RETURNING EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

National holiday and folk festival

Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix - tickets and information

Budapest Spring Festival
March
The Budapest Spring Festival has been Hungary’s largest cultural festival for 27 years. The series of events has an excellent international reputation and in many countries around the world tourist offices receive the planned program months in advance. In the last two weeks of March, both Hungarian and international guests will be able to see approximately 200 events in 50-60 venues throughout Budapest. Alongside classical and light music, the festival makes room for theatre, film and open-air events as well as other festivities.

Budapest Autumn Festival
October
One of the major aims of the festival is to contribute to realization of Budapest as a “festival city” and to reinforce Budapest’s cultural standing in Europe and its’ image as an important European cultural centre by inviting internationally renowned productions of new art and presenting its own or joint productions able to attract international attention.

Budapest Equestrian Festival
June
Hajógyári Island
The area where the biggest equestrian event in Budapest and the biggest Festival of Light in Hungary are held will be surrounded by the biggest yurt camp in Europe (about 60 yurts). The four day event offers a special experience to those visiting it.

Festival of Folk Arts and Crafts
August
Buda Castle and its surroundings
The festival is organized by the Alliance of Folk Art Associations in the Buda Castle. Every year this traditional cultural event introduces prominent representatives of traditional folk art to the general public.
Similarly to folk traditions the program combines craftsmanship with music and dance. The three stages introduce musicians and dancers from various parts of the world.
The dance groups invited introduce various dance and musical cultures of the world.
Apart from craftsman shows, music and dance programs and the traditional fair, the festival also offers many programs for children. There are several playing houses where they can try various crafts, such as felting, rush mat and rag doll making, string weaving, leatherwork, paper dipping, clay-working, pottery. They can learn about old tools on the terrace of the Buda Castle.

Cultural events in the Ráday Street
Poetry Day Festival March, April
Plein-Art Festival of Contemporary Art, May
Book Week and Paper Magic Festival, June
Reform Music Festival, June
Ferencváros Summer Games, June-July
Bárka Port – Valley of Arts in the Street of Arts, August
Mol Budapest Jazz Festival, September
St. Francis Day Carnival, October

The Night of Museums – Fires of Saint Stephen
23rd of June
National Museum of Hungary
Like the previous years the National Museum lighted by candles and torches offers a night of special programs. The exhibitions are completed by programs for children, unusual presentations, concerts, dance performances as well as shows with fire-eaters and tale-tellers.

Festival of Museums
May
National Museum of Hungary
The Weekend of Museums is unique entertainment for people of all ages and for foreign visitors.
This is the place ….
- where nearly 100 museums from different parts of the country are introduced;
- where nearly 90 programs are offered from gem cutting to a Latin dance show;
- where 50-60 craftsmen display their goods and visitors can relax in the shade of the museum trees, enjoy the delicious dishes or dive into the events.

Budapest Fair
June
The Budapest Carnival that takes place in the last weekend of June, is a two-day event that is a gift from the Budapest Municipality to the residents of the city. This event was first organized in 1991 to remember the withdrawal of the Soviet army. Throughout the years the huge shambles has become a public celebration, a cultural festival where people can feel free, celebrate and participate in events of the highest standards.

Bridge Festival
June
The Chain Bridge and surrounding area
The Bridge Celebration traditionally provides a worthy presentation of the Chain Bridge and the Danube panorama as well as architectural and transport places of interest such as the tunnel near the Chain Bridge, the funicular railway and other bridges.

Summer on the Chain Bridge
June – August
Chain Bridge
Exploiting the popularity and central location of Budapest’s famous Chain Bridge (Lánchíd), a new attraction was born in 2003. It was later expanded and adjusted to meet the tourists’ requirements. The aim of the events, staged over seven weekends, is to present the cultural values and tourist offers of Budapest and the country to domestic and international tourists. Tourists can enjoy shows, handicraft displays and cultural events – all this in the middle of Budapest’s cultural heritage between Pest and Buda.

Wine Village
August
Felvonulási Square, City Park
The aim of this event is similarly to the ones previously mentioned, to introduce some of the 558 grape- and wine-growing settlements in Hungary. Must, wine spritzer and cheese are served in various tents, while village drummers and beautiful hostesses assist them during a program rich on culture. The wine yards introduce their wine-growing traditions and cultural life, and wine orders from different parts of the country also offer a spectacular program. There is also exciting programs for the children in the Grape fairy’s yard where various musical and theatrical performances, clowns and handicraft training await them. The informal professional - often racy - discussions where artists, writers, poets will discuss the connections between art, politics, science and wine will probably be very popular too.

State Celebrations and Fireworks on the Day of St. Stephen
20th of August
On this day the name-day for Hungary’s first king, St. Stephen, is celebrated. The celebration of this date is usually a three-day event due to the fact that a pre- and a post celebration day usually are added. Like other state holidays, on this day the program starts with traditional concerts, children and family events, craft stalls, a street parade, fair and food for the visitors. The first night includes a jazz festival, but the highlight is the firework over the Danube, which lasts for 25 minutes and is fired from 4 different places.

Budapest International Wine Festival
September
Buda Castle
The International Wine Festival in Budapest has become one of the most popular wine festivals in Central Europe, attracting tens of thousands of visitors all eager to sample the incredible range of wines and learn about wine culture and traditions. The most popular element of this internationally acclaimed festival is the wine exhibition and fair taking place in what is perhaps Budapest’s most spectacular setting, the Buda Castle – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The very best of Hungary’s wine producers will be offering their very finest wines for tasting, but there will also be numerous non-Hungarian wines to choose from. Of course there would be no Wine Festival without fine cuisine – and that there will be in abundance, with outdoor grills, fish bistros, great cauldrons over open fires, home baking, cheeses made from sheep’s, goat’s and cow’s milk, and lots of other mouth watering dishes simply craving to be eaten accompanied by a glass of fine wine. There will also be side shows with great live music and dancing.

Budapest Pálinka Festival
May and October
Városháza Park
The objective of the Budapest Pálinka Festival is to draw attention to the unique values of pálinka and to the fact that it is part of the Hungarian culture, a ‘Hungaricum’.
At our event promoting high standard pálinka consumption you can buy and taste excellent drinks from leading producers. Visitors will be introduced to the tastes of drinks from many different regions of Hungary.
The festival will only feature products from leading producers with great professional knowledge.
The festival takes place in the Városháza Park behind the church on Deák Square, where the now demolished shops used to be. Gourmands can consume drinks worth 500 forints with the 1000 forint entrance ticket. The first 2000 guests will receive a tasting glass with the entrance ticket.
Quality music and quality pálinka belong together and should not be missed. Jazz, pop and folk bands are also to be found at the festival.

Sziget Festival
August
Hajógyári Island
This festival is one of Europe’s largest cultural and youth festivals, featuring 150-200 happenings at over 60 areas during one week. Every August Óbuda is one of the inevitable locations of the cultural and music life of Europe. During a week in the most pleasant month of the year, the Sziget Festival awaits students and young adults on vacation from Europe and other corners of the world. Sziget is not only a festival, but a week-long opportunity to camp out in the temporarily built festival city. Sziget is actually many festivals in one: each area offers a series of happenings; "individual festivals" are offered to the audience, with the chance of hearing mainstream, hard rock, world music, electric dance music, alternative styles, blues and jazz. For the younger, children's events are continuously offered and the older generations can also find excellent koncerts.

Budafok Wine and Sparkling Wine Festival
August-September
Budafok
The Budafok Wine and Champagne Festival, organised by the XXII district municipality, has grown into one of the biggest autumn events in Budapest. The festival’s program is made up so that everyone, from children to the elderly, can find a something of interest. Besides romantic cellar visits (the unique cellar system has a labyrinth 50-60 km in length) and gastronomic pleasures the festival visitors are offered colourful cultural programs: foreign and Hungarian nationality dance groups, brass bands, jazz bands and many popular performers will make sure the audience is entertained. The solemn instalments to the Promontorium Wine Order and the Chevaliers Törley Champagne Order are always utmost interesting. According to tradition, many historical wine regions of Hungary will be visiting the festival.

Budapest Christmas
24th of November-29th of December
Vörösmarty Square
The main attraction of this event is the traditional Christmas Market on Vörösmarty Square in the heart of Pest. This well-established event is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. There is always a wide range of folk-inspired arts and crafts on sale. Altogether visitors will be able to choose from the articles of around a hundred craftsmen and women and the quality of their work is subject to rigorous control. On the stage there are several shows, including puppet theatre, folk music and folk dancing. An inseparable part of the Budapest Christmas' program is the Advent Calendar which is presented in the windows of the Gerbaud House facade. 24 contemporary artists exhibit reproductions of their work and every day a new window opens, accompanied by a fanfare.