Festivals and Annual Events

Held usually in the Duna Palota, this event takes place annually to celebrate the New Year.

A biennial event; held under the big top of the Municipal Great Circus in late January.

A very prestigious event that is held in the third week of February at the Hungarian State Opera House.

Cramming in over 200 events, this is the capital’s largest and most important festival which truly expresses Hungarian culture. It takes place over two weeks in late March/early April.

A kind of sideshow to the Spring Festival, this event is held in Millennium Park and other venues around the city. It is a three day festival and showcases non-mainstream theatre, music and dance performances.

The biggest tanchaz (folk music and dance) in the country; this festival spans two days in early April at the Buda Concert Hall plus other venues.

One of Budapest’s most unusual festivals, this citywide ‘Budapesti Bucsu’ has concerts, folklore shows, street theatre and even a carnival to entertain people. The festival is an occasion that heralds the departure of Soviet troops from Hungarian soil on 19th June 1991.

Another festival of music and dance, this event is a one-day affair that is held on bridges and by the river with street theatres offsetting all the music shows. Held on or around the 21st of June, the festival marks the start of summer.

To mark the summer solstice, two dozen museums across the city re-open their doors at 6pm, not closing until the early dawn (usually)

A mixture of Hungarian and international folk, world music and modern dance is on offer at this huge event. Held over 10 days, it occurs from mid-June in Vorosmartyter and on Margaret Island.

Held in the city’s district IX from mid-June to early July, the local groups perform music and dance in the streets.

The biggest sporting event in Hungary, the Grand Prix is held in early August at Magyorod which is 24km northeast of the city.

Establishing itself alongside some of the most popular music festivals in Europe, Sziget (‘Island’) is held in mid-August on Budapest’s Hajogyar (or Obuda) Island.

Craftspeople, prominent and unknown alike, from all over Hungary come to the city to set up stalls and workshops in the Castle District. Folk dancers and musicians perform during this three day festival.

Beginning at the end of August, this week-long festival exhibits Jewish culture with music and theatre performances, displays, food and films. Most events take place at the Pest’s Great Synagogue.

All types of classical music, from the legendary to the sacrilegious, are showcased in venues across Budapest for a full month, starting from late September.

The most famous race in Eastern Europe starts in early October, where you’ll see racers run along the Danube and the city’s bridges.

Made up of cultural events held in multiple city venues, this festival is held from late October to early November.

Naturally held at the Palace of Art in Mucsarnok, this massive forum for showing off classical and contemporary art and sculpture takes place in late November.

Good luck trying to get a ticket for the Gala concert and ball! The event held at the Hungarian State Opera House on the 31st December is the most coveted festival ticket of the year!