple renewed their wedding vows.

Anita later confirmed his death through a statement shared on his Instagram account.

“With great pain, we inform that Adrian has passed away. In these extremely difficult moments, what matters most to us is silence, closeness and the chance to say goodbye to him among those nearest to him,” she wrote.

The family asked the public and media to respect their privacy and requested that no photographs or recordings be made during the funeral.

Tributes after his death

Szymaniak’s funeral was held Wednesday in Żołędowo, where family and friends gathered to remember him.

His close friend Piotr Kęsik described him as a person who brought happiness to people around him.

“Today we say goodbye to a good man. Adrian was joyful, honest, cheerful, loyal. I want to cry, but he probably wouldn’t have wanted that,” Kęsik said.

Szymaniak’s death has also drawn attention from fans who followed his cancer journey online. His public discussion of the disease had given followers an insight into the emotional and physical challenges of living with an aggressive brain tumor.

For his family, however, the focus remains on mourning privately. His wife and children have asked supporters to give them the space and silence they need following his death.