Budapest Festivals - Programs for Everyone All the Year Round

Cultural Festivals
Pop-Rock & Jazz
Gastro Festivals
Wine & Beer Festivals

Cultural Budapest Festivals

Budapest Spring Festival, 12th - 26th March, 2012

The largest cultural festival in Budapest offers a wide spectrum of programs including classical music concerts, theatre performances, dance shows and unique exhibitions. The two-week event is usually held end of March-beginning of April every year.

More about Budapest Spring Festival...

Budapest Fringe Festival

The Budapest Fringe Festival is held on the last two days of the Spring Festival and its aim is to introduce lesser known artists both from Hungary and foreign countries.

Titanic International Film Festival 7th-17th April, 2012

The first Titanic Film Festival was held in 1994. In 2006 Titanic became a competition-based festival. Every year movies shown during the festival are divided into certain themes and categories. The 10-day festival's venues include 4 art cinemas in Budapest, including the Urania Cinema.

The aim of the the Titanic Film Festival is "to collect a wide variety of daringly new, original, and trend-breaking motion pictures from every possible corner of the world; be it dark comedies, emotionally charged drama, genre films, or documentaries."

The award of the film festival, called Breaking Waves and designed by artist Luca Görömbe is is given to the most outstanding, daring and innovative film of the festival every year.

Museum Festival 21st-22nd May, 2012 Hungarian National Museum More than 100 museums from all over Hungary will be present on this weekend festival in mid-May. The event takes place in the garden and building of the Hungarian National Museum. There'll be craft fair, musical programs, folk performances. More information: Múzeumok Majálisa

Night of Museums, mid-June, 2012

Museums in Budapest in other towns in Hungary welcome the whole family with colorful progrmas all night long.

More information: Night of Museums.

Floralia Festival at Aquincum Óbuda, mid-May, 2012

The Floralia revives a popular festival of the Roman era. The event takes place at Aquincum Museum in Óbuda (Old Buda, district III.) featuring gladiator fights, theatre performances, flower exhibition children programs and many more.

BudaFest Summer Opera and Ballet Festival, 1st July-mid-August, 2012

The performances take place at two outdoor venues and in the imposing Opera House (ballet and opera) on Andrássy Avenue.: the Dominican court in the Hilton Hotel in Buda Castle (klezmer and jazz concerts) and at Szt István tér (symphony concerts) in front of St Stephen's Cathedral.

Open Air Summer Festival 1st June-31st August, 2012

The 3-month festival offers cultural entertainment throughout summer. Programs of the Summer Open Air Festival are held in the following venues within Budapest:

• Margaret Island Open Air Stage (Margitszigeti Szabadtéri Színpad), Water Tower (Víztorony), St Margaret monastery ruins
• Városmajor Open Air Stage, and
• Városmajor Park

TIP: Get 20% discount on tickets with a Budapest Card.

This year's highlights of the Summer Open Air Festival will be the premiere of the Evita musical and the Aida opera, both staged in the Open Air Theatre on Margaret Island. More information: Budapest Summer Festival.

Summer Music Festival in Vajdahunyad Castle, 12th July - 9th August 2012

The lovely mock castle of Vajdahunyad in City park hosts a series of classical music klezmer, swing and gypsy music concerts in the middle of summer. Tickets are 2500 - 5000 HUF.

Budapest Space Film Music Festival (Tér Film Zene Fesztivál) mid-June- August, 2012, every day 17.00-23.00

Venue: West End Shopping Center, roof terrace

The roof garden of the large plaza at Nyugati Railway Station gives home this summer festival offering quality and free entertianment for film lovers of all ages.

The films are selected from the best Hungarian and international films shown in the last couple of decades.

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Danube Carnival June, 2012

The multi-cultural festival takes place in several spots within the city centre including Vörösmarty Square. Professional and amateur folk artists, contemporary dancers, musicians from Hungary and all over the world will be present on this 10-day festival.

There'll be a procession on the Chain Bridge and Carnival Gala on Margaret Island Open Air Theatre. All events are free except for the Carnival Gala on Margaret Island Open Air Theatre.

International Book Festival Budapest 14th-17th April, 2012
Venue: Millenáris, Kis Rókus u. 16-20., Buda, district II.

This large book festival provides platform for representatives of the Hungarian and Central European literary life to introduce their works and meet each other and book lovers.

Every year a famous, internationally recognized author is invited as special guest of the Budapest Book Festival.

The European First Novel Festival is part of the Book Festival. Apart from reading sessions, conversations with authors, book signings a series of cultural programs make the vent more colourful.

Festive Book Week - 2nd-6th June, 2012, Vörösmarty Square

Summer on the Chain Bridge 27th June-19th July, 2012

The Summer on the Chain Bridge is a great festival that is free of charge. It takes place on weekends from end of June till mid-August every year on the most famous of Budapest Bridges. More about Summer on the Chain Bridge...

 

Festival of Folk Arts (Mesterségek Ünnepe) 29th-21st August, 2012

The Festival of Folk Arts is held in mid-August every year in Budapest Castle District and the Royal Palace. More on the Festival of Folk Arts in Budapest...

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Jewish Summer Festival 26th August-6th September, 2012

The Jewish Summer Festival is held at the end of August-beginning of September every year and its aim is to introduce Jewish culture and heritage. The festival offers diverse programs in several venues including the beautiful Central Synagogue in Dohány Street.

Read more about the Jewish Summer Festival in Budapest.

National Gallop (Nemzeti Vágta) 14th-18th September 2012
Venue: Heroes' Square, Andrássy Avenue, 56-osok tere

Held for the 3rd time, the National Gallop is a celebration of Hungary's horse riding traditions.

Apart from the horse riding race to which teams of Hungarian settlements can enter and compete against each other spectacular shows, crafts fair and a range of other interesting programs entertain visitors.

From 14th September the "Kitchen of Hungary" and the "Pálinka and Wine House" welcomes everybody who wants to taste specialties of the Hungarian cuisine as well as wines and pálinka (traditional fruit spirit). See details at: National Gallop Hungary

Budapest Baroque Music Festival Mid-September-October, 2012

Concerts in the Church of St Michael (Belvárosi Szent Mihály Templom) at 47/b Váci Street, V.district.

Café Budapest (formerly Budapest Autumn Festival 8th-17th October, 2012
Multiple venues

To counterbalance the Spring Festival that concentrates more on classical music and art the Cafe Budapest Autumn Festival focuses on contemporary art.

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Pop-Rock Festivals in Budapest

Sziget Festival (6th-7th) 8th-13th August, 2012

The largest open-air pop-rock festival in Central Europe takes place on an island on the Danube (Hajógyári Sziget) usually in the middle of August. Read more on the Budapest Sziget Festival.

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Jazz Festivals in Budapest

JazzForum Budapest, September, 2012

The most significant Jazz festival (the former MOL Budapest Jazz Festival) in Budapest will feature concerts in several venues in the city including the Palace of Arts and the vibrant Ráday Street in district IX. The greatest Hungarian Jazz musicians as well as international stars will perform during the vent.

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Gastro Festivals in Budapest

Hungarian gastronomy has gained world-wide reputation by some authentic dishes like goulash and chicken paprikash and use of the country's mascot spice the paprika powder.

Hungarians love cooking and eating and numerous gastro festivals in Budapest and in other parts of Hungary provide opportunity to introduce Hungarian cuisine.

Mangalica Festival 3rd-5th February, 2012
Venue: Szabadság tér, district V., M2 metro Kossuth tér station, M3 metro Arany János utca station, tram 2 Kossuth L. tér stop

The Mangalica Festival is a tribute to the mangalica pig breed which is indigenous to Hungary. You can get a taste of mangalica products like sausage, salami, black pudding, smoked ham etc. Once mangalica was on the verge of extinction but devoted farmers revived the rare breed and now its meat is sought after (and overpriced) due to its healthier fat constitution.

Besides mangalica products, an overwhelming selection of folk craft products, wine, pálinka, dried fruits, sweets, snacks are offered in the stalls. This year the festival will be held at a new venue: Szabadság tér which can accommodate more people than City Park, home of the festival in previous years.

Budapest Pálinka Festival 5th-8th May, 2012 This year the Hunyadi Court in Buda Castle hosts the spring Pálinka Festival the aim of which is to introduce high-quality Hungarian fruit brandies, pálinka in Hungarian, to both locals and tourists. Musical programs, concerts enhance the atmosphere during the 4-day event.

Daily tickets: 1 900 HUF includes a tasting glass and a PayPass card charged with 500 HUF, Discount daily ticket (purchased until 17.00): 1 500 HUF.

More information: Budapest Pálinka Fesztivál

 

Gourmet Days - 3rd-5th June, 2012
Venue: Millenáris Park, trams 4, 6, M2 metro Széll Kálmán tér stop - cc. 5 minute walk from there

Besides famous Hungarian and international wine producers, artisan cheese makers, cafes and restaurants will also offer their delicacies to visitors to Buda Castle in the beginning of May.

Entrance fee: daily ticket: 2 900 HUF/day, the ticket price includes a tasting glass

Coupons of 100 HUF and 1000 HUF are available at the coupon-selling points.

More information: Budai Gourmet

Septemberfest, 2nd - 4th September 2012
Venue: Népliget, M3 metro Népliget station

Pálinka & Sausage Festival 7th-10th October, 2012 Venue: Savoya Terrace Royal Palace Buda Castle This is a sister event of the spring Pálinka Festival but it's held in Castle District and besides pálinka, Hungarian sausage is the other highlight of the festival. Admission: 1 500 HUF daily ticket (includes a tasting glass). Open: from 12.00 till 24.00 Find detailed program on the organizer's website.

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Wine & Beer Festivals in Budapest

There's wine festival in Budapest in almost every season. No wonder the finest Hungarian wines deserve to be cherished as often as possible. A wine festival is a great opportunity to taste wines of the most famous Hungarian wine producers but you can also find excellent wines from lesser known wineries.

Apart from wine tasting a range of programs like music concerts, craft fair, programs for kids make wine festivals entertaining for the whole family.

Budapest Spring & Jazz Festival, first weekend of April, 2012
Venue: Városháza Park (City Hall Park)

The Spring Wine Festival is the first in the series of Budapest wine festivals held in April in downtown Budapest in the City Hall Park. Admission is free.

Főzdefeszt - Craft Beer Festival -13th-14th May, 2012
Venue: Mikszáth tér and environs, district VIII., tram 4,6 Baross utca stop, M3 metro Kálvin tér station

Taste unique beers made by small breweries from all over the country (nettle beer, Black Rose beer made with cranberries from Békésszentandrás etc.). Admission is free.

Palota Piknik (Palace Quarter Picnic) - 26th-29th May
Venue: Mikszáth Kálmán tér-Krúdy gyula utca, district VIII.

The so-called Palace Quarter of Budapest in district VIII. has become one of he most exciting parts of Budapest with some great resturants, cafes and bars and a few events like the Főzdefeszt Craft Beer Festival in mid-May and now a gastro and wine picnic called Palota Piknik. 10 Hungarian wineries will introduce their wines (Bock, Vylyan, Szeleshát, Bodri etc.).

Restaurants located in the area (Fiktív Pub, Leonardo Pizzeria, Darshan Udvar, Zappa Cafe, Don Leone) welcome guests with special picnic menu.

The event is free and is open from 12.00 till 23.00.

Czech Beer Festival - 8th-12th June, 2012 Venue: Városháza Park (City Hall Park), district V. The festival of Chech beers takes place in the city center in Városháza Park. Checz beer and food specialties and concerts ensure for a great time during the 5-day event.

Beer Festival in Buda Castle
Venue: Buda Castle, Oroszlános Udvar, Hunyadi Udvar

The 1st Beer Festival in Buda Castle is a great opportunity to sample a wide asortment of beers both by large and small-scale breweries.

Besides beer there'll be food and concerts and other programs to entertain. Opening Hours: 25th - 26th Aug: 12.00-03.00 27th Aug: 10.00-03.00 28th Aug: 10.00-24.00 Admission: day ticket: 1690 HUF (includes a mug of beer), 4-day pass: 4 990 HUF (includes a mug of beer), free for children under 12

Budapest Wine & Champagne Festival - 12th-16th September, 2012
Venue: Buda Castle

The most prestigious of all wine festivals organized in Hungary is held in the first half of every September. More details about the Budapest International Wine & Champagne Festival...

Belgian Beer Festival, September 2012
Venue: Museum of Hungarian Agriculture (vajdahunyad Castle, City Park)

 

Palinka & Sausage Festival Buda Castle - 6th-9th October, 2012
Venue: Buda Castle

Buda Castle hosts the Pálinka and Sausage Festival held over the first weekend of October.

A great opportunity for tourists and locals alike to taste the best sausages and pálinká-s (traditional Hungarian spirit made 100% from fruits). This year Russia and its famous national drink vodka will be in the focus of the festival.

Besides the gastronomical delights visitors can enjoy a wide variety of concerts during the 4-day event.

More information: Budavári Pálinka és Kolbász Fesztivál (official website)

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