What kind of events can be attended without an immunity certificate in Hungary?

In Hungary, immunity certificates are still required when attending certain events, but people are allowed to go to hotels, stores, restaurants, baths, and water parks without an immunity certificate. Nonetheless, it is not easy to gain an overview of the continuously changing epidemiological restrictions and rules, so we have collected the latest rules concerning events.

According to the relevant government decree, sports events and concerts larger than 500 people can only be attended with an immunity certificate. As we have reported before, several Hungarian universities require their students to have a valid immunity certificate if they want to move into the dorms.

Theatres, cinemas, circuses, religious events, and village festivals, however, can be attended without an immunity certificate.

Restrictions do not necessarily depend on the number of people attending the event, writes Infostart.

On September 3, Vígszínház announced on Facebook that spectators could not go to the theatre without an immunity certificate, but the next day, they confirmed that, according to the relevant government decree, theatre performances can in fact be attended by people without an immunity certificate since spectators book their seats in advance and stay there for the duration of the performance. The situation is the same in the case of the National Theatre, the Madách Theatre, and the Metropolitan Grand Circus.

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The Örkény Theatre, however, has announced recently that people would not be able to attend the theatre’s performances without a valid immunity certificate, arguing that, considering the appearance of different virus variants, this restriction is the best way to keep everyone protected. Hvg added that the theatre offered a full refund to everyone who had booked a ticket but cannot attend the performance due to this restriction.

Religious events – such as the International Eucharistic Congress –, weddings, and funerals officially do not belong to the “event” category, so participation in these occasions is not subject to immunity certificates.

The case of village festivals is the most complicated: according to the latest amendment to the relevant government decree, only settlements with less than 5,000 inhabitants can organise outdoor festivals, and the number of people at such events is limited to 1,500, but participation at these festivals does not require an immunity certificate.

We also advise that you always check the event’s or the organiser’s website for the latest updates.

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Source: hvg.hu, infostart.hu