Budapest was transformed into a spectacular open-air show on Thursday evening as thousands gathered along the Danube to celebrate Hungary’s national holiday. This year’s 20 August celebrations combined fireworks with a large-scale drone display, laser effects and illuminated projections bringing Hungarian history to life across some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks.
Budapest’s skyline becomes a giant history book
The evening’s main spectacle began shortly after 9 PM, with a spectacular light show projected onto the Hungarian Parliament and surrounding buildings. Images and scenes inspired by Hungary’s history appeared on the façades of buildings, the Chain Bridge and other landmarks, accompanied by music and laser effects.
The production, titled Chapters from the 1,000-Year History of the Hungarian Nation, took audiences on a journey from the natural landscapes of the Carpathian Basin through the arrival of the Hungarians and the foundation of the Hungarian state to themes of freedom and light.
The show drew inspiration from Hungarian art, architecture and historical motifs. Among the images featured were elements inspired by the Feszty Panorama, the Coronation Mantle, medieval seals and medallions, as well as works by celebrated Hungarian painters Gyula Benczúr and Bertalan Székely.
Around 2,000 drones filled the sky
One of the most striking additions to this year’s celebrations was the huge drone display above the Danube. Around 2,000 drones formed different shapes and images in the night sky, complementing the projections and lasers and giving the traditional 20 August spectacle a distinctly modern touch.
The show was also considerably shorter than in previous years, with the fireworks themselves lasting around ten minutes. Instead, organisers placed greater emphasis on the drone and light elements. The result was a more varied spectacle, combining technology with imagery drawn from Hungary’s cultural and historical heritage.
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Crowds packed the Danube waterfront
Large crowds gathered along both sides of the Danube to watch the celebrations, with particularly large numbers of spectators around the Parliament and the city centre. The sheer number of people heading home after the event even caused temporary disruption to public transport, with the M2 metro line temporarily closed amid the crowds.
Despite strong winds and lightning visible on the horizon, the storm fortunately did not disrupt the main evening programme.
The celebrations were also notable for marking the first 20 August national holiday under Hungary’s new political era following the end of the previous government’s 16-year rule.
President András Baka delivered his national holiday address before the fireworks began.
A smaller celebration with a new look
The government had promised a more modest 20 August programme this year. According to figures cited by Hungarian media, the celebrations were organised with a budget of around HUF 4 billion (EUR 11 million), compared with approximately HUF 17.5 billion (EUR 48 million) last year.
Organisers nevertheless sought to retain the best-known elements of the traditional celebrations while adding contemporary features. For those who wanted to avoid the crowds, parts of the light show were repeated later in the evening, although the fireworks and drone display were not repeated.
Take a look through our photo gallery below for some of the most spectacular moments from Budapest’s 20 August celebrations.
