From February 12 to 17, the small Hungarian town of Mohács is once again filled with busó’s. For six days, the city centre fills with masked figures, drums, folk music, market stalls, dancing — and the kind of controlled chaos that makes Busójárás feel less like a festival and more like a living tradition.
If you walk through the old streets, you’ll inevitably run into a busó group, a tambura band, a spontaneous performance, or a sudden burst of noise from bells and rattles.
Still, if you want to catch the true highlights, the organisers have put together a detailed programme across multiple locations.
So what is Busójárás, really?
Busójárás is a traditional carnival event in Mohács, held every year in February. It is best known for the busós: masked figures wearing fur costumes, carrying bells, rattles and drums.
These elements come from an old custom linked to the end of winter. The noise-making was originally meant to drive winter away, and it remains one of the most recognisable parts of the event today.
A small detail many visitors notice: the masks are rarely identical. Many are hand-carved, and local mask makers still produce traditional pieces in Mohács.
The festival officially began on Thursday
The official opening day is Thursday, 12 February, known as Kisfarsang (“Little Carnival”).
In reality, Mohács starts warming up earlier in the week — but most visitors deliberately time their trip for the weekend. And for good reason: Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days, when the market is open all day, stage programmes run in parallel, and busó groups constantly appear throughout the city.
Did you know? One of the festival’s invisible main character is the mask carver. In Mohács, this is a craft of its own — and many traditional busó masks are still hand-carved, one-of-a-kind pieces.
For visitors, this is also part of the magic that Busójárás is a town-wide tradition, kept alive by real people, families, workshops, and generations.
Saturday: four locations come alive at once
According to the programme, Saturday, 14 February, is one of the densest days of the festival. At this point, multiple locations are running their own shows and events, including:
Széchenyi Square
Deák Square
Selyemgyár Cultural Quarter
Busóudvar (Busó Courtyard)
The morning hours are filled with tambura ensembles, folk dance groups, and busó groups roaming the streets. Meanwhile, the Busóudvar hosts a live cooking event titled “Flavours of Mohács.”
Saturday also includes smaller, special programmes — such as a Šokac traditional costume-making workshop at the museum, and carnival games in Síp Street, featuring cart decoration and more cooking shows.
The day ends with a South Slavic dance house and a concert.
Sunday: the Danube crossing, the parade, and the bonfire
Most people consider Farsang Sunday (15 February) the true peak of Busójárás.
From early morning, programmes run across the town — open courtyards, busó group meetings, stage shows, and the market in full swing.
But the most iconic sequence begins around midday:
12:30 — the busós cross the Danube by boat to Sokacrév
14:00 — the grand busó parade begins
17:30 — bonfire lighting and dancing with the busós at Széchenyi Square
Many visitors secure their place by the river hours in advance, because the crossing is one of those moments where Busójárás feels almost cinematic — fur costumes, carved masks, smoke, drums, cold air, and the river itself as a stage.
Did you know? During Busójárás you won’t only meet busós. You may also encounter the jankelés — figures who traditionally made noise, played pranks, and helped control the crowd.
Monday and Tuesday: family programmes and the “farewell to carnival”
The final two days are calmer — fewer large parades, but still plenty happening.
On Monday (16 February), the Kanizsai Dorottya Museum hosts an interactive carnival programme for children, making it a great option for families.
On Tuesday (17 February) — Húshagyókedd, the closing day — the festival’s final chapter plays out.
In the morning, the Busóudvar remains busy with family activities like:
mask-making
crafts
children’s programmes
In the afternoon, the city centre takes over again:
14:30 — closing parade from Kóló Square to Széchenyi Square
17:30 — bonfire lighting and coffin-burning ceremony at Széchenyi Square
19:00 — South Slavic dance house at the market square
The coffin-burning is one of the most beloved closing traditions — a symbolic farewell to carnival, and a final noisy reminder that winter is no longer welcome.
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