Hungarian Health Minister Zsolt Hegedűs has landed an unlikely place on The New York Times’ annual list of the 39 Most Stylish People of 2026, joining an eclectic lineup of actors, musicians, athletes and world leaders.
Viral dance earns unexpected international recognition
Rather than recognising fashion alone, the newspaper explains that its annual selection captures defining moments in popular culture, viral sensations and the personalities who captured public attention throughout the year. In that context, Hegedűs earned his place thanks to the uninhibited dance that became one of Hungary’s most widely shared political moments in 2026.
Zsolt Hegedűs’ style is “infectious”
The New York Times highlighted a photograph of Hegedűs dancing on the steps of the Hungarian Parliament following the inaugural sitting of the newly elected National Assembly, shortly after he took office as health minister.
Describing the moment, the newspaper wrote:
“This Hungarian health minister’s pure lack of inhibition — after Hungary’s new prime minister ousted Viktor Orbán in the spring — is a rare thing, and infectious.”
The spontaneous celebration first caught global attention on election night, when Zsolt Hegedűs danced among supporters after the Tisza Party’s victory. He later recreated the now-famous moves on 9 May outside Parliament, cementing the performance as one of the defining viral moments of Hungary’s political transition. Here’s his original dance on the night of the parliamentary elections.
From Budapest to international pop culture
The dance quickly spread far beyond Hungary, attracting worldwide media coverage and even earning a mention from comedian John Oliver on HBO’s Last Week Tonight. Oliver joked that Americans should envy Hungary for having “that guy” as health minister, contrasting Hegedűs’ cheerful public image with that of US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Zsolt Hegedűs originally danced to a song by British artist Jalja, who later performed the track live during the 9 May celebrations in Budapest. Following the event, the singer wrote on Instagram that it had been “a real privilege” to play a small role in such a historic occasion, made even more memorable by the minister’s unforgettable dance moves.
Sharing the list with global stars
Hegedűs is not the only politician featured on the New York Times list. Other political figures include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The list also features entertainment and cultural icons such as Meryl Streep, Rosalía, Björk, Bad Bunny, Teyana Taylor and Renate Reinsve, reflecting the newspaper’s broader view that style is about personality, cultural impact and memorable public moments as much as clothing itself.
Here’s Zsolt Hegedűs’s dance, repeated on the stairs of the Hungarian Parliament:
Read also: Péter Magyar and health minister Zsolt Hegedűs address hospital cooling upgrades — on top of a hospital building
