23 Festivals in Hungary: Where to Go to Embrace Local Culture and Boost Happiness Levels

Our guest author, Maria Zantsevich, compiled a list of annual festivals that showcase Hungary’s love for good wine, music (as the UNESCO City of Music, it’s the perfect spot), outdoor relaxation, and those that delve into the country’s history. From major European and global music festivals to stories about Jewish heritage and Swabian Turkey, with plenty of food, wine, and sometimes sports (occasionally paired with wine) – it’s all here. Most of these festivals can be experienced this year or early next year, so plan your travel calendar!

How to feel happiness? Sometimes you can just take a trip to Hungary. Swallowing the local air just after leaving the airport, you immediately understand that everything here is easy and simple, and therefore, beautiful. Even Chinese expats who may not be familiar with the word ‘vacation’ cherish weekends. From personal observations, even consistently open Chinese shops have started closing on Sundays and local holidays.

The central cafes in Budapest don’t prioritize revenue and close after 18:00 (and even earlier on weekends, sometimes after 16:00). Hungarian wine may not be extensively studied by international sommeliers, but it is excellent and reasonably priced. The food here is hearty and homely, and describing the national love for music of various genres in just a few words is hardly possible. Want to be near the water? You can find a hot beach without leaving Hungary. By the way, it’s not just any beach; it’s the Swabian one.

It’s precisely along this beach that marathons are run, and people recharge with wine at pit stops. All of this and a bit more is in the extensive list of festivals below. There are many words, but there is even more useful information. Everything for your inspiration to pack your bags right after reading.

I want to experience music!

Here’s a list of the main music events:

**SZIGET FESTIVAL**

– August, every year

– Location: Budapest

– [Sziget Festival Website](https://szigetfestival.com/en/)

“One of the largest multi-genre festivals in the world is held on Margaret Island between Buda and Pest. Sziget Festival, meaning ‘Island’ in Hungarian, has been attracting music enthusiasts since 1993. The festival roars for a week with multiple stages across the island, hosting performances by dozens of artists simultaneously. From rock and jazz to electronic and dance music, choosing which stage to visit can be challenging. I remember in 2006 (my first live concert), I was torn between Nine Inch Nails and The Hives, but since the ticket was a gift for Trent Reznor and NIN, the choice was obvious (though I heard diabolic scheeeeeeeme in the distance). This year, artists like Billie Eilish, Imagine Dragons, David Guetta, Foals, Stockholm post-jazz punks Viagra Boys, and the Nottingham lads delivering an excellent mix of post-punk and hip-hop, Sleaford Mods, will be performing.

Source: FB/Sziget Festival

Three festivals in the vicinity of Lake Balaton

1. BALATON SOUND FESTIVAL

• Usually in July each year
• Location: Zamárdi, Lake Balaton (90 minutes from Budapest)
• Balaton Sound Festival Website

2. VESZPRÉM FEST

• Usually in July each year
• Location: Veszprém
• Veszprém Fest Website

3. STRAND

• Summer, every year
• Location: Zamárdi Beach, Zamárdi
• Strand Festival Website

Balaton is a mecca for music lovers. In the 70s and 80s, my mom told me how people used to exchange vinyl records with the latest music. Someone brought the fresh stuff, and homemade copies circulated among the masses. It cost 3 Soviet rubles, equivalent to approximately 3000 modern rubles by our calculations. An ideal combination of beach relaxation and carefree dancing in the open air. The festival is dedicated to various branches of electronic music, hosting numerous artists on multiple stages (this year there were 9, featuring Tiesto, Carl Cox, Dubfire, Claptone, Charlotte De Witte, Artbat, Adam Beyer, and more). Light music, warm lake water, excellent beach-focused street food, and a well-thought-out infrastructure along the coast with loungers, pools, cafes, and restaurants.

Balaton Sound Festival, source: facebook.com

Besides the above, you can visit Balaton anytime. It stays warm until mid-September, and 16 km from the lake is the town of Veszprém. In 2019, it became a UNESCO City of Music, and in 2023, it will be the European Capital of Culture, an annual title. Veszprém Fest, held for 15 consecutive years, gathers rock bands and opera divas alike.

While in Veszprém, be sure to visit the Wine & Vinyl Bar & Store. This bar-store is famous for its various Hungarian tapas, vinyl treasures (you can find truly rare records), and regional wines. Balaton and Veszprém are part of the Balaton-Felvidék wine geocluster. Local wines are known worldwide, and, hooray, there are no wine festivals. But I’ll tell you about that a bit later.

In the meantime, another music festival at Lake Balaton, the celebration of the end of summer. You can still make it there in August. Strand translates to ‘beach,’ and the festival’s atmosphere matches the name. It’s still hot, everyone sunbathes on loungers and directly on the sand, and diverse live music plays on nearby stages. It’s a perfect way to extend summer.”

O.Z.O.R.A Festival

• Usually in July-August each year
• Location: Dádpuszta
• O.Z.O.R.A Festival Website

One of the two largest festivals in Hungary (the other being Solar United Natives) and one of the most extensive festivals of psychedelic music in the world. In 2022, it attracted over 60,000 people.

I want both music and wine!

Gastroblues Festival

• Early July each year
• Location: Paks
• Gastroblues Festival Website

The oldest festival in Hungary and one of Central Europe’s foremost jazz festivals. Over the years, it has featured performances by artists such as Glenn Hughes, Spencer Davis, Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds, and Chris Farlowe. The festival covers various genres, including blues, rock, and their intersections. Aside from music, the event attracts food and drink enthusiasts. Paks is situated in the Tolna wine region, making it an excellent place to try local wines.

But that’s not all Paks has to offer. Known as the nuclear center of Hungary, Paks hosts a nuclear power plant that generates half of the country’s electricity. In your free time, explore the house-museum of the legendary Hungarian politician Deák Ferenc, whose name graces streets across Hungary, much like Lenin’s in the Soviet Union.

Photo: FB/Ozora Festival

For something even more intriguing, hidden in the heart of Paks is a treasure in the form of the family-owned pastry shop, Stella Cukrászda. Founded in the last century by Stella, who had a passion for sweets, the delectable desserts are now crafted by her grandson Balázs Sitkei. Balázs is truly dedicated to the art of pastry-making, even using his vacations as an opportunity to bring back something new from Italy, France, or any corner of the world. The young pastry chef studied in Budapest and Paris, traveled extensively, but chooses to develop only the family pastry shop in Paks. The café is intimate and charming, decorated in shabby-chic style. The walls are adorned with the history of Stella and the family, vintage tools from 19th-20th-century confectioners, and other delightful artifacts. Having tried macarons in France, Sachertorte in Vienna’s historic Museum café, and Hungary’s iconic Esterházy torte at Budapest’s legendary Gerbeaud café, I prefer the showcase at Stella.

I want wine and food!

We combine two things for the sake of which we usually buy tickets to the end of the world:

National Siller Festival

End of every summer, Paks

The famous variety of Paks wine (as well as the entire Tolna region) is siller. This ancient semi-rosé, semi-red wine. The festival dedicated to tasting young siller usually takes place at the end of August or September – the locals have not yet decided on the dates in 2023. Everything happens in Sárgödör Square. You can try siller in every house with a wine cellar – they all belong to winemakers.

It’s worth talking separately about the cellars. They were inherited by winemakers from the time of the Ottoman Empire: they used to hide from Turkish invaders in them, and the length of the premises reaches 10-30 meters. Basement premises are in the “yellow soil.” The local soil is of a characteristic yellow color due to the large amount of loess in its composition, which is conducive to wine storage. Therefore, with the flourishing of winemaking, cellars became wine storage. And the press, on which grapes are pressed, was located right above the cellar. During the Second World War, presses and buildings above the cellars were destroyed, as was the square itself. But in 1999, the state took the historical monument under protection, and now they make and drink wine here, walk around, and enjoy life.

How much energy will you have during a wine mini-tour? Count on it yourself, but don’t forget to drink plenty of water. By the way, Hungarians have loved mixing wine with soda for centuries, calling it fröccs.

Important: you can organize a personal tour at any time. Come and call Dr. János Hanol at +36 (75) 830-626. Also, in Paks, many companies offer 1.5-hour guided tours. With tasting, of course.

A little more history – Paks belongs to Swabian Turkey. Once, Russians (now Serbs) fled here from the Turks and brought with them the Kadarka grape variety. And after the 18th century, German Swabians arrived here. Therefore, the area is called Swabian Turkey. You can explore its wine treasures endlessly – in addition to Tolna, go to the wine regions of Szekszárd, Pécs, and Villány. By the way, in the city of Szekszárd – the center of the mentioned region with the same name – they often organize wine marathons, where, in addition to water, they pour wine at pit stops. This year the event was not announced, but it’s a reason to keep an eye on the happenings in the 24th.

Badacsony Wine Weeks

Every summer, Badacsony

A month-long celebration of the world-renowned wine region. This time, more than a hundred producers will gather! The Badacsony vineyards are located on the northern shore of Lake Balaton. It is here that Hungary’s legendary sweet white wines are made, as well as white wines with a dense structure and pleasant minerality. This is achieved due to the volcanic origin of the soils – Hungary has many extinct volcanoes! This logically leads to the next event.

Volcanic Wine Festival

End of summer-beginning of the autumn, Gyöngyöspata

The festival will feature wines from all volcanic slopes in Hungary. These include samples from Gyöngyöspata and Mátra. In addition to their main products, winemakers will bring special reserves that will never be available for sale. Trying the traditional Palóc soup made from lamb and green beans is a real treat.

Budapest Wine Festival

September 12-25, 2024, Budapest

The festival will take place for the 32nd time on the hill around Buda Castle – one of the main symbols of Budapest. From here, there is a panoramic view of the Danube, the historical parts of Buda and Pest, and a view of the architectural wonder of the Parliament building. The festival includes a vibrant street food scene, masterclasses, tastings, dinners from renowned chefs, and wines from all over the country. This year, winemakers from South America are announced as honorary guests – an excellent opportunity to gain a multicultural wine experience.

Balaton Wine & Gourmet

September 6-8, 2024, Balaton

This year, 50 restaurants and wineries from the region will present their vision of wine pairing, Hungarian, and unexpectedly, Argentinean and French cuisine. The program includes free tastings, workshops by sommeliers, dinners by Michelin-star chefs, and plenty of activities for the whole family. Interestingly, most of the gastronomic events will take place under the roof of the former 18th-century Jesuit order church.

Paprika Festival

October 11-13, 2024, Szeged (in other years, dates vary from August to September)

What Hungarian cuisine can do without hot paprika? And without any? There isn’t any. You can feel the national love, even passion, for this vegetable at the Paprika Festival. The event’s hero will be cooked and offered to try anything, from dried paprika to pepper vodka. In parallel, the organizers hold a competition, the winner of which will be provided with a year’s supply of the finest paprika. Worth a try!

Csárdafesztivál

August, every year, Budapest (Vörösmarty Square)

The festival is dedicated to traditional Hungarian food that families have been preparing from generation to generation: goulash, fried flatbreads called lángos with various fillings, sweet chimney cakes known as kurtoskalacs in the shape of a tube – the dough for which is twisted around a wooden spit and cooked on every corner of central Budapest and beyond. And, of course, Hungarian wines, including the famous Tokaji, high-proof pálinka, beer, and much more. Immersion in national culture will be enhanced by folk groups and musicians.

Street of Hungarian Flavours

Vary during the year, Budapest

The tastes and aromas of Hungary will be introduced throughout Budapest. This is the largest gastronomic event alongside the Christmas markets. In addition to goulash and chimney cakes, they will prepare dishes you have probably never heard of: Karcag lamb, Szatmár stewed cabbage, ginger sausages, Huncut Szilva Herceg pie, and many others. Fans of everything made from dough will be pleased with the inclusion of three winning recipes from the last Bread Baking Championship.

Budapest Beer Festival

Vary during the year, Budapest (Heroes’ Square)

Let’s raise our glasses! What to fill them with? Choose from a variety of options from more than 400 breweries from all over the country. Lagers, stouts, ales, porters, and all of this combined with various street foods and classics of national cuisine. Live music is also on the program.

Food Truck Festival

Usually August, Budapest (Liberty Square)

This urban event is dedicated not only to food but also to music. In addition to fried lángos, there will be tacos, sushi, and recipes from bustling streets around the world. Pop, rock, and jazz will be performed live, electronic live performances are planned, and even silent disco – when you wear headphones and dance in silence for onlookers. Plenty of activities are also planned for children, so there are no age restrictions at the festival.

Budapest Christmas Markets

November 1 – January 1, Budapest (Vörösmarty Square)

The central location adds to the beauty: around are the architectural treasures of the city, boutiques, historical cafes like Gerbeaud, and a crowd of smiles. Here you will find gifts and entertainment for every taste – from traditional and very warming food (there will be a lot of bread, meat, and spices), sweets, and mulled wine to all kinds of handmade items from ceramics, wood, leather, stones, and anything else. Check out this website.

I want to explore the culture (and dance in masks)!

We are studying history and traditions from different perspectives:

Jewish Summer Festival

September 8-18, 2024, Budapest

Hungarian culture is closely intertwined with Jewish culture. The Jewish people have been present in the territory of modern Hungary for 2000 years, even before Europe appeared on the map. Great Hungarians of Jewish origin include Nobel Prize laureate writer Imre Kertész, author of the “History of World Literature” and translator of the Bible into Hungarian literature professor and writer Moritz Ballagi (Bloch), and poet József Kish, who initiated a stylistic revolution in Hungarian literature. In Budapest alone, there are 24 synagogues (including the largest in Europe), and it is also home to the only institute for future rabbis in Central Europe. The Jewish quarter in Erzsébetváros is called the “city within a city” – it is so authentic that it is even planned to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It’s no wonder that the Budapest Jewish Culture Festival has become one of the most important events in the city and the entire country. Special attention is given to music – during the week, you can listen to Jewish music ranging from klezmer and cabaret to jazz fusion and organ performances.

Festival of Folk Art in Budapest (Mesterségek Ünnepe)

Usually August, Budapest

The event will take place for the 36th time in Buda Castle. Artists, craftsmen, and masters from all over the country will gather in one place and conduct various master classes. Pottery, knitting, weaving… And a special focus this year is on wood carving. Masters from South Korea will also present their works in this area. In addition to imaginable and unimaginable items, the festival’s atmosphere will be shaped, of course, by music and food. If you want to fall in love with Hungary, this is the place.

Busójárás

Every end of February to early March, Mohács

This is something like our Shrovetide week for the small Šokci nationality – that’s how they (and now all the residents of Mohács) bid farewell to winter and welcome spring. The whole city turns out for the carnival (locally called farsang). People put on carved and quite intimidating masks that don’t scare anyone, and they start their triumphal procession through the dancing, cheering, and actively festive crowd. Originally, the holiday was dedicated to the return of the Šokci people to their ancestral lands after liberation from the Ottoman Empire.

Easter Festival in Hollókő

During Catholic Easter, every year, Hollókő

In the charming village of Hollókő in northern Hungary, Easter is celebrated like nowhere else in the country. Folk festivities with dances, shows, and concerts, fairs of arts and crafts, traditional Hungarian and Hungarian Palóc cuisine – all in national and now very rare costumes. The Locsolkodás tradition (Watering Monday) is particularly fascinating. This is when men pour spring water on women in exchange for a shot of pálinka. It feels like being in a documentary or simply traveling back in time. No wonder the village of Hollókő is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is considered an open-air living museum.

I want to be in nature!

Lavender Festival in Tihany/ Levendula Hetek Tihanyban

Usually – June, every year, Lake Balaton

European lavender blooms not only in Provence! In Hungary, it paints fields around Lake Balaton in shades of purple. The intoxicating scent of flowers, live music, an endless backdrop for the best photos, and a folk art fair. Lavender is also an effective stress-reliever. After a week in the fields, there’s no need for meditation, Vipassana, or resignations. You know where to go in spring.

I want to run!

Not a festival, but one of the most popular marathons in Europe (and the world):

Annual Budapest Marathon

October 12-13, 2024, Budapest

Not just a marathon, but a two-day festival celebrating running. Among the pleasant options – you can run the marathon as a team of 2-4 people. Overall, there are distances suitable for all levels of preparation (and willingness), from 400 meters to 42 kilometers. The most popular one is the 30-kilometer run. Routes pass through the main attractions of the city, and afterward, everyone collectively goes to the Széchenyi Baths or Budapest’s pubs, often located in ancient cellars and catacombs.

These are just some of the festivals celebrated annually. Considering other one-time events, the conclusion is clear: in Hungary, it’s time to celebrate! So, no matter which date you choose to buy a ticket for, there will always be an event worth telling your grandchildren about.

Read also:

• Unique female artists at 30th Sziget Festival: A journey into new worlds – Read more HERE
• This year’s Kurultaj – Hungarian Tribal Assembly in Bugac promises to be an unmissable family event – Details in THIS article

Guest author: Maria Zantsevich