Türkiye will be the honorary guest at this year’s Festival of Folk Arts to be held in the Buda Castle as part of the August 20 national holiday events, the organisers have said.
Organised in the framework of the Hungarian-Turkish cultural yearbetween Aug 17 and 20, the main theme of the largest folk arts event in Hungary will be Turkish influence and appearance in Hungarian folk art, they said in a statement.
The festivalwill feature more than 20 artists presenting Turkish ebru painting, calligraphy, weaving, felt and puppet making, coppersmithing, glassblowing as well as Turkish folk music and dance.
Photo: FB/Festival of Folk Arts/Mesterségek Ünnepe
It will also feature craftsmen from Britain, China, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Poland, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
The festival’s programme includes craft demonstrations, workshops, concerts, fashion shows, dance performances as well as several events for children.
Rita Ora informed her fans on her social media page that after arriving in Budapest, she was hospitalised and spent the night there. She added that she has to follow the doctors’ instructions and is very sorry that she will not be able to perform on Saturday night at the Campus Festival in Debrecen.
Rita Ora concert cancelled in Debrecen
The line-up of the Campus Festival main stage had to be rearranged at the last minute: tonight’s headliner, Rita Ora, is unable to perform due to illness, Index reports.
The organisers immediately changed the evening’s programme and moved another act, the band Zenevonatival az LGT sztárjaival, originally positioned on the University of Debrecen Stage (Debreceni Egyetem Színpada), to the main stage. According to the current line-up, ByAlex és a Slepp and Magdi Rúzsa will close the programme.
András Süli, the festival’s programme director, told Index: “Around 3 PM today, Rita Ora’s management informed us that the singer, who has been in Budapest since yesterday, has been hospitalised with a serious acute problem and her condition will not allow her to perform today. Although the singer’s crew had been working on the technical preparations on the main stage of the Campus Festival since last night, unfortunately, the concert cannot take place. We will coordinate a possible make-up in the future. Rita Ora’s scheduled date will be Magdi Rúzsa’s concert.”
The singer wrote the following on her Facebook page:
“Please forgive this unexpected turn of events but sadly I will not be able to perform at Campus Fesztivál tonight. Having spent the night in hospital in Budapest, I must rest thoroughly and follow doctors orders. I am so sorry to my fans who are going to be there today and I’m truly thankful for your understanding.”
The 33rd Bálványos Summer Free University and Student Camp, better known as Tusványos, is getting underway on Tuesday at Baile Tusnad (Tusnádfürdő) in Transylvania, under the motto “On a Better Track”.
This year the event will include more than 500 programmes and 1,000 speakers on the banks of the River Olt and in sports fields.
Topics for podium discussions include peacemaking, the election year, and the Hungarian EU presidency, among others.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and László Tőkés, president of the Hungarian National Council of Transylvania (EMNT), will give speeches and do a Q and A on Saturday morning.
Tusványos also offers numerous cultural, traditional, educational and entertainment programmes, including literary and theatre events, folk music and dance gatherings.
The event’s official opening takes place on Wednesday morning.
Viktor Orbán’s speech at the festival in 2022 caused significant public outcry as he said “Hungarians are not a mixed race and do not want to become one”: read our article on it HERE.
Our guest author, Maria Zantsevich, compiled a list of annual festivals that showcase Hungary’s love for good wine, music (as the UNESCO City of Music, it’s the perfect spot), outdoor relaxation, and those that delve into the country’s history. From major European and global music festivals to stories about Jewish heritage and Swabian Turkey, with plenty of food, wine, and sometimes sports (occasionally paired with wine) – it’s all here. Most of these festivals can be experienced this year or early next year, so plan your travel calendar!
How to feel happiness? Sometimes you can just take a trip to Hungary. Swallowing the local air just after leaving the airport, you immediately understand that everything here is easy and simple, and therefore, beautiful. Even Chinese expats who may not be familiar with the word ‘vacation’ cherish weekends. From personal observations, even consistently open Chinese shops have started closing on Sundays and local holidays.
The central cafes in Budapest don’t prioritize revenue and close after 18:00 (and even earlier on weekends, sometimes after 16:00). Hungarian wine may not be extensively studied by international sommeliers, but it is excellent and reasonably priced. The food here is hearty and homely, and describing the national love for music of various genres in just a few words is hardly possible. Want to be near the water? You can find a hot beach without leaving Hungary. By the way, it’s not just any beach; it’s the Swabian one.
It’s precisely along this beach that marathons are run, and people recharge with wine at pit stops. All of this and a bit more is in the extensive list of festivals below. There are many words, but there is even more useful information. Everything for your inspiration to pack your bags right after reading.
“One of the largest multi-genre festivals in the world is held on Margaret Island between Buda and Pest. Sziget Festival, meaning ‘Island’ in Hungarian, has been attracting music enthusiasts since 1993. The festival roars for a week with multiple stages across the island, hosting performances by dozens of artists simultaneously. From rock and jazz to electronic and dance music, choosing which stage to visit can be challenging. I remember in 2006 (my first live concert), I was torn between Nine Inch Nails and The Hives, but since the ticket was a gift for Trent Reznor and NIN, the choice was obvious (though I heard diabolic scheeeeeeeme in the distance). This year, artists like Billie Eilish, Imagine Dragons, David Guetta, Foals, Stockholm post-jazz punks Viagra Boys, and the Nottingham lads delivering an excellent mix of post-punk and hip-hop, Sleaford Mods, will be performing.
Source: FB/Sziget Festival
Three festivals in the vicinity of Lake Balaton
BALATON SOUND FESTIVAL
Usually in July each year
Location: Zamárdi, Lake Balaton (90 minutes from Budapest)
Balaton is a mecca for music lovers. In the 70s and 80s, my mom told me how people used to exchange vinyl records with the latest music. Someone brought the fresh stuff, and homemade copies circulated among the masses. It cost 3 Soviet rubles, equivalent to approximately 3000 modern rubles by our calculations. An ideal combination of beach relaxation and carefree dancing in the open air. The festival is dedicated to various branches of electronic music, hosting numerous artists on multiple stages (this year there were 9, featuring Tiesto, Carl Cox, Dubfire, Claptone, Charlotte De Witte, Artbat, Adam Beyer, and more). Light music, warm lake water, excellent beach-focused street food, and a well-thought-out infrastructure along the coast with loungers, pools, cafes, and restaurants.
Balaton Sound Festival, source: facebook.com
Besides the above, you can visit Balaton anytime. It stays warm until mid-September, and 16 km from the lake is the town of Veszprém. In 2019, it became a UNESCO City of Music, and in 2023, it will be the European Capital of Culture, an annual title. Veszprém Fest, held for 15 consecutive years, gathers rock bands and opera divas alike.
While in Veszprém, be sure to visit the Wine & Vinyl Bar & Store. This bar-store is famous for its various Hungarian tapas, vinyl treasures (you can find truly rare records), and regional wines. Balaton and Veszprém are part of the Balaton-Felvidék wine geocluster. Local wines are known worldwide, and, hooray, there are no wine festivals. But I’ll tell you about that a bit later.
In the meantime, another music festival at Lake Balaton, the celebration of the end of summer. You can still make it there in August. Strand translates to ‘beach,’ and the festival’s atmosphere matches the name. It’s still hot, everyone sunbathes on loungers and directly on the sand, and diverse live music plays on nearby stages. It’s a perfect way to extend summer.”
One of the two largest festivals in Hungary (the other being Solar United Natives) and one of the most extensive festivals of psychedelic music in the world. In 2022, it attracted over 60,000 people.
The oldest festival in Hungary and one of Central Europe’s foremost jazz festivals. Over the years, it has featured performances by artists such as Glenn Hughes, Spencer Davis, Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds, and Chris Farlowe. The festival covers various genres, including blues, rock, and their intersections. Aside from music, the event attracts food and drink enthusiasts. Paks is situated in the Tolna wine region, making it an excellent place to try local wines.
But that’s not all Paks has to offer. Known as the nuclear center of Hungary, Paks hosts a nuclear power plant that generates half of the country’s electricity. In your free time, explore the house-museum of the legendary Hungarian politician Deák Ferenc, whose name graces streets across Hungary, much like Lenin’s in the Soviet Union.
Photo: FB/Ozora Festival
For something even more intriguing, hidden in the heart of Paks is a treasure in the form of the family-owned pastry shop, Stella Cukrászda. Founded in the last century by Stella, who had a passion for sweets, the delectable desserts are now crafted by her grandson Balázs Sitkei. Balázs is truly dedicated to the art of pastry-making, even using his vacations as an opportunity to bring back something new from Italy, France, or any corner of the world. The young pastry chef studied in Budapest and Paris, traveled extensively, but chooses to develop only the family pastry shop in Paks. The café is intimate and charming, decorated in shabby-chic style. The walls are adorned with the history of Stella and the family, vintage tools from 19th-20th-century confectioners, and other delightful artifacts. Having tried macarons in France, Sachertorte in Vienna’s historic Museum café, and Hungary’s iconic Esterházy torte at Budapest’s legendary Gerbeaud café, I prefer the showcase at Stella.
I want wine and food!
We combine two things for the sake of which we usually buy tickets to the end of the world:
National Siller Festival
End of every summer, Paks
The famous variety of Paks wine (as well as the entire Tolna region) is siller. This ancient semi-rosé, semi-red wine. The festival dedicated to tasting young siller usually takes place at the end of August or September – the locals have not yet decided on the dates in 2023. Everything happens in Sárgödör Square. You can try siller in every house with a wine cellar – they all belong to winemakers.
It’s worth talking separately about the cellars. They were inherited by winemakers from the time of the Ottoman Empire: they used to hide from Turkish invaders in them, and the length of the premises reaches 10-30 meters. Basement premises are in the “yellow soil.” The local soil is of a characteristic yellow color due to the large amount of loess in its composition, which is conducive to wine storage. Therefore, with the flourishing of winemaking, cellars became wine storage. And the press, on which grapes are pressed, was located right above the cellar. During the Second World War, presses and buildings above the cellars were destroyed, as was the square itself. But in 1999, the state took the historical monument under protection, and now they make and drink wine here, walk around, and enjoy life.
How much energy will you have during a wine mini-tour? Count on it yourself, but don’t forget to drink plenty of water. By the way, Hungarians have loved mixing wine with soda for centuries, calling it fröccs.
Important: you can organize a personal tour at any time. Come and call Dr. János Hanol at +36 (75) 830-626. Also, in Paks, many companies offer 1.5-hour guided tours. With tasting, of course.
A little more history – Paks belongs to Swabian Turkey. Once, Russians (now Serbs) fled here from the Turks and brought with them the Kadarka grape variety. And after the 18th century, German Swabians arrived here. Therefore, the area is called Swabian Turkey. You can explore its wine treasures endlessly – in addition to Tolna, go to the wine regions of Szekszárd, Pécs, and Villány. By the way, in the city of Szekszárd – the center of the mentioned region with the same name – they often organize wine marathons, where, in addition to water, they pour wine at pit stops. This year the event was not announced, but it’s a reason to keep an eye on the happenings in the 24th.
Badacsony Wine Weeks
Every summer, Badacsony
A month-long celebration of the world-renowned wine region. This time, more than a hundred producers will gather! The Badacsony vineyards are located on the northern shore of Lake Balaton. It is here that Hungary’s legendary sweet white wines are made, as well as white wines with a dense structure and pleasant minerality. This is achieved due to the volcanic origin of the soils – Hungary has many extinct volcanoes! This logically leads to the next event.
Volcanic Wine Festival
End of summer-beginning of the autumn, Gyöngyöspata
The festival will feature wines from all volcanic slopes in Hungary. These include samples from Gyöngyöspata and Mátra. In addition to their main products, winemakers will bring special reserves that will never be available for sale. Trying the traditional Palóc soup made from lamb and green beans is a real treat.
Budapest Wine Festival
September 12-25, 2024, Budapest
The festival will take place for the 32nd time on the hill around Buda Castle – one of the main symbols of Budapest. From here, there is a panoramic view of the Danube, the historical parts of Buda and Pest, and a view of the architectural wonder of the Parliament building. The festival includes a vibrant street food scene, masterclasses, tastings, dinners from renowned chefs, and wines from all over the country. This year, winemakers from South America are announced as honorary guests – an excellent opportunity to gain a multicultural wine experience.
Balaton Wine & Gourmet
September 6-8, 2024, Balaton
This year, 50 restaurants and wineries from the region will present their vision of wine pairing, Hungarian, and unexpectedly, Argentinean and French cuisine. The program includes free tastings, workshops by sommeliers, dinners by Michelin-star chefs, and plenty of activities for the whole family. Interestingly, most of the gastronomic events will take place under the roof of the former 18th-century Jesuit order church.
Paprika Festival
October 11-13, 2024, Szeged (in other years, dates vary from August to September)
What Hungarian cuisine can do without hot paprika? And without any? There isn’t any. You can feel the national love, even passion, for this vegetable at the Paprika Festival. The event’s hero will be cooked and offered to try anything, from dried paprika to pepper vodka. In parallel, the organizers hold a competition, the winner of which will be provided with a year’s supply of the finest paprika. Worth a try!
Csárdafesztivál
August, every year, Budapest (Vörösmarty Square)
The festival is dedicated to traditional Hungarian food that families have been preparing from generation to generation: goulash, fried flatbreads called lángos with various fillings, sweet chimney cakes known as kurtoskalacs in the shape of a tube – the dough for which is twisted around a wooden spit and cooked on every corner of central Budapest and beyond. And, of course, Hungarian wines, including the famous Tokaji, high-proof pálinka, beer, and much more. Immersion in national culture will be enhanced by folk groups and musicians.
Street of Hungarian Flavours
Vary during the year, Budapest
The tastes and aromas of Hungary will be introduced throughout Budapest. This is the largest gastronomic event alongside the Christmas markets. In addition to goulash and chimney cakes, they will prepare dishes you have probably never heard of: Karcag lamb, Szatmár stewed cabbage, ginger sausages, Huncut Szilva Herceg pie, and many others. Fans of everything made from dough will be pleased with the inclusion of three winning recipes from the last Bread Baking Championship.
Budapest Beer Festival
Vary during the year, Budapest (Heroes’ Square)
Let’s raise our glasses! What to fill them with? Choose from a variety of options from more than 400 breweries from all over the country. Lagers, stouts, ales, porters, and all of this combined with various street foods and classics of national cuisine. Live music is also on the program.
Food Truck Festival
Usually August, Budapest (Liberty Square)
This urban event is dedicated not only to food but also to music. In addition to fried lángos, there will be tacos, sushi, and recipes from bustling streets around the world. Pop, rock, and jazz will be performed live, electronic live performances are planned, and even silent disco – when you wear headphones and dance in silence for onlookers. Plenty of activities are also planned for children, so there are no age restrictions at the festival.
Budapest Christmas Markets
November 1 – January 1, Budapest (Vörösmarty Square)
The central location adds to the beauty: around are the architectural treasures of the city, boutiques, historical cafes like Gerbeaud, and a crowd of smiles. Here you will find gifts and entertainment for every taste – from traditional and very warming food (there will be a lot of bread, meat, and spices), sweets, and mulled wine to all kinds of handmade items from ceramics, wood, leather, stones, and anything else. Check out thiswebsite.
I want to explore the culture (and dance in masks)!
We are studying history and traditions from different perspectives:
Jewish Summer Festival
September 8-18, 2024, Budapest
Hungarian culture is closely intertwined with Jewish culture. The Jewish people have been present in the territory of modern Hungary for 2000 years, even before Europe appeared on the map. Great Hungarians of Jewish origin include Nobel Prize laureate writer Imre Kertész, author of the “History of World Literature” and translator of the Bible into Hungarian literature professor and writer Moritz Ballagi (Bloch), and poet József Kish, who initiated a stylistic revolution in Hungarian literature. In Budapest alone, there are 24 synagogues (including the largest in Europe), and it is also home to the only institute for future rabbis in Central Europe. The Jewish quarter in Erzsébetváros is called the “city within a city” – it is so authentic that it is even planned to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It’s no wonder that the Budapest Jewish Culture Festival has become one of the most important events in the city and the entire country. Special attention is given to music – during the week, you can listen to Jewish music ranging from klezmer and cabaret to jazz fusion and organ performances.
Festival of Folk Art in Budapest (Mesterségek Ünnepe)
Usually August, Budapest
The event will take place for the 36th time in Buda Castle. Artists, craftsmen, and masters from all over the country will gather in one place and conduct various master classes. Pottery, knitting, weaving… And a special focus this year is on wood carving. Masters from South Korea will also present their works in this area. In addition to imaginable and unimaginable items, the festival’s atmosphere will be shaped, of course, by music and food. If you want to fall in love with Hungary, this is the place.
Busójárás
Every end of February to early March, Mohács
This is something like our Shrovetide week for the small Šokci nationality – that’s how they (and now all the residents of Mohács) bid farewell to winter and welcome spring. The whole city turns out for the carnival (locally called farsang). People put on carved and quite intimidating masks that don’t scare anyone, and they start their triumphal procession through the dancing, cheering, and actively festive crowd. Originally, the holiday was dedicated to the return of the Šokci people to their ancestral lands after liberation from the Ottoman Empire.
Easter Festival in Hollókő
During Catholic Easter, every year, Hollókő
In the charming village of Hollókő in northern Hungary, Easter is celebrated like nowhere else in the country. Folk festivities with dances, shows, and concerts, fairs of arts and crafts, traditional Hungarian and Hungarian Palóc cuisine – all in national and now very rare costumes. The Locsolkodás tradition (Watering Monday) is particularly fascinating. This is when men pour spring water on women in exchange for a shot of pálinka. It feels like being in a documentary or simply traveling back in time. No wonder the village of Hollókő is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is considered an open-air living museum.
I want to be in nature!
Lavender Festival in Tihany/ Levendula Hetek Tihanyban
Usually – June, every year, Lake Balaton
European lavender blooms not only in Provence! In Hungary, it paints fields around Lake Balaton in shades of purple. The intoxicating scent of flowers, live music, an endless backdrop for the best photos, and a folk art fair. Lavender is also an effective stress-reliever. After a week in the fields, there’s no need for meditation, Vipassana, or resignations. You know where to go in spring.
I want to run!
Not a festival, but one of the most popular marathons in Europe (and the world):
Annual Budapest Marathon
October 12-13, 2024, Budapest
Not just a marathon, but a two-day festival celebrating running. Among the pleasant options – you can run the marathon as a team of 2-4 people. Overall, there are distances suitable for all levels of preparation (and willingness), from 400 meters to 42 kilometers. The most popular one is the 30-kilometer run. Routes pass through the main attractions of the city, and afterward, everyone collectively goes to the Széchenyi Baths or Budapest’s pubs, often located in ancient cellars and catacombs.
These are just some of the festivals celebrated annually. Considering other one-time events, the conclusion is clear: in Hungary, it’s time to celebrate! So, no matter which date you choose to buy a ticket for, there will always be an event worth telling your grandchildren about.
Read also:
Unique female artists at 30th Sziget Festival: A journey into new worlds – Read more HERE
This year’s Kurultaj – Hungarian Tribal Assembly in Bugac promises to be an unmissable family event – Details in THISarticle
This year, Sziget Festival welcomes unique female artists who promise to transport audiences into entirely new realms with their performances. Among the diverse lineup, Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo and American DJ Honey Dijon stand out, each bringing a distinct cultural and musical flavour.
For those in Budapest searching for extraordinary musical experiences, there’s no need to look further, Index writes. This year’s Sziget Festival features Honey Dijon, a human rights activist and renowned DJ, alongside Tibetan refugee Yungchen Lhamo.
Honey Dijon: The heart of house music and activism
Honey Dijon, born Honey Redmond, hails from Chicago, the birthplace of house music. Her illustrious career has seen her perform at legendary venues like Berghain in Berlin and Output in New York, and at major festivals such as Glastonbury and Coachella. She is no stranger to Sziget Festival either, having performed here multiple times.
Dijon’s artistry blends house, techno, and disco elements into an exciting mix. She is celebrated both as a DJ and a producer for her technical prowess and profound passion for music. Her work merges authentic house sounds with modern twists, creating a unique and refreshing auditory experience.
Her debut album, “The Best of Both Worlds,” is a standout, achieving great success in the dance music scene and earning critical acclaim. Beyond music, Dijon collaborates frequently with other artists and fashion brands, showcasing her versatility and creativity.
A significant figure in the LGBTQ+ community, Honey Dijon openly embraces her identity and advocates for equality and inclusion, inspiring and supporting community members worldwide.
Yungchen Lhamo: The healing voice from Tibet at Sziget Festival
Yungchen Lhamo’s name means “Goddess of Melody” in Tibetan, a tribute to her birth near a sacred spring. Her journey as an artist began with her escape from Tibet to find refuge in India, eventually reaching Australia in 1989, where her international music career took off.
Lhamo’s music blends traditional Tibetan folk elements with modern sounds, creating a unique spiritual and meditative experience. Her songs often incorporate Tibetan Buddhist teachings and mantras, radiating peace and serenity. Her deep, expressive voice and the spirituality embedded in her music have earned her numerous international accolades.
Yungchen Lhamo’s debut album, Tibetan Prayer, released in 1995, was a major success and marked her introduction to the world music market. This was followed by her album Coming Home, which expanded her unique sound to an even broader audience. She has released several albums and performed at prestigious festivals, concert halls, and spiritual events around the globe.
Beyond her musical career, Yungchen Lhamo is an active human rights advocate. She participates in numerous charitable and human rights organisations, dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture and identity. Through her voice and artistry, she not only entertains but also inspires and promotes the ideals of peace, love, and compassion.
Despite their different musical styles, both Honey Dijon and Yungchen Lhamo share a commitment to human rights, drawing from personal experiences of overcoming adversity and using their platforms to amplify marginalised voices. This year’s Sziget Festival offers a rare opportunity to experience the transformative power of their performances.
Hungary’s government has launched a nationwide cultural programme “1,100 years in Europe, 20 in the European Union”, showcasing “the beauties and outstanding representatives of Hungarian culture”, the minister of culture and innovation said in Sopron, in western Hungary, on Friday.
The series will join 19 events in the 19 counties of Hungary, starting with the Days of Kings(Királyi napok) festival in Székesfehérvár on August 10, then moving on to the anniversary of the Pan-European Picnic in Sopron, Balázs Hankó said. Events will feature gastro shows, theatre performances and exhibitions, he said.
Read also:
Was Hungary’s greatest king Romanian? – read more HERE
In 2024, the Hungarian-Turanian Association, founded by the Hungarian-Turanian Foundation, will organise the Kurultaj – Hungarian Tribal Assembly in Bugac, the largest traditional festival in the Carpathian Basin and the largest world meeting of Hun and Turkic peoples. Kurultaj 2024 will feature new programme elements and major new scientific exhibitions for visitors interested in the ancient Hungarian past and the culture of our Turkic cousins.
The Kurultaj commemorates Hungarian ancestors and great figures of Hungarian history and has become a connecting link that can unite the entire Hungarian community in the Carpathian Basin. Through its kinship with the horse nomadic peoples of Steppe, the festival is also a great tribal gathering, a cultural meeting of the Eastern peoples related to the Hungarians.
facebook.com/pg/kurultaj
More than 25 related nations will be present at the three-day Kurultaj, and more than 50 programmes will be organised, giving a taste of the culture of the representatives of the Hun-Turkic peoples. More than 100 teams will come to Bugac at the invitation of the Turanian Association, with traditionalists from Transylvania, Transcarpathia, the Highlands and the South.
Source: Kurultaj press release
The celebrations will include a traditional parade, fighting demonstrations, equestrian competitions and contests, archery programmes, exhibitions on the Hungarian-Hungarian heritage, folk music programmes.
Photo: PrtScr/Youtube
New events and established programme elements
In addition to the popular programme elements, the 2024 event will feature a number of novelties (new scientific exhibitions, lectures and new stage performers).
One of the most spectacular will be a nomadic wedding, where a nomadic marriage will be recreated in an imaginary scene, with all the interesting elements of a nomadic marriage, including elements of Hungarian folklore, from the proposal of a girl to the abduction, the wedding ceremony and the feast.
Source: Kurultaj press release
Another novelty is the renewed fair. For more than a decade, the craft fair has been one of Hungary’s largest and most sophisticated craft fairs, showcasing the crafts of the time in practice, but also bringing traditional elements into the 21st century.
www.facebook.com/Kurultaj-MagyarTörzsiGyűlés
The fair now features an impressive entrance gate, reminiscent of the Silk Road stations of Central Asia. This structure, for which construction work has already begun, is similar in appearance to the early medieval structures still found in Uzbekistan today. At the base of the walls, enclosed by four towers, are four impressive exhibitions, both individually and in themselves.
Alongside selected ethnographic exhibitions from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan, the work of the famous Hungarian traveller Ármin Vámbéry is also on display in a show organised with the support of the Hungarian Geographical Museum.
The International Roma Song Day is being held for the third time this year in fifteen venues across six countries on 8 August, and this year celebrates all kinds of styles from flamenco, Balkan brass bands, to gypsy jazz.
Mihály “Mazsi” Rostás, the event’s artistic director, told a press conference the day will celebrate the diversity of Gypsy music with legendary Roma and non-Roma artists, with 260 performers giving concerts in ten Hungarian cities and five foreign locations. The longer term aim is to bring the event to every EU member state, he added.
Mónika Lakatos, winner of the Kossuth and Womex Lifetime Achievement Awards, is the face of the event.
Concerts will be held in the courtyard of the Benczur House in Budapest, while other Hungarian venues include Százhalombatta, Szentendre, Veszprém and Pécs.
Roma Song Daywill also be celebrated in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, Sturovo (Párkány) in Slovakia, Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely) in Romania, Burgas in Bulgaria and the German capital, Berlin.
Read also:
Horrific accident at Balaton Sound festival: woman fell from Ferris wheel – Read more HERE
No Hungarians were injured in Slovakian festival accident
No Hungarians were among the injured when a tent collapsed in stormy weather at the Pohoda Festival, at the Trencin airport in northern Slovakia, on Friday, a spokesman of the Hungarian foreign ministry told MTI on Saturday.
Máté Paczolay said 14 people injured in the accident had been taken to hospital.
The Hungarian consular services are in contact with the festival organisers and the hospitals treating the injured, he added
A horrific accident took place on the last day of the Balaton Sound Festival in Zamárdi: a woman fell from the Ferris wheel. The ambulance took her to the hospital. But authorities remain closemouthed about how the tragedy happened and how she is.
According to 24.hu, the Communication Service of the Somogy County PoliceDepartment confirmed the accident. However, they only added that they were investigating for reckless endangerment. Thus, they did not share any details about how exactly the accident happened, referring to the interests of the probe.
Pál Győrfi, the spokesman of the National Ambulance Service, said they offered help in 229 cases during the four-day-long festival, mostly because of minor injuries and malaises. That number is a decrease compared to 2023.
They transferred 28 patients to the hospital, including a severely injured woman. However, he was not clear whether she was the woman who fell from the Ferris wheel.
We wrote HEREthat this year’s could be the last Balaton Sound festival. This Lake Balaton paradise for electronic music lovers has been organised for 16 years, and the festival saw 100,000 visitors by Saturday. But rumour has it that 2024 will be the last year the event was held because the organisers’ contract expired.
Read also:
Could the festivals at Lake Balaton be over? – Read our article HERE
The 2024 Zsolnay Light Festival dressed up Pécs’s squares and buildings in magical light creations from 4 to 7 July. As the first and still the only light festival in the country, it attracted more than 100,000 visitors from both domestic and international locations, reinforcing the city’s position on the cultural tourism map of Hungary.
The 2024 Zsolnay Light Festival
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
The central attraction of the Zsolnay Light Festival was the Zsolnay Light Art Video Mapping Competition (Zsolnay Light Art Video Mapping Verseny). In this event, five world-renowned light artists showcased their 3D mappings based on the theme of the Rubik’s Cube.
The façade of the Cathedral came to life with musical animations floating in a flood of colourful lights, providing a stunning visual experience. Based on audience votes, the winner was German artist Jonas Denzel with his piece titled “Chromatic Fusion.” The production can be seen below:
Path of Light
On the Path of Light, visitors could wander enchanted by the most modern light technical marvels and artistic installations, admiring a total of 20 light creations. The Path of Light Extra (Fény Útja Extra) offered a glimpse into 10 more special locations.
At several sites, interactive attractions allowed visitors to become active participants in the experience: at the Mosque, they could send their own light energy up to the golden light planet of the dome, while at the Cella Septichora Visitor Center (Cella Septichora Látogatóközpont), they could create light on a holographic canvas with their hand movements. The Light Carpet remained a crowd favourite, now covering two streets so atmospherically that festival-goers often took photos lying in the middle of the path.
New locations at 2024’s Light Festival
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
This year, the Path of Light extended beyond the downtown area and successfully debuted new locations including the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter and its surroundings. The event featured international and domestic light artists, creating a true cultural kaleidoscope in the heart of Pécs. A Japanese artist dreamed up a laser show at the Kodály Centre, while visitors could encounter works by a Spanish artist in the Zsolnay Quarter and a French artist downtown, transporting them into the world of sci-fi films.
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
The festival did not only offer light experiences. During the day, visitors were entertained with street theatre and new circus productions, light crafting workshops, and in the evenings, concerts and DJ sets.
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
The city was filled to capacity over the weekend, with no available accommodation. Visitors came from all over the country, and even from Morocco, Japan, and Colombia.
The Balaton Sound festival, a paradise for electronic music lovers, was held for the 16th time in Zamárdi, Hungary this year. According to the organisers, the festival saw 100,000 visitors by Saturday, a number that appears modest compared to previous years.
Rumours about the festival’s future started circulating on the last day of the four-day event, with some suggesting this might be the last Balaton Sound in Zamárdi, Sonline reports. Vendors at the festival told some attendees that 2024 would be the final year for the popular festival. In a now-deleted Instagram video, influencer Pumped Gabo, who rose to fame through the festival, tearfully mentioned that there would be no more festivals at the “Hungarian Sea”.
Photo: facebook.com/BalatonSound
At the same time, Telex has also been informed that the 2024 Balaton Sound festival was the last one. This is most likely why the organisers have not even started to schedule next year’s lineup.
The last Balaton Sound
Photo: facebook.com/BalatonSound
The festival’s press chief, Viktória Vető, previously commented that they were aware of the rumours but didn’t want to address them, stating the topic was not on their agenda. When asked again after the event, the response remained the same. However, it was understood that during the latest town council meeting, which included festival organisers,
it was clearly stated that this year’s event was the last.
Zamárdi’s mayor, Gyula Csákovics, confirmed that their contract with the organisers, which allowed the festival to be held until 2024, had expired, making this the last Balaton Sound under the current agreement. He added that any new contracts would need to be discussed by the newly formed council. The contract with the municipality was structured based on the results of a public opinion poll conducted last year.
New festival in Zamárdi?
The organisers, Sziget Plc., requested to hold the festival later and paid an additional HUF 20 million on top of the agreed HUF 150 million to the town. This extra funding was used to re-asphalt a street affected by the event.
Speculation about the festival’s future also appeared on online forums, with some claiming that the Cluj-Napoca-based Untold festival might move to Zamárdi next year. However, Mayor Csákovics stated that the municipality had not received any such proposal.
About the festival
Source: facebook.com/BalatonSound
Balaton Sound is one of Europe’s largest and most popular electronic music festivals, held annually in the picturesque town of Zamárdi. Established in 2007, the festival quickly gained a reputation for its stunning lakeside location on the shores of Lake Balaton, vibrant atmosphere, and an impressive lineup of international DJs and artists.
“On a Better Track” will be the motto of the 33rd Bálványos Summer University in Baile Tusnad (Tusnádfürdő), central Romania, to be held on July 23-28, organisers told a press conference in Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda) on Thursday.
Krisztina Sándor, acting head of the Hungarian National Council of Transylvania who is in charge of the event’s political programme, said this year’s motto worked in both a physical and political sense, and refers to the improved situation of Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin.
This year’s panel discussions will be focused on current political trends, the issue of war and peace, the economy and green topics like climate change, energy efficiency and the green transition, Sandor said.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén will again be attending the event, along with several ministers and state secretaries.
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The UNCHAIN Fintech Festival, held on June 19-20 at the Fintech Fortress, recently concluded its two-day financial marathon. The event featured several notable highlights, including signing of the latest book by Chris Skinner, signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Romanian Fintech Association and the Polish Fintech Association, and the recognition of outstanding achievements in the industry.
For the past three years, Oradea (Nagyvárad, Romania)has emerged as the epicentre of financial services in Central and Eastern Europe, attracting over 500 delegates from around the globe each year. The two-day event features the hottest topics in finance, business networking, startup pitches, roundtables, interviews with key voices in the CEE, parties, and more. It brought together representatives from 6 central banks, over 170 commercial banks and financial institutions, more than 200 fintech and technology providers, and 80+ ecosystem players, academia, and media.
Source: FB/Unchain
The “hot” agenda of UNCHAIN
The festival provided a comprehensive platform for exploring cutting-edge developments in regulation, digital banking transformation, AI in finance, open banking, neobanking, payments 3.0, digital assets, insurtech, regtech, sustainability in finance, and many other pivotal topics. Over the course of two days, more than 70 esteemed speakers from around the globe shared their invaluable insights and expertise, contributing to a rich tapestry of knowledge and innovation.
Source: FB/Unchain
One of the standout themes was payment innovation, which sparked engaging discussions and revealed groundbreaking advancements set to redefine the industry. The transformative role of AI in finance also took centre stage, with experts delving into how artificial intelligence is revolutionising financial services. Regulation was another critical topic, with sessions dedicated to understanding the evolving regulatory landscape and its implications for the fintech sector.
Chris Skinner, keynote speech and book signing
Renowned author and fintech expert Chris Skinner captivated attendees with a special keynote and an exclusive book signing session for his latest book, Intelligent Money. Skinner, known for his influential works on the future of banking and finance, engaged with festival participants, offering insights and autographed copies of his new book. This session provided a unique opportunity for fintech enthusiasts to interact with one of the industry’s leading thought leaders.
Source: FB/Unchain
MOU signing between Romanian and Polish Fintech Association
A significant milestone was achieved with the signing of an MOU between the Romanian Fintech Association and the Polish Fintech Association. This strategic partnership aims to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint initiatives between the fintech ecosystems of both countries. The agreement signifies a commitment to driving innovation and growth within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) fintech landscape.
Banca Comerciala Romana named the best CEE Digital Bank
Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) was honoured with the prestigious CEE Digital Bank of the Year Award, presented by VISA. This nomination recognizes BCR’s exceptional digital transformation efforts, innovative banking solutions, and customer-centric approach. The bank’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance the banking experience has set a benchmark for the industry.
Source: FB/Unchain
“Digital Bank of the Year is, first and foremost, about industry recognition. It is also about our continuous efforts to provide customers with a smart, simple, fast, and secure banking experience. And that says it all about George, BCR’s digital banking platform, which is currently a complete tool for managing personal financial life as well as business, supporting partnerships with technology and service companies. With George, we have managed to achieve the most digital firsts in the Romanian banking market, with more than 300 features introduced since its launch, and we will continue to use technology to develop the ecosystem of solutions for smart financial choices,” said Mihai Sandu, Head of Digital Sales & Strategic Partnerships, Banca Comerciala Romana.
PastPay wins the UNCHAIN Startups Tournament
PastPay (pastpay.com) emerged victorious, receiving the much sought-after Oscar of CEE Fintech. This award highlights the startup’s innovative solutions and its potential to make a significant impact in the fintech sector. The recognition provides a platform for emerging fintech companies to showcase their ideas and gain acknowledgment from industry leaders and investors.
Unchain Fintech Festival 2023 in Oradea, Romania.
“We are extremely proud that the jury at Unchain honoured our B2B BNPL solution with the first prize. The entire event surpassed all our expectations with top quality speakers and participants. Looking forward to next year!”, stated Benjamin Berényi, CEO & Co-founder at PastPay.
PastPay revolutionises business transactions by offering merchants instant revenue and enabling them to offer flexible payment terms to their business customers. With features like automated risk management, seamless integration and APIs, and multi-currency support for international transactions, PastPay enhances cash flow, boosts sales, and improves the overall payment experience. Currently, over 170 B2B merchants offer their customers PastPay as a payment method.
Supported by regional financial innovators
The success of the event was made possible with the support of numerous partners: Visa, the event’s Main Partner; banking partners, including Banca Comerciala Romana, Raiffeisen Bank Romania, and Banca Transilvania; regtech partners such as Forvis Mazars and Evrotrust; technology partners represented by Google Cloud, InfoCert, and Payten and sponsors such as CitiBank, Garanti BBVA, CMS Cameron McKenna, SIBS, Amazon Web Services, Global Payments, Finshape, Transfond, Evam, Kriptomat, and Verita HR.
Hosted by Visit Oradea and Make IT in Oradea, and supported by logistic partners such as Nazzuro, Autonom, Alchemico, Ford Carbenta Com, Mobexpert, Darabont Family Winery, and Digi, UNCHAIN provided a unique opportunity to be part of a transformative community.
Blind bird tickets on sale for 2025 edition
In anticipation of next year’s event, the UNCHAIN Fintech Festival has announced the sale of blind bird tickets for the fourth edition at a 50% discount. This limited-time offer provides an excellent opportunity for early registrants to secure their participation at a reduced rate. Delegates can take advantage of this discount to ensure their place at the forefront of fintech innovation and networking.
For more details and to purchase tickets, click HERE.
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Hungarian animation to feature in 2025 Annecy festival
Now that summer is here and the festival season is upon us, in addition to the most famous Hungarian festival, Sziget, the area around Lake Balaton is also home to many festivals. There’s an event almost every week where you can recharge your batteries or let off some steam dancing to good music. From jazz to folk music and techno, almost every genre is on the list, as well as theatre and cultural events.
Heineken Balaton Sound (3-6 July)
Heineken Balaton Sound is one the most anticipated party festivals in Hungary and all over Europe in summer, with the stunning panoramic view of Lake Balaton and the sunset during the evening parties, but the daytime activities are just as attractive as the festival’s vibrant scenery and range of services. Marshmello, Paul Kalkbrenner, Timmy Trumpet, James Hype, the Lost Frequencies, John Newman and Purple Disco Machine are among the list of the festival’s performers. For more information, visit the event’s website here.
INOTA Focus (12-13 July)
After last year’s success, this year techno fans can return to Inota, the town near Veszprém on 12 and 13 July, which will once again be filled with new-wave techno and boundary-pushing electronic music. According to the organisers, this time the event will not be held in the entire Inota Power Plant area, but in the cosy Turbina Hall, a 6,000-square-metre glass-brick-lined venue. Performers include Ben Frost: Scope Neglect AV show ft. Greg Kubacki & Tarik Barri, Khidi Showcase: Schwefelgelb, Ancient Methods, Neux, Boston 168 (BPitch Control) and DJ Hyperdrive (BCCO). For more information, click here.
Veszprém Fest (16-20 July)
Photo: FB / VeszprémFest
VeszprémFest is an annual festival held in Veszprém every July that brings together stars of jazz, soul, blues, world music and opera from Hungary and abroad. Its aim is to gather performers who have confidently taken to the stages of Europe and the world. Fortunately, this has been successfully accomplished every year since 2002. This year’s acts include Milky Chance, José Cura, Paloma Faith, Gregory Porter and Toto. For more information, visit the event’s website here.
Valley of Arts (19-28 July)
Between 19-28 July 2024, the 33rd Valley of Arts Festival (Művészetek Völgye) will take place in Kapolcs, Vigántpetend and Taliándörögd, the largest and oldest all-arts event in the Balaton Highlands. The ten-day festival offers nearly 2200 special programmes. Among other things, the organisers welcome guests with concerts of popular music, jazz, world music, folk music and classical music, theatre performances, literary evenings, a full day of colourful children’s programmes, green programmes, community programmes, and interactive games. For more information, visit the festival’s website here.
Street Music Festival Veszprém (24-27 July)
The Utcazene Festival (Street Music Festival) is the time when the city of Veszprém comes to life the most, because walking through the city centre, at any corner or passage, you can meet a performer who will captivate you with their music or unusual performance. In the last few years, many foreign street musicians have been visiting Veszprém, so those in the town in July during Utcazene will be treated to an unforgettable world music experience. For more information, click here.
Paloznaki Jazzpiknik (1-3 August)
Photo: FB / Paloznaki Jazzpiknik
From 1-3 August 2024, an event for jazz, funk, pop and soul will take place on the side of the Paloznak vineyard. In addition to concerts by international stars of jazz, funk and soul, as well as local artists, the picturesque Balaton Highlands will offer a special gastronomic experience. On 2 August The Brand New Heavies, the uncrowned king of funk, and Tony Hadley, former lead singer of the Spandau Ballet, will be among the acts. On 3 August, the Dutch pop group Son Mieux will perform, followed by Morcheeba. For more information, visit Jazzpiknik’s website here.
Strand Festival (22-24 August)
Between 22-24 August, the Strand Festival will be back in Zamárdi. This year’s line-up includes Chase & Status, Elderbrook, and Hungarian acts such as Azahriah, Beton.Hofi, Krúbi, Pogány Induló, Carson Coma, Dzsúdló, Analog Balaton, Hiperkarma and Platon Karataev. The proximity of the lake and the beautiful setting add to the experience. For more information and tickets, click here.
In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Hungarian Holocaust, concert artists will pay tribute to its victims as part of the Festival Academy’s Budapest Summer Festival held at the Dohány Street Synagogue on July 15.
The performers will include Dora Schwarzberg, Shlomo Mintz, Thomas Dunford, Vilde Frang, Orsolya Korcsolán, Jens Peter Maintz, Barnabás Kelemen, Katalin and Dóra Kokas, Alissa Margulis, Maxim Rysanov, Latica Honda-Rosenberg, Jonian Ilias Kadesha, Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg, Kyril Zlotnikov, Miklós Lukács, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, as well as the students of the Festival Academy Budapest.
The synagogue’s principal cantor, László Fekete, will take part in the memorial concert. In between the musical performances, actors Gabriella Hámori and Zoltán Bezerédi will read excerpts from the works of György Petri, Péter Esterházy, Imre Kertész, Miklós Radnóti and Endre Ady.
Puccini’s Chrysanthemums for string quartet, Mendelssohn’s Octet, the Nigun movement of Ernest Bloch’s Baal Shem, and Max Bruch Kol Nidrei will be performed.
The Olympic Fest of Street Sports kicked off today in Budapest’s famous Ludovika Campus. The event is part of the Olympic Qualifier Series for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games and an opportunity for everybody else to try themselves out in BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding, and sport climbing or enjoy the positive vibes of the unique fest blended with music, art, and culture.
Downtown Budapest hosts international sports fest, urban festival
The Paris Olympic Games will include four extra sports. They are breaking, surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing. Athletes in these sports can acquire a spot in the Olympics by performing well on two qualifiers. One was organised in Shanghai in May. The second part is in Budapest: it started today and will last until Sunday.
This is the first time such a competition is held. However, it is important for the 464 athletes competing since 150 can win an Olympic quota for Paris.
Photo: FB/Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest 2024
Balázs Fürjes, co-chairman of the Budapest Local Organising Committee for the 2024 Olympic Qualifier Series and a Hungarian member of the International Olympic Committee, told InfoStartthat the Qualifier Series is accompanied by an urban festival. Thus, those interested can try all the sports regardless of age, skill level, or gender.
Photo: FB/Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest 2024
Mr Fürjes told to InfoRádió’s Aréna that their aim was to organise a respected sports event and a music and family festival to help all age groups find suitable programmes.
He said some of the new sports would remain in the programme of the future Olympic games and one would be sport climbing.
Four Hungarian athletes at the Olympic Qualifiers
Four Hungarian athletes will take part in the qualifiers. Zoltán Kempf (Kempf Zozó) will compete in BMX freestyle, Csenge Szarvák (B-Girl Csenge) and Lobontiu Menotti Noris (Noris by Nature) will try to get a spot on the Paris Olympics in breaking. Finally, Nimród Sebestyén Tusnády will try to do the same in sport climbing.
Nimród Sebestyén Tusnády. Photo: FB/Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest 2024
Kempf Zozó already passed his first training at the Ludovika Campus:
“The Olympic Qualifier Series is an exciting opportunity for Hungarian athletes to demonstrate their skills in these emerging sports in vibrant, urban locations”, Zsolt Gyulay, chairman of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, said in April. He also added that the event was free to enter for everybody.
Thursday and Friday will see training and preliminaries, while the finals will take place on Saturday and Sunday. Furthermore, you will even be able to meet former Olympic champions in the Ludovika Campus during the qualifiers and urban fest.
Music, sport, culture
The urban fest will include hip-hop, rock, and surf-punk music, DJ battles, and beatbox shows.
The Hungarian sports federations will provide equipment, advice and more to try the sports regardless of age, gender or skill level.
Photo: FB/Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest 2024
Mr Fürjes said the four sports were outstandingly exciting, spectacular and dynamic. Thus, everybody will get real sports experience visiting the Ludovika campus.
Athletes from 120 countries and all continents will take part in the event. 36 Olympic medals will be distributed in the four sports in 12 categories in Paris. Getting a spot for the Paris Olympics will be difficult, so we should expect exciting games.
Here’s a promo video of the festival:
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The Annecy International Animation Film Festival will mark 110 years of Hungarian animation in 2025, the organisers said on Monday.
The festival will give a “360-degree panorama” of the history, industry, training and contemporary producers of Hungarian animation, artistic director Marcel Jean said at the award gala of this year’s event.
This year’s festival featured László Csáki‘s Pelikan Blue and Viktoria Traub’s Shoes and Hooves. Palme d’Or and Cristal Prize-winner director Flóra Anna Buda sat on this year’s jury.
