Is Sziget Festival ‘starting a new chapter’?

Sziget Festival, concluding its 30th festival, is starting a new chapter, Tamás Kádár, the event’s chief executive, said on Tuesday, noting a recent announcement that US private equity fund KKR is purchasing Superstruct Entertainment, the company behind various European music festivals.

Sziget Festival 2024 comes to an end

Kádár said the final day of the Sziget Festival on Monday was essentially sold out, with the concert of Skrillex and Fred Again… on the main stage, and a total of 400,000 festival-goers turned up this year.

He noted an increase in passes sold in advance at a discount, adding that demand by Hungarians had also grown. “So we’re repeating this promotion … for the 2025 festival starting on Thursday,” he said.

The programme has adapted to the average age of festival-goers, he said, which had got younger in the past ten years.

Whereas Kylie Minogue and Liam Gallagher attracted a somewhat older audience, the biggest stars included Stormzy, Bebe Rexha, Janelle Monae, Sam Smith and Raye, Kadar noted, adding that the programme was diverse, with, for example, Fontaines D.C. playing on the Revolut Stage.

Kádár also said Sziget was endeavouring to promote up-and-coming Hungarian performers as well as established stars, mentioning Azahriah and Beton.Hofi, who also played on the main stage this year.

Besides the music and other offerings, he noted improved facilities and catering units, including blocks of flushing toilets, digital information boards and a greater number of drinking fountains.

Kádár said the bridge leading to the island was in need of renovation, and responsibility for this was down to City Hall, which, he added, had reneged on a promise to revamp the bridge and accompanying road infrastructure.

Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

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