Chaos at Sziget after Imagine Dragons concert: it took 90 mins to exit the island
“It was a horrible experience”, one of the participants recalled to Szeretlek Magyarország, a Hungarian news outlet, after she finally escaped from the crowd waiting to get out from the Hajógyári Island, the festival’s venue.
On Friday, Sziget Festival presented Imagine Dragons, and the concert attracted a massive crowd. Here are some photos and a video:
Arrival went swimmingly. It was a good decision from the organisers to allow people to enter from the other side of the island instead of the K bridge. Thus, no queues or crowds were built up, Szeretlek Magyarország wrote.
However, leaving the venue was a real nightmare even for those who stayed hours after the main concert before heading home. At 1 AM, for example, a large throng was waiting anxiously to exit the island. Check out the photos by tapping on the link above. Unfortunately, we cannot share them in our piece.
Inadequate information provided by Sziget?
Security staff placed a cordon on the path leading to the K bridge. They wanted to block the K bridge that was already crammed with people. The result was that the large crowd instead gathered on the island. Many times it seemed the slow flow of the people would never cease as 20-30 visitors tried to get through the narrow gateway at the same time, even though it had a capacity for only four people. Many festivalgoers complained on the official Facebook page of the Sziget Festival that they received no information during the night.
Read also:
- VIDEO: Government will shut down Sziget Festival due to LGBTQ propaganda?
- HERE is how you can grab some cheap food at Sziget Festival
“It took more than an hour to get out. Meanwhile, we got no information. Luckily, most of the people in the crowd were chill. Beyond words”, a visitor posted on Facebook. Another one said that nobody knew where the cordons were, and most people did not understand why they could not exit through the K bridge. That made the crowd restless. If there was a case of emergency, surely there would have been injuries and even deaths, another user added. A fourth person said it took more than 90 minutes to get out. “I am grateful I did not have to go to the toilet”, another wrote.
Sziget Festival warned the participants on Facebook in English that exiting the island at night might take longer than expected due to security reasons. However, most of the people must have have dismissed it or failed to understand it.
VIDEO: Government will shut down Sziget Festival due to LGBTQ propaganda?
After the attacks of the government-close media empire, Bence Rétvári, the deputy interior minister of Hungary, also slammed Budapet’s world-known Sziget Festival. The reason was the LGBTQ propaganda present at the festival and its ads. Earlier, the government commissioner, who owns a large chunk of the land where the festival takes place, raised the possibility of a permanent shut down.
As we reported in April, Szilárd Demeter, the leader of the Petőfi Cultural Agency and owner much of the territory where the Sziget festival is held annually, said when he might cease supporting the event. First, it should remain a pop-cultural mass event instead of a festival. Secondly, it should remain affordable for Hungarians. But both are very subjective. For example, most food and drink items on the menus aren’t affordable by local visitors, even though Sziget introduced a number of budget-friendly options. We detailed the issue in THIS article. Furthermore, we garnered HERE the best cheap eats on this year’s Sziget.
It appears, the government opened a new front against the festival this week. The government-close media empire controlled by the KESMA foundation attacked the rainbow “video spots” of the festival. They assert that the organisers should have applied age-rating since some scenes depict homosexual couples kissing. Bence Rétvári, Hungary’s deputy interior minister, continued the attack the festival on its opening day, on Thursday, in the following Facebook post:
LGBTQ content in Sziget ad
Rétvári condemned the video spot, which was shared four months ago, due to its opening shot that shows a lesbian couple sharing a kiss. Mr Rétvári believes Sziget’s foreign owners intentionally provoke the conservatives in Hungary. However, while serving the LGBTQ lobby, they harm even sexual minorities by selling them out for profit. Here is the video he complained about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCT-70k3nLE
He raised the question that if Hungary was a dictatorship – as many Western media and politicians state – why would anybody name Budapest’s Sziget the island of freedom? He also added that they were happy about Sziget’s presence in the Hungarian festival scene and the international reputation this massive event enjoyed. He suggested foreigners come to Sziget Festival in Hungary because this state is the last home of freedom.
Blikk wrote KESMA media outlets attacked the festival because of a TikTok video in which two young guys are snogging. They added minors could be easily exposed to such irresponsible content. Therefore, it has to be age-rated. However, Áron Demeter, a lawyer for Amnesty International, believes Hungary’s children’s protection law does not apply to such video spots since they are only available on the social media.
PHOTOS: Budapest’s Sziget Festival reaches 10 millionth visitor
Organisers of Budapest’s Sziget Festival greeted the event’s 10 millionth visitor on Friday.
Veronika Mikes, a 32-year-old Hungarian woman, was given a lifetime pass for the event along with a commemorative flag and T-shirt by organiser Tamás Kádár. “This is only my second time at Sziget. I came to the festival for the first time a few years ago,” Mikes, who had bought a day ticket to see Imagine Dragons with her sister, told MTI.
The festival’s 9 millionth visitor was a Swiss secondary school student in 2018. Friday’s line-up at Sziget features Imagine Dragons, Easy Life, Carson Coma, Yungblud and others.
Read also:
- HERE is how you can grab some cheap food at Sziget Festival
And check out the photos below:
Here is how you can grab some cheap food at Sziget Festival
We already wrote about this year’s “compulsory price reductions” at Sziget Festival, meaning that all restaurants must offer one wallet-friendly option for under HUF 2,500 (EUR 6.5). That is because not even foreign guests were left unfazed when seeing the sky-high food prices back in 2022. But what can you get for such a tiny sum? And what are the other options for you to grab some cheap grub before the concerts?
According to 444.hu, a Hungarian news outlet, restaurants show budget food options only at the bottom of the menus. They hope illuminated guests will not reach that section. “Market price” foods cost a lot, and the price increase compared to 2022 is a whopping 30-40%.
In most festivals or music events, cheap eats mean mainly French fries with some sauce or topping. Other potato snacks are also popular like baked potatoes with sour cream. Apart from these two, you can also get your hands on a Caesar salad for the above-mentioned price. In other bars and restaurants, a hotdog or a slice of pizza costs HUF 2,500. But according to 444.hu, the Caesar salad was very tasty for that price.
Of course, price reduction does not apply for shots, beers, wines and other drinks. For example, the draught Dreher (0.5l) sat at HUF 1,290 (EUR 3.34) last year, and its price increased to HUF 1,690 (EUR 4.38), which is a 30% jump. The price of canned beer went up by 35%, but shots did not get that expensive; the difference is “only” 22%. In the case of beverages, you should count with a 33% rise. The best choice is mineral water in that respect since the increase was only 16% (from HUF 850 to HUF 990 – EUR 2.6).
Here is the best choice to eat and drink at Sziget
But if you want to buy food and drinks for cheap, you should head to the Aldi at Sziget. Apart from alcoholic beverages, the store applies regular Aldi prices. Moreover, if somebody buys marinated meat, they grill the meat for you at the desk next to the shop.
Having said that, if you really want/need to scrimp the cash, just leave Sziget and walk some minutes to a nearby bar, restaurant or even a filling station.
HERE are all the food options at Sziget. Check out more information about Central Europe’s greatest festival in our articles:
- Price reductions in THIS article
- Belgian woman died mysteriously at popular festival in Hungary
- Easiest way to reach Sziget HERE
Here are some photos of the opening day:
Sziget Festival kicks off today with horrific prices and compulsory reductions
Budapest’s emblematic Sziget Festival is 30 years old this year. And it seems they prepared to celebrate the event with improved quality service to ensure lasting memories for the guests. The weather will brighten up in the next few days, but the prices remain eye-watering at Sziget for an average Hungarian festivalgoer. However, the government’s latest measure of compulsory price reductions applies to the festival too, which can bring a bit of a relief.
According to Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, Sziget operated a bit puritan last year. But, in 2023, show elements are to return. Apart from comfort and leisure, price control will be the third crucial element of this year’s Sziget. That means every food vendor is compelled to sell at least one dish off the menu that costs no more than HUF 2,500 (EUR 6.5).
The festival’s main organiser Tamás Kádár said they had to introduce this option as drinks have had a fixed price for years, but foods did not. “Frankly, we received feedback even from foreign tourists complaining about the sky-high food prices”, he added. That is why they came up with the idea of compulsory price reductions or price control. Obviously, they do not want the guests to spend money in nearby food stores or city restaurants.
- Do you know how to get to the festival? HERE is everything you should know.
Price control applies even to the performers. Both Michelin-star backstage catering and crazy wish lists are gone. The performers also have to adopt the new restrictions. Last year, Justin Bieber asked for a cryotherapy ice bath, and Marilyn Manson wanted M&M’s separated by colours at VOLT, but that’s all, Mr Kádár said. The technical head of the festival, Dániel Benis, said it seems the pandemic taught modesty. Even the greatest stars remained without revenues for months, but they had to pay their staff regardless. Of course, they try to provide maximum comfort for the stars.
- Belgian woman mysteriously died at popular Hungarian festival – read more in THIS article
Earlier, only the main stage’s backstage required tens of millions of forints to serve all needs. But now that’s a thing of the past. The stars can bring their cook, but there are no longer Michelin-star chefs backstage. Mr Benis added the artefact the stars request the most frequently is a Hungarian flag.
The Sziget festival will be Hungary’s 10th biggest city this weekend. The daily capacity of the place reaches 90 thousand people. They have 100 restaurants with Hungarian and international flavours, vegan dishes and a budget-friendly options costing no more than EUR 6.5. There will be no ToiToi toilets because the organisers created containerised lavatory rooms with 1,000 toilets.
- Interested in the line-up of the Sziget? HERE is our article
Regardless of the compulsory price control, the costs of food and beverage are not designed for an average Hungarian wallet. Concerning drinks, a shot starts from HUF 2,290 (EUR 6), mineral water from HUF 990 (EUR 2.5), draught beer (0.5l) is HUF 1690 (EUR 4.37), 1 dl of wine is HUF 790 (EUR 2), while a cup of coffee costs you HUF 1050 (EUR 2.71). A slice of pizza sits at HUF 2,490 (EUR 6.43), a hamburger starts from HUF 3,590 (EUR 9.28), a Hungarian traditional lángos is HUF 3,000 (EUR 7.75), while you have to fork out HUF 5,000 (EUR 13) for 5 pieces of chicken bites. Of course, these prices won’t shock foreigners coming from Western Europe that much.
The easiest routes to get to the Sziget Festival
BKK recommends public transport to get to the venue again this year: as in previous years, trains on suburban railway line H5 will run more frequently and all night between Batthyány tér and Aquincum stations from 11 to 16 August 2023, and vehicles with a higher passenger capacity than usual will be available on the night services in the vicinity of the festival. BKK will also be present on site, with a temporary ticket sales point at the Filatorigát station of line H5, and visitors can also find useful information on the BKK website. The Sziget CityPass by Budapest Card offering free public transport in the capital is also available for purchase at several BKK Customer Service Centres.
The Sziget Festival will be held in the Hungarian capital between 10 and 15 August 2023, and as in previous years, the event will be hosted on Óbuda Island. Traffic around the festival site, especially in Mozaik utca, will change significantly and there will be more pedestrians on the streets than usual. BKK recommends using public transport, especially suburban railway line H5, which will be running with higher frequency and around the clock during the event. Please check the timetable on the BKK website.
BKK also created a website in Hungarian and English to help arriving visitors find their way around: BKK – Sziget.
During the Sziget, the night buses in the area will operate with a higher capacity than usual, using articulated vehicles instead of single buses, thus ensuring the travel comfort of the visitors.
Here you can buy your ticket for Sziget
This year, visitors will again be able to purchase tickets for public transport at the temporary BKK ticket sales point at Filatorigát suburban railway (HÉV) station, where BKK staff will also be on hand to provide passenger information. The company recommends digital tickets in addition to paper products: in the BudapestGO app, festival-goers can easily plan their public transport trips in addition to buying their tickets. All functions of the app are available in English as well as Hungarian.
BKK will again this year sell the Sziget CityPass by Budapest Card, a wristband for free public transport throughout the capital, which allows visitors to get additional types of discounts as well. The CityPass can be purchased at the temporary ticket sales point at Filatorigát station, at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport Terminal 2A and 2B as well as at the BKK Customer Service Centres located at Keleti pályaudvar railway station (Baross tér) and Deák Ferenc tér.
Detailed information on using the Citypass is available on the Sziget website.
This is the nationality that forms the biggest foreign group at Sziget Festival
Dutch festival-goers form the largest group of foreigners at this year’s Sziget, Hungary’s biggest music festival, organiser Tamás Kádár said during a walkthrough on Wednesday.
About half of visitors to Sziget are foreigners, Kádár said a day before the start of the festival which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. After the Dutch, the Brits and the Irish are the next biggest groups of festival-goers, he added.
Among the headliners the six-day Sziget boasts this year are Billie Eilish, making her debut in Hungary, Florence + the Machine, Imagine Dragons, David Guetta, Mumford and Sons, and Macklemore.
Here is how you can get to the Sziget Festival easily:
And here is how much you have to spend if you want to drink beer at the festival:
Here is how to get to Sziget Festival: BKK to help festivalgoers
The Budapest Transport Centre, BKK, recommends using public transport to get to Sziget Festival again this year. Here are some changes BKK will implement to help those going to one of Europe’s biggest festivals this year.
Use H5 HÉV to Sziget Festival
Just like in previous years, from 11 to 16 August, H5 HÉV trains will run more frequently and around the clock between Batthyány Square and Aquincum. In addition, night services around the festival area will have a higher capacity than usual. The H5 HÉV timetable is available on the BKK website.
BKK will also be present on site: at the Filatorigát stop of the H5 HÉV, the company will operate a temporary ticket sales point. Visitors can also find useful information on the BKK website. The Sziget CityPass by Budapest Card is also available at several BKK Customer Centres, which offers free public transport in the capital, BKK reports.
Attention: pedestrian routes change
The organisers remind festivalgoers that the pedestrian routes have changed compared to previous years: pedestrians and cyclists are not allowed to enter Sziget at the H-híd (Hajógyári híd, Hajógyári bridge) entrance near the HÉV Szentlélek Square stop. If you are arriving by HÉV, you should get off at Filatorigát, from where you can walk to the main entrance of Sziget at the K-híd (K-bridge).
To make it easier for people arriving at the festival to find their way around, BKK has a website in Hungarian and English, where all the important information can be easily found.
Higher capacity buses, police to help those attending Sziget Festival
During Sziget, night buses in the area will run at higher capacity than usual, using articulated vehicles instead of solo ones, to ensure a comfortable journey for visitors. The railway company is paying special attention to the safety of passengers travelling by HÉV, with police officers at busy stations and stops to help them find their way around.
This year, visitors will again be able to purchase tickets for public transport at the temporary BKK ticket sales point at Filatorigát HÉV station, where BKK staff will also be on hand to provide passenger information. The company recommends digital tickets in addition to paper products: in the BudapestGO app, festivalgoers can easily plan their public transport trips in addition to buying their tickets. All functions of the app are available in English as well as Hungarian.
Sziget CityPass by Budapest Card
BKK will again this year sell the Sziget CityPass by Budapest Card, a wristband for free public transport throughout the capital, which allows visitors to get additional types of discounts as well. The CityPass can be purchased at the temporary ticket sales point at Filatorigát station, at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport Terminal 2A and 2B as well as at the BKK Customer Service Centres located at Keleti railway station (Baross Square) and Deák Ferenc Square.
HERE you can find more information about the Sziget CityPass by Budapest Card and here is a video teaser:
Additional Sziget Festival news:
This is how much a pint of beer will cost at Sziget Festival
Sziget Festival is one of the biggest events of the summer in Hungary. Thousands of tourists flock to the festival every year. However, you might have to dig deep in your pocket if you want to eat or drink something there.
How much will you have to pay for a beer?
According to Tamás Kádár, managing director of Sziget Zrt. and the main organiser of the festival, buffet prices will rise in proportion to inflation. A pint of beer will cost about HUF 1,600-1,700 (EUR 4,15- 4,41), writes Forbes. A new experiment is also being tested during this year’s Sziget. This is so-called budget food, according to which all restaurants on the island must sell a complete main course for a maximum of HUF 2,500 (EUR 6,49). According to Kádár, the caterers did not complain about the change, cost-cutting variations should be considered here, such as replacing serrano ham with sausage on the pizza.
They also found a solution to the dust
Every year, guests compain about the extreme dust on the festival, but it was especially unbearable last year. This year, Hajógyári Island (or Óbuda Island) will be irrigated with water from the Danube. According to Kádár, the situation is better this year than in 2022, as they do not expect a drought of several weeks before the festival.
The organiser of Sziget says that they do not intend to leave Óbuda Island, they have a contract with the Metropolitan Municipality until 2026, which can be extended for an additional five years. “We think that the fact that we are on Hajógyári Island is an added value to the island as well,” Kádár says.
Fewer visitors are expected on Sziget Festival this year than last year
Fewer visitors are expected this year than last year. In 2022, for the first time after the coronavirus pandemic, festivals returned to their old ways, the entire European festival scene was sold out. Their preliminary expectations show that they can expect fewer six-day tickets and more day tickets. The six-day pass costs HUF 151,000 (EUR 392,04), daily tickets start at HUF 38,000 (EUR 98,66).
There is also a student discount this year, the pass can be bought for HUF 100,000 (EUR 259,63). The daily tickets are adjusted to the ticket price of the arena concerts of the world stars visiting Budapest. They are also trying to adapt to the international market when it comes to passes. Since the Sziget lasts longer than similar European festivals, Kádár says that season ticket holders should compare a week spent on the Sziget with the budget of a vacation.
Sziget to showcase international array of circus talents
Visitors at this year’s Sziget Festival will be treated to a showcase of four circus troupes on each day of the event being held from Aug 10 to 15, organisers have said.
Under a partnership between Sziget and the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools (FEDEC), two circus schools, Amoukanama of Guinea and Hungary’s Baross Imre Circus School, will also get to perform in the Cirque du Sziget area of the festival grounds, the statement said.
Visitors will also get to see Ukrainian circus students who have fled the war perform with Prague-based troupe Cirk La Putyka.
Canada’s Cirque Alfonse troupe will be returning to Sziget for the third time, while Australian group Circa will be closing out the show each night. French trio Das Arnak, Argentina’s manoAmano and Morocco’s Cirque Colokolo will also be among the performers featured.
As we wrote before, Sziget Festival awaits with colourful world music programme, details HERE.
Sziget Festival awaits with colourful world music programme
From 10 to 15 August, a wide range of genres and styles will be on offer, from Mexican cumbia punk to Celtic and gypsy music to Greek ethno ska-rock.
There will be a circus performance from India, but giant puppets will also appear, the organisers told MTI on Friday. The Global Village stage will host the best of world music from the Balkans to South America, Mali to Korea and India to the Middle East.
There will also be music workshops during the day before the concerts. You can dance to calypso music at a concert by Canadian-based Trinidadian band Kobo Town, and Mexican cumbia punk music by Band Son Rompe Pera. Kommuna Lux from Odessa, the Ukrainian Balaklava Blues from Canada, the up-and-coming progressive folk band Gangar from Norway, the ethno-punk band Varkocs from Slovakia, the gypsy singer Marcela from Paris, the multicultural German band Lakvar, the French-Greek Deli Teli will also be playing.
The British Langan Band presents a new pan-European album inspired by Celtic and gypsy styles. Ti’Kaniki from the island of Réunion will be on hand, but there will also be a chance to rave to Estonian duo Puuluup or pogo to Greek ethno ska-rock artist Koza Mostra.
Among the local acts, folk-ska-punk hits from Bohemian Betyars, reggae band Manaky and ethno-dark-rock group Mordái will also take to the stage at Global Village.
In addition to the musical programme, the Indian Circus Raj will perform with acrobats, musicians, tightrope walkers and a fakir. The Congo Massa giant puppets of the French company Archibald Caramantran will also invite you to dance, accompanied by a giraffe, a zebra and two beautiful birds.
Brutal price rises at Hungarian summer festivals: here is what to expect
Food and drinks were the most expensive at the Sziget Festival last year, a senior analyst at the Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation told InfoRádió about their latest research. However, this year, they will be even more expensive, and not only at Sziget, but all the other festivals.
“Looking at the daily ticket data, we found that the price increase compared to last year is between 13 and 80 percent,” Dóra Erdélyi told InfoRádió. However, these are only indicative, as the price of remaining tickets increases as the festival date approaches.
Food and drink prices were also examined by the Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation. These also saw very significant price increases. They compared prices to 2019 due to the coronavirus outbreak and found that beer, for example, is already costing double this year.
Two years ago, a pint was HUF 750 (EUR 2). Meanwhile, last year, you had to pay at least HUF 1290 (EUR 3.44) for the same amount. But the price of other drinks and food has risen just as much,” said Dóra Erdélyi.
The senior analyst cited high inflation as a reason for the increase. She also mentioned the fact that the coronavirus outbreak has caused many people to leave the hospitality industry, leaving buffets facing a severe staff shortage. The only way to overcome this is to pay their staff more, and this is reflected in prices.
The research also looked at the economic impact of festivals. According to a 2020 study, eight of the biggest events in Hungary boosted the country’s GDP by HUF 1.6 billion (EUR 4,265,817). Meanwhile, they provided jobs for 400-450 people.
Sziget Festival among Europe’s best value music festivals!
With over 40 countries in Europe, there’s a plethora of festivals for music fans to attend this summer. But which festival offers the best value for money? According to a new study, Budapest’s Sziget Festival organized between 10-15 August is one of them.
Savoo has analysed the most popular music festivals in Europe, comparing the price of a full festival ticket with the average cost of watching the top five headliners individually, to find out the estimated value of how much festival-goers can save by attending each festival.
Sziget Festival Among Europe’s Best Value Music Festivals in 2023
|
Rank |
Festival |
Location |
Festival cost ticket 2023 (€) |
Total cost to see 5 top headliners individually in concert (€) |
Saving = Total cost of headliners – festival ticket cost (€) |
|
1 |
MEO Sudoeste |
Odemira, Portugal |
€125 |
€605.31 |
€480.31 |
|
2 |
EXIT Festival |
Novi Sad, Serbia |
€109 |
€451.39 |
€342.39 |
|
3 |
Sziget Festival |
Budapest, Hungary |
€365 |
€669.03 |
€304.03 |
|
4 |
Hideout Croatia |
Novalja, Croatia |
€180.55 |
€481.43 |
€300.88 |
|
5 |
Outlook Origins Festival |
Tisno, Croatie |
€173.74 |
€456.86 |
€283.12 |
|
6 |
NOS Alive |
Lisbon, Portugal |
€200.08 |
€470.51 |
€270.43 |
|
7 |
Bilbao BBK Live |
Bilbao, Spain |
€199 |
€465.96 |
€266.96 |
|
8 |
Rolling Loud Portugal |
Portimão, Portugal |
€226.81 |
€471.42 |
€244.61 |
|
9 |
Mad Cool Festival |
Madrid, Spain |
€226.59 |
€469.60 |
€243.01 |
|
10 |
Afro Nation Portugal |
Portimão, Portugal |
€247.52 |
€487.80 |
€240.28 |
Key points from the study:
-
MEO Sudoeste, in Portugal, is the best value music festival in Europe, with average savings of €480, followed by EXIT Festival in Serbia and Sziget Festival in Hungary
-
Rock en Seine is the best value music festival in France this year, saving an average of €465 compared to attending individual concerts of five of the festival’s top artists
You can find more information in the full research HERE, but the paper is in French.
Billie Eilish makes it official with a video message, soon to play in Hungary
Billie Eilish, undoubtedly one of the most anticipated stars of this year’s Sziget, has sent a video message to festival-goers saying she is looking forward to seeing them.
On 15 August, one of the biggest stars of our time, Billie Eilish, will take to the Sziget Main Stage.
The Oscar, Golden Globe and multiple Grammy Award-winning singer will perform in Hungary for the first time. She has just sent a message to her fans.
“Hi guys! It’s Billie and I just want to say that I can’t wait to see you at Sziget Festival in Budapest in August. See you there!”
View this post on Instagram
New design, budget food, more stars, less dust: Budapest’s Sziget ready to kick off
Festival prices skyrocketing in Hungary
The price increase rate in Hungary concerning festivals is between 30 and 60 percent. However, you will not only have to pay much more for the tickets but also for food and drinks. That is one of the side effects of one of Europe’s highest inflation rates. The government hopes that number will be one-digit again by this year’s end, but that will not help festival goers in the summer. Of course, for foreigners getting their salaries in euro, it will be worth it to come to Hungary. For them, even the most expensive festival, Budapest’s Sziget, will be cheap.
According to Blikk, there are festivals in Hungary where passes became 57 percent more expensive compared to their 2022 price. There is only one exception. Only Strand Festival (Zamárdi, Lake Balaton) kept its HUF 36,990 (EUR 100) price, but this year, it will be only 3 days long instead of four.
Sziget Festival
In 2022, daily tickets started from HUF 28,000. In 2023, they will begin at HUF 34,000 (EUR 92). Interestingly, prices change on each festival day. For example, when Billie Eilish or the Imagine Dragons come, the entrance fee is HUF 42,000 (EUR 113.5). Thankfully, price reductions are regular, so you should check out THEIR WEBSITE. Currently, the 6-day full festival pass costs EUR 365.
The festival’s press chief, Viktória Vető, told Blikk that every sector raised prices. All contractors, suppliers and energy providers need more money for their services. She added that Sziget Festival prices are not higher than other similar international festivals. Furthermore, they offer reductions for Hungarian students. Moreover, from 11 PM to 6 AM, you can enter for half price. That is when the so-called “tent programs” take place.
Food and drink prices were shocking last year at the Sziget. Hamburger prices began at HUF 4,500 (EUR 12.1), and a slice of pizza at HUF 1,990 (EUR 5.4). A cocktail will cost at least HUF 4,000 (EUR 11). This year, the organisers prescribed that there has to be at least one budget food at each place for no more than HUF 2,500 (EUR 6.76). One of the popular Hungarian supermarket chains will also be at the festival with a shop. Sziget developed some services, established new flush toilets, and created new designs, sound and light techniques. The festival will take place between 10-15 August.
Balaton Sound
Balaton Sound will be held between 28 June and 1 July. Entrance ticket prices started from HUF 21,900 in 2022, but this year they will begin from HUF 34,000 (EUR 91.9). Pass prices went up by 40 percent, from HUF 70,900 to HUF 99,000 (EUR 267). HERE you can find every information.
Meanwhile, all prices at Lake Balaton skyrocketed. Hotels are 15 percent more expensive, and you must pay 10 percent more for food.
FEZEN, Campus
In the case of FEZEN (Székesfehérvár), pass prices went up by 57 percent. In 2022, the pass cost HUF 23,490. This year it will be HUF 36,990 (EUR 100). Daily tickets started at HUF 11,490 in 2022, but this year, they are HUF 15,990. In the case of Debrecen’s Campus Festival, prices increased by 47 percent. No daily tickets are available below HUF 17,990 (EUR 48.6).
Fishing on Orfű, cultural festivals, Bánkitó, food, drinks
Interestingly, small festivals are also very popular in Hungary. Tickets for Fishing on Orfű (near the Northern slopes of the Mecsek mountains) were bought up in the first months of 2023. HERE is the price list. In the case of the daily tickets, the price rise was almost 100 percent compared to 2022. In the case of the Bánkitó Festival, last year’s HUF 28,500 pass price increased to HUF 37,500 (EUR 101).
Cultural festivals like the Valley of Arts (Művészetek Völgye), close to Veszprém, and the Ördögkatlan will also be more expensive than in 2022. You can find a price comparison chart in Blikk’s article.
Dr Róbert Richárd Kiss, a tourist expert, said the price rise of drinks and foods would be between 15 and 25 percent on the festivals. That means Sziget’s pizza slice will cost HUF 2,500 (EUR 6.76), while a can of beer will be around EUR 4.60 this summer.
New design, budget food, more stars, less dust: Budapest’s Sziget ready to kick off
Sziget Festival is the largest cultural product that Hungary has introduced over the past thirty years, and it is rolling out a number of novelties this year in an effort to recover its leading position in the European festival circuit, main organiser Tamás Kádár said on Tuesday.
Between August 10 and 15, the festival line-up will include performers from 62 countries on forty stages. The headliners will include Billie Eilish, who will perform in Hungary for the first time, as well as Florence and the Machine, Imagine Dragons, David Guetta, Mumford and Sons, Lorde and Macklemore. The two-year hiatus caused by Covid resulted in losses of 2.2 billion forints (EUR 5.9m) for Sziget, which could be slightly made up for thanks to last year’s profits of 400 million forints, Kádár said.
Provisional ticket sales figures are highly encouraging, he said, adding that organisers were expecting the number of foreign visitors to “easily reach 100,000”, while the number of Hungarian festival-goers should be even higher. Kádár said there was a good chance that the days featuring
Imagine Dragons, David Guetta and Billie Eilish would all be sellouts.
This year several new features will be introduced in terms of spectacle, catering services, sustainability and amenities, he added. In response to a question from MTI, Kádár said that though he could not disclose specific figures, Sziget’s spending on headliners was constantly rising.
“Unlike elsewhere, booking fees in the music industry didn’t stop rising during Covid,” he said. Meanwhile, he said the festival’s second largest concert venue, the Freedom Tent, will see performances by
- Bonobo, Loyle Carner, Moderat, SG Lewis, and others. The Colosseum will feature a host of DJs, including Jeff Mills, Sven Vath and Dixon, he added.
Programme director József Kardos said in the Cirque du Soleil tent, visitors will be able to see Ukrainian circus students who have fled the war perform with Prague-based troupe Cirk La Putyka.
PHOTOS: Budapest’s Sziget Festival will be renewed, visuals are here
This year’s Sziget Festival will be held 10-15 August, and the organisers hope the event will be an even bigger hit than in 2022. Therefore, they prepare with an illustrious line-up, including world-famous musicians, performers and bands, and some developments to help festival-goers get the most out of their festival experience.
According to index.hu, one of those developments will concern the toilets of the festival. The organisers aimed to create a new container block for the toilets, and now the visuals have arrived. The development means we can say goodbye to portable toilets. Furthermore, 95 percent of the toilets at Sziget will be flushable and have running water. Thus, you will feel much more at ease in one of Europe’s largest festivals, “the Island of Freedom” than ever before. Below you can check out the visuals:
As you can see, the toilets will be rainbow-coloured, while men’s and women’s sections will be physically separated. The organisers did not explain why they chose this vibrant design for the loo section, but it is unlikely to have any connection with the LGBTQ movement.
As we wrote earlier, festivals in Hungary will be much more expensive compared to 2022. Világgazdaság calculated an average 20-35 percent price rise. In the case of the Sziget Festival, that rate will be around 33 percent. But, for example, to attend Balaton Sound, you will have to pay almost 40 percent more. This year the entrance fees for Sziget will be the following: a full festival pass will be EUR 365, while the daily ticket price starts at EUR 85. Of course, that does not include accommodation, drinks and food, which are known to cost a fortune there.
But being expensive is not the only issue that may concern us about the Sziget. And considering the weak forint and the higher Western wages, most foreign visitors won’t go bankrupt, so Sziget will probably remain a cheap festival in Western eyes.
We wrote HERE that the government commissioner whose agency owns the southern parts of the Óbuda Sziget, the traditional venue of the event, said in an interview that they might not allow Sziget organisers to use their territory. That is because there is no longer a Hungarian shareholder in the company behind the event. Furthermore, Mr Demeter argued that Sziget should not mean “Western people coming to Hungary to vomit everywhere then leave”. He warned if that will be the case again this year, Sziget will be over.
Don’t feel gutted though. This year, Sziget is guaranteed to happen. Here are two videos about the line-up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCT-70k3nLE
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Festivals in Hungary 30-60% more expensive in 2023 – here are the prices
Concert and festival organisers considered uncertainties because of inflation and the energy crisis. The result was a brutal price rise: in some cases, even bigger than 50 percent. We will show you the prices and the reasons below.
Festivals will be very expensive
According to Világgazdaság, an expert told them the sectors suffered an average of 20-35 percent cost increase. András Süli, a board member of Music Hungary and the program director of the Campus Festival, added that the deviation is considerable.
He said that nobody knows the effects of the price rise on demand. However, there are warning signs. For example, fewer people buy concert tickets this spring than in the autumn and winter months. Of course, that does not mean a lot of people will not swarm some concerts and festivals buying last-minute tickets. On the low end of the list is Hungarian singer Demjén Ferenc with HUF 5,540 (EUR 15). The most expensive is the American Guns N’ Roses in the Puskás Arena, for which we will have to pay hundreds of thousands of forints.
Here is a summary of the costs of the biggest 2023 festivals in Hungary:
- Sziget Festival (Budapest): full festival pass EUR 365, daily ticket from EUR 85
- Balaton Sound (Siófok, Lake Balaton): full festival pass EUR 265, daily ticket EUR 91
- Strand Festival (Zamárdi, Lake Balaton): full festival pass EUR 104, daily ticket from EUR 47
- SZIN (Szeged): full festival pass EUR 106, daily ticket from EUR 42
- Bánkitó Festival: full festival pass EUR 100, daily ticket from EUR 45.5
- Campus Festival (Debrecen): full festival pass EUR 117, daily ticket EUR 48
- EFOTT (Lake Velence, mostly university students): full festival pass EUR 112, daily ticket EUR 42.5
- FEZEN (Székesfehérvár): full festival pass EUR 99, daily ticket from EUR 33
- Kolorádó (Nagykovácsi, a village near Budapest): full festival pass 106 EUR, two-day pass EUR 67
- SopronFest (Sopron, near the Austrian border): full festival pass EUR 106, daily ticket from EUR 40
- Fishing on Orfű: full festival pass EUR 126, daily ticket EUR 48, but there are no more available tickets
- Valley of Arts Festival (Veszprém-Lake Balaton): full festival pass EUR 120, daily ticket EUR 18
Labour shortage, energy crisis, inflation
Noizz said that compared to 2022 prices, these costs are 31 percent higher on average. Mr Süli said that the performers only reacted to global and national economic trends, so they increased their salaries. Since the sector struggles with labour shortage due to COVID, the prices can go even higher. Employers must compete for professionals. Süli highlighted that organising a profitable festival was a challenge even at peacetime.
Scrolling down in THIS article, you can find a chart comparing the festival prices in April 2022 and April 2023. In the case of the big ones (Sziget, Balaton Sound and SZIN), the price change remained in the 30-40 percent category. However, for example, in the case of the FEZEN, that rise was almost 60 percent.
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