From Europe-day celebrations to new exhibitions: here are some of the best programs in Budapest to attend in May

Europe-day, concerts, cultural and culinary festivals, new exhibitions: the last month of spring brings colourful programs to Budapest, for kids and grown-ups as well. Here are a few of them that are worth checking out.

Corvin Beer Festival

The Corvin Sörfesztivál (Corvin Beer Festival) will celebrate its 10th birthday this year with a 5-day festival. The festival takes place between 8 to 12 May in Corvin Sétány. More than 30 beer manufacturers will be present, including Csíki sör, MONYO Brewing, Etyeki Sörmanufaktúra, but you can also taste some of Hungary’s best cheese and sauces.

Floralia – Roman spring celebration

Between 10 and 12 May, the Aquincum Museum and Archeological Park will celebrate spring with a festival for the 33rd time. As promised, the park will be full of flowers and Roman citizens wearing togas, celebrating the goddess of spring, Flora. Programs include guided tours, both in Hungarian and English, and workshops. Visitors can try what it’s like to live in ancient Rome, they can learn how to make flower crowns, experience Roman school, or compete in the Olympic games.

Europe-day celebration

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hungary being a part of the European Union with a free festival in the 5th district, near Kossuth Square. Taking place on 12 May in Szabadság Square, there’s something for everybody: there are programs for children, including quizes, games, a puppet show, and more. Concerts for children will start at 10:30 AM, and later in the afternoon, Hungarian bands including Szabó Balázs Bandája and Carson Coma will play an acoustic set. There’s also a 20-km running race celebrating the anniversary.

Jazzy Festival

Photo: depositphotos.com

Enjoy jazz music and a glass of wine at a 4-day festival between 17 and 20 May at MomKult. Food trucks and more than 40 wine shops will be represented at the festival as well. Concerts include Matt Bianco, Electro Deluxe, Los Orangutanes, and many more. You can read more about Jazzy Festival here.

Gourmet Festival – MBH Bank

Gourmet Festival, Budapest, Hungary. Source: Gourmet Festival

Taste the Hungarian gastronomic landscape at Millenáris between 24-26 May. This year, Gourmet will focus on female energy and the female perspective. With more than a hundred exhibitors, excellent chefs, pastry chefs, bakers and manufacturers will be present at the country’s biggest gastronomy festival. For more information, visit the festival’s website.

Exhibitions in Budapest

The world of Banksy

Photo: MTI/EPA-AAP/Steven Saphore

After Milan, Paris, Brussels and Lisbon, the contreversial artist’s exhibition is coming to Budapest from 3 May. The exhibition includes street art, graffities, photos and prints from the artist, whose work usually revolves around the topics of war, imperialism, peace, individualism, capitalism, greed, consumerism and hypocrisy. More information and tickets here.

Kertész, Moly-Nagy, Capa – Photo exhibition

Photo: MTI

The exhibition in the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest is the first comprehensive presentation of the work of Hungarian  photographers who emigrated to America, including André Kertész, László Moholy-Nagy, Robert Capa and György Kepes. The exhibition examines the impact of Hungarian-born artists, and their journey from Hungary throughout Berlin and Paris to New York, Chicago, and Hollywood.

Divas & Icons

The new temporary exhibition takes place in the House of Hungarian Music, and showcases the power of divas like Rihanna, Björk, Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Whitney Huston, Beyoncé, and many more. The exhibition was originally organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum of London, but it travels to several museums around the world. Apart from exhibiting the incredible costumes worn by the icons, it gives an insight into the history of great divas from the stars of the opera and silent films to today’s world stars.

Read also:

• Diva exhibition comes to Hungary – read more here
• The photo exhibition of the year opens in Budapest Museum of Fine Arts