Hungary’s 20 August national holiday celebrations will be significantly cheaper this year, with the government planning to spend around HUF 4 billion on the three-day programme instead of the HUF 18 billion originally budgeted by the previous government.

The celebrations will also feature a much shorter fireworks display, a major audiovisual show projected onto Parliament, concerts and family programmes across Budapest. However, visitors looking forward to the heavily discounted beer available at previous celebrations may be disappointed.

Government spokesperson Éva Magyar announced the details at a press conference on Wednesday, while representatives of the organising Centrum Production, Mátyás Kálmán and Dániel Besnyő, presented the programme. Read more details here: Major changes are coming to Hungary’s 20 August celebrations this year: here’s what’s in store

A cheaper 20 August celebration with a different concept

The celebrations will begin on 19 August and are designed around the theme of telling Hungary’s thousand-year history while offering something for different generations. The organisers said they did not expect everyone to be interested in the same type of programme, but wanted visitors to be able to find something they could connect with.

Kossuth Square, for example, will once again become an entertainment venue after the traditional daytime ceremonies, while Margaret Island will offer family-friendly activities during the day and a light exhibition in the evening.

The celebrations will take place at ten major locations across Budapest, including Kossuth Square, Parliament, Margaret Island, City Park, Buda Castle and the area around St Stephen’s Basilica.

Beer will be more expensive than last year

While the overall event will cost considerably less, there is less positive news for visitors hoping for the exceptionally cheap beer prices offered in previous years. Last year, beer was available for as little as HUF 380 (EUR 1) at the celebrations. This year, the organisers said they would cap the price of beer, but will not use state funding to subsidise it.

According to Mátyás Kálmán, a half-litre beer will cost less than HUF 1,000 (EUR 2.75), while half a litre of mineral water will cost less than HUF 500 (EUR 1.4). The organisers stressed that the price cap will be maintained despite the absence of state support.

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Photo: depositphotos.com

Hungary’s 2026 national cake has also been announced

The press conference also revealed the winners of this year’s national cake competitions. The Bíborfehér (“Purple-White”) created by master confectioners László Balogh, Zoltán Balogh and Roland Kis of Kézműves Cukrászda in Gyula has been named Hungary’s Cake 2026.

The cake combines forest berries, roasted almonds, a smooth sour-cream mousse and curd cheese, with sweet blackcurrant wine adding a distinctive flavour. Chocolate, vanilla and lemon are also part of the creation, while freeze-dried raspberries are used as a finishing touch.

The same confectionery won the title last year, making this its second consecutive victory.

The Sugar-Free Cake of the Year 2026 was won by the team from Promenád Café in Balatongyörök with its Szilvafácska (“Little Plum Tree”) cake. The dessert centres on plum, combined with walnut and milk chocolate, while cinnamon mousse and green tea provide additional flavours.

Both winning cakes will be available to taste from 20 August at the Hungarian Flavours Street at Várkert Bazaar and at nearly 500 confectioneries across Hungary.

To protect the quality and authenticity of the winning cakes, their recipes will not be made publicly available until early 2027. Until then, only members of the Hungarian Confectionery Industry Association will be officially permitted to produce them under the prescribed conditions.

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