Official: Iconic Hungarian summer festival at Lake Balaton is no more

Balaton Sound, one of Hungary’s largest and most beloved summer festivals, will no longer be held in Zamárdi from 2025 onward, according to an announcement by Gyula Csákovics, the mayor of the town, in the October issue of Zamárdi Hírmondó. Although discussions are still ongoing with the organisers of the popular Strand Festival, also held in Zamárdi, the decision regarding Balaton Sound is final.

Despite this summer’s Balaton Sound attracting over 100,000 visitors, making it a great success, the festival’s contract with the municipality has ended, and the local council has opted not to renew it, Index reported based on Zamárdi Hírmondó. There is no official word yet on whether another town along Lake Balaton will step in to host the event.

Photo: facebook.com/BalatonSound

This move didn’t come as a surprise, as rumours about the end of the town’s partnership with the festival began circulating as early as July during this year’s event. It was noted that preparations for the 2025 lineup had not yet begun, a process that typically starts much earlier. Now, with the contract expired, the separation has been confirmed.

Local resistance to festivals on the rise

The decision is seen as part of a broader trend in Hungary, where opposition to large events and developments—despite their potential economic benefits—has been increasing. This resistance, common in Western countries, now seems to be gaining traction in Hungary, Telex reports. Festivals, despite generating tax revenue and providing income for local businesses, are often met with discontent from residents due to the disruptions they cause.

Terms like NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard), BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything), and CAVE (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) have emerged in English to describe these growing anti-development sentiments. In the case of Zamárdi, although complaints about the short tourist season and lack of visitors are frequent, any new developments, whether it be music festivals, accommodation projects, or infrastructure upgrades, are consistently met with local opposition.

Balaton Sound and the changing face of Zamárdi

This year, during the Balaton Sound festival, attention was drawn to the noticeable decline in the number of visitors to Zamárdi. Questions arose about when the crowds started disappearing and how pricing at the festival and surrounding areas may have contributed to the situation.

As Hungary continues to grapple with these dynamics, the departure of Balaton Sound from Zamárdi may signal broader changes for other lakeside towns and their relationship with large-scale events in the future.

Read also:

• Popular Balaton festival is no more: contract expiry threatens future
• Brutal prices at Balaton Sound: the festival kicks off – PHOTOS