Jane Goodall gives powerful speech at Sziget Festival then plants native trees in Hungary
Following her powerful speech about the future of our planet at Sziget Festival, primatologist Jane Goodall went on to plant some native trees in Hungary.
Jane Goodall, world-famous primatologist and environmentalist, believes and trusts in young people and the power of the fearless human soul. Last Thursday at Sziget Festival, in a short, only 10-minute-long speech, Goodall cleverly summed up how our future is tightly entwined with the state of nature, and why the behaviour of chimpanzees remind her of certain male politicians, reported hvg.hu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGzvkI5Uqhs
In another article, HVG reports that Goodall told children that “Every small action counts,” as they planted trees together on Sas-hegy, in Budapest, Hungary.
After her speech at the festival on Thursday, she went to plant native trees on Sas-hegy with Hungarian children the next day.
Goodall and the kids planted downy oaks, wild pears and rowan berries on the mountain, which will help the other oaks of Sas-hegy become more natural and resistant.
On the National Park’s website, she wrote that Sas-hegy “is a significant biodiversity hotspot, where hundreds of species live together: including numerous orchids, Szent István-carnation, pasque, several spiders and reptiles or big stag-beetles. These precious species are endangered by invasive plants such as organ, acacia, Japanese knotweed or mahonia.”
The goal of project Life4OakForests is to repel invasive plants and help the regeneration process of forests: for instance with the planting of oaks and other plants common in oak forests.
“Every small action counts. Every second of everyday, anyone can do something to make the world better,” Jane Goodall told the children.
Goodall was invited to Budapest by the Hungarian Jane Goodall Institute; their Roots&Shoots program tries to reach and include people, especially younger ones, to work on solving environmental and social problems.
The largest catch of drugs at Sziget festival – EUR 15.4 thousand worth of drugs were found
On the first day of Sziget Festival, security guards observed strangely high activity at one of the tents on the northern part of the island. The police were informed that those who arrived with cash left the campsite with small packages in their hands.
As 444.hu describes, two twenty-year-old Dutch boys were caught, who even made a price list about the drugs they offered.
According to the news portal, this has been the largest drug-busting action in the history of Sziget Festival – EUR 15.4 thousand worth of drugs were found in the tent and luggage lockers.
The police found the following with the 21-year-old and 22-year-old Dutch delinquents:
- One kilogram of pink, suspicious pills;
- 128 grammes – pre-portioned – suspicious plant debris;
- Suspicious material cigarettes stranded in 451 plastic vials;
- Pouches used for drug distribution and drug trade.
The perpetrators did not confess to the crime but asked their release on bail. Since proceedings concern a particularly large amount; based on the prosecution’s request, the court decided to arrest the two foreigners.
Featured image: www.facebook.com/SzigetFestival/
Jane Goodall at Sziget: “Young people are changing the world”
Sziget Festival had one of the most important guests of its history on 9th August. The British ethologist, Jane Goodall, gave her 10-minute speech on stage in the evening hours.
The 85-year-old world-famous primate researcher evoked how she made up her mind at the age of 10 to travel to Africa and examine the behaviour of animals. Her idea seemed ridiculous and impossible in the eyes of others.
“We did not have any money, and Africa was far away.”
Only her mother supported her by saying that if she worked hard and took advantage of every opportunity, her dream could come true.
Jane Goodall achieved more than she desired as a 10-year-old. She examined monkeys for more than 60 years. When she first heard about climate change and saw that the habitat of chimpanzees was in danger, she understood: we can only help animals by helping local people.
“It is my greatest hope for the future. Young people, when they understand the problems and are empowered to take action, are changing the world.”
She is not surprised anymore that the youngsters are full of hope as well, but we only have a chance to save the Earth if all people join together.
Sziget Festival at its peak – vast masses of people at Ed Sheeran concert
After breaking the record of U2 with his European tour, Ed Sheeran set the bar higher for Sziget as well. On 7th August, the red-haired hero of pop music played in front of the greatest audience ever seen at the festival. This many tickets have never been sold for any concert of Sziget. What could be his secret?
Sziget Festival has never seen such a crowd at any of its concerts. According to Origo, about 60,000 people were enjoying the music of the most famous solo guitar singer. What came next was very scary for the organisers. Based on comments of the audience on Sziget’s website, the whole programme could have ended in a catastrophe. Many people fainted, got sick, and they could only get out of the crowd through the service counters. There were a lot of people who did not risk staying till the end of the concert – they left earlier to avoid the leaving crowd. Some said:
“We were like hostages during the concert.”
According to the organisers, the crowd was calm, and everything went as planned under the supervision of the police and the security guards. They decided to let the people exit in sections to prevent accidents caused by the movement of such a crowd. The scariest moment occurred when the K-bridge started to sway for a short while. Some people thought they were dizzy, but then they realised that the bridge was moving. Fortunately, everyone managed to make it out without significant harm.
A one-man show has never had as much income and audience at Sziget as Ed Sheeran’s concert. No band has ever attracted this many people on Hajógyári Island in general. The British musician’s performance resulted in a financial outburst in Óbuda – based on HVG’s information.
But how?
We can see where he started. If it was not for destiny, he could still be a very talented street musician playing at underground stops or in small clubs of London. Today, he has outstanding album sales, YouTube views, and record-breaking tours. There must be a secret behind all this for sure; otherwise, there would not be such a huge and diverse audience at his concerts, no matter what festival.
If we go deeper into the issue, we can see that the reason may not be so complex. Ed Sheeran, the kind boy next door, who is cool, cute, and ordinary, sings about love from the so-called “friend zone,” without any pressure or boast, in a likable, modest way. He is not dividing at all. On the contrary. He is the common good about whom everyone thinks in the same, positive way.
Those who like the music played by acoustic guitar like him for doing so. Those who like pop music or soul played on an electric guitar like him for doing that. Fathers, mothers, youngsters, and even grandparents like him all the same. Everyone can see something different in him. The girls see the dream boyfriend whom they would definitely want to date. Boys see the best friend whom they could talk to about anything. Parents can see a suitable partner for their daughter and the proper best friend for their son.
Not necessarily his best hits or his outlook make him likable. Rather, it was his true, pure, modest, and integrative personality without any artificially created image to cover. As mentioned above, he plays alone his acoustic guitar and special looper being able to voice a whole band or studio record. Sometimes, he puts aside his guitar and as a professional, energetic singer, takes mental and sensual control over his audience.
Moreover, he also takes on the Hungarian football shirt because he is a kind, mindful young man, who gifts the audience his festival best playlist consisting of his best hits for the concert – with great success!
Hungarian finance ministry urges cashless transactions to whiten economy
The finance ministry supports no-cash solutions, which have a crucial role in whitening the economy, a state secretary told a press conference held on the sidelines of Budapest’s Sziget Festival on Thursday.
Gábor Gion said that two-thirds of payments in Hungary are still made in cash, and praised the festival’s organisers for running the event with a cash-free payment method for several years.
Hungary’s cash stock is worth some 6,000 billion forints (EUR18.4bn), or 14 percent of the country’s GDP, Gion said, adding that
4,500 billion forints of that grand total rest with residents.
Chief organiser Tamás Kádár said that
Sziget had been the first festival in Europe to switch over to a cash-free payment system.
Hungary is the 5th safest place in terms of card transactions!
There are still people in this world who are reluctant to pay for anything with cards due to a lack of trust, and being afraid of getting involved in some kind of a fraud. As it turns out, Hungary is the 5th safest place in terms of card transactions, details HERE.
Budapest’s public transport services during 2019’s Sziget Festival
During this year’s Sziget Festival to be held between 7 and 13 August 2019:
- more frequent daytime services and also night services are provided on suburban railway H5,
- Tramlines running along the Grand Boulevard and the tram replacement buses are in operation more frequently at nights,
- higher capacity is provided on night bus lines 901 and 918,
- special dedicated boat services are launched to Óbudai Island from Jászai Mari tér,
From 5 to 14 August, transferbuses are running between Liszt Ferenc International Airport and the Óbudai Island.
BKK at the Sziget Festival
From 7 August 2019 (Wednesday) until the last day of Sziget 2019, a BKK Customer Service Point will be operating at the venue of the Sziget Festival. An Ikarus 260 type bus converted for this event will be found near the main Sziget entrance by the K-híd (bridge). In addition to being able to purchase different types of public transport tickets, passes and travelcards, you will be able to gather information on our products and services from our colleagues who speak different foreign languages. Our representatives will also be ready to help you with advice on how to reach your destination by public transport in Budapest.
MOL Bubi at the Sziget Festival
In addition to the Customer Service Point, you will be able to get familiar with the MOL Bubi public bike-sharing system and give it a go at the docking station installed at the venue. Bikes can be hired and returned at the already known 143 docking stations , however visitors interested in the public transport system can be informed on the system.
Take public transport to the Sziget Festival on Óbuda Island
By making trips of foreign visitors arriving at the Sziget Festival more convenient and faster, BKK operates direct transfer buses between Liszt Ferenc International Airport and Óbudai-sziget on the days of “moving-in” and on the last day of “moving-out”. Please click here to get information on their timetable: A dedicated staff and foreign-language brochures at the airport help you inform on transport services.
A special dedicated boat service is in operation from Jászai Mari tér to Óbudai Island between 7 and 13 August from the afternoon to late evening on a daily basis. Please find the timetable here.
The fastest transport mode to reach the venue of Sziget Festival 2019, Óbuda Island is suburban railway H5 from which you have to get off at the Filatorigát stop.
Suburban railway H5 can be accessed at the following connection points in Budapest:
- from the city centre, Déli pályaudvar and Keleti pályaudvar, by metro line M2 to the Batthyány tér stop;
- From Dél-Buda, by tramline 19 or 41 to the Batthyány utca stop;
- from Liszt Ferenc International Airport, by bus line 100E, on which specific fares apply, to Deák Ferenc tér and transfer at the Deák Ferenc tér M stop to metro line M2 and get off at Batthyány tér;
- from Nyugati pályaudvar, by tramlines 4 and 6 to the Margit híd, budai hídfő stop,
- from the Árpád híd regional bus station, by tram line 1 to Szentlélek tér;
- from the Népliget regional bus station, by tram line 1 to Szentlélek tér;
- from the Puskás Ferenc Stadion bus station, by metro line M2 to the Batthyány tér stop; or by tramline 1 to Szentlélek tér.
Your attention, please!
- Due to current refurbishment works on tramlines 4 and 6, these tramlines run on a shortened route between only Margit híd, budai hídfő and Corvin-negyed. Between Széll Kálmán tér and Margit híd, budai hídfő and Corvin-negyed and Móricz Zsigmond körtér and between Corvin-negyed and Újbuda-központ, replacement buses are in operation. (Please find the map making the traffic changes understood more easily here.)
- Boatlines D11 and D12 do not serve Óbudai Island during the Sziget Festival.
Other services operating to Sziget Festival:
- on foot from the Óbuda, Bogdáni út terminus of bus lines 9 and 109,
- on foot from the Kaszásdűlő H stop of bus lines 34, 106, 134 and 226.
Please find Budapest’s public transport network maps for daytime services here and night services here.
Please check the maps and graphics on how to get to the Sziget Festival.
Higher frequency and more capacity on some of our public transport lines
In order to support increased passenger numbers during the Sziget Festival, we provide higher frequencies than regularly as well as more capacity on some of our services.
- Suburban railway line H5: from 7 August (Wednesday) to 14 August (Wednesday) suburban railway line H5 runs more frequently with six-car trains. The suburban railway is running also at night during the festival between Batthyány tér M+H and Acquincum stations every 10 minutes.
- Tramlines operating on Grand Boulevard and the replacement bus operate more frequently in the evenings and at night from late night on 7 August to the early morning on 8 August and from late night on 13 August to the early morning on 14 August.
- Night buses 901 and 918: service will be provided by larger-capacity articulated buses on the Hungária ringroad from late night on 7 to the early morning on 8 August and from late night on 13 to the early morning on 14 August.
Special dedicated boat service between Jászai Mari tér and Óbudai-sziget
Between 7 August (Wednesday) and 13 August (Tuesday), a dedicated boat service is in operation every 15 minutes between Jászai Mari tér (Margit híd) and Óbudai-sziget. CityPASS holders as well as passengers in possession of public transport tickets and passes purchased at the prices specified by BKK can use the boat service.
Please board the boat at pier 8 at Jászai Mari tér and at the pier of public boat D12 at Óbudai-sziget. The schedule of the line is available here.
Sziget-Airport shuttle service for ‘’moving-in” and “moving out”
On the first days of Sziget Festival 2019:
- From 5 to 11 August (Monday to Friday), free direct transfer service is provided from the arrival level of Liszt Ferenc International Airport to SZIGET (Óbudai-sziget)
- The shuttle runs every 40 minutes between 8:45 and 00:45 at night.
- Between 5 and 8 August, this special line runs only to Óbudai Island. The bus does not carry passengers to the airport. Between 9 and 11 August, the transferbus can be used also to the airport.
- The service is free for Sziget Budapest CityPASS holders, but it is also accessible with regular BKK tickets and passes.
- To pick up your CityPASS please stop by at the BKK Customer Service Centre at the arrivals level of Terminal 2B.
On Wednesday, 14 August, the day of “moving out”:
- Direct one-way transfer service is provided from SZIGET to the departure level of Liszt Ferenc International Airport.
- The shuttle runs every 10 minutes in the early hours, every 15 minutes in the morning and every 20 minutes later on between 3:00 in the morning and 14:00.
- The dedicated bus service is to be used only to Liszt Ferenc International Airport; the bus does not provide service to the Sziget Festival.
- The service is free for Sziget Budapest CityPASS holders, but it is also accessible with regular BKK tickets and passes.
- The front-door only boarding policy applies on this service, which means that bus drivers check the CityPASS wristbands. The schedule of the line is available here.
Further service changes in public transport
The boarding point of boat lines D11 and D12 will be relocated during the Sziget Festival. Instead of Jászai Mari tér, the boarding point will be closer to the bridge, at pier 10. The scheduled public boat lines D11 and D12 does not serve the Óbudai-sziget during the Sziget Festival.
During the festival, bus line 226 will not enter Óbudai-sziget (Óbuda Island) therefore it will not serve the stops located on the island.The bus will run between Árpád híd M (metro station) and Aquincum H (suburban railway station), and after the Bogdáni út stop it will run via Szentendrei út serving all stops along the way. During that period, the busline does not serve the stops along the Óbudai Island.
Road traffic restrictions in the area of Óbuda island
For security reasons, please note that traffic restrictions will be in place again during the Sziget Festival in the area of Óbudai Island. From 20:00 on Friday, 2 August to 18:00 on Friday, 16 August 2019, the section between Mozaik utca and the Auchan connection road of Ángel Sanz Briz út will be closed, also the section between Mozaik utca 16 and Ángel Sanz Briz út will be closed. In the Mozaik utca – Ángel Sanz Briz út – Óbudai rakpart junction, the traffic light will be operating in a flashing amber-light mode during the event.
During the same period, parking is prohibited at the following locations:
- in district 3, on both sides of Reményi Ede utca between Szentendrei út and Ángel Sanz Briz út;
- on both sides of Benedek Elek utca between Szentendrei út and Ángel Sanz Briz út;
- on both sides of Vajda János utca between Szentendrei út and Ángel Sanz Briz út;
- on both sides of Mozaik utca between Szentendrei út and Ángel Sanz Briz út;
- on both sides of Leányfalu utca between Reményi Ede utca and Mozaik utca;
- on both sides of the Óbudai embankment between Mozaik utca and Szépvölgyi út;
- on both sides of Ángel Sanz Briz út between the Auchan access road and Mozaik utca;
- on the Auchan connection road and the area between Szentendrei út and Ángel Sanz Briz út to the east of the roundabout.
As the Sziget ticket offices will be located in the parking area near the intersection of Ángel Sanz Briz út and K-híd leading to the island, it will be prohibited to stop there.
Only special permit holders will have car access to the area marked by Szentendrei út–Reményi Ede út–Ángel Sanz Briz út–Mozaik utca during the event.
At the request of the Budapest Police, car access will be prohibited to the section of the lower Buda embankment between Halász utca and the Mozaik utca junction – with the help of police cordons – every day from 14:00 to 03:00 between 7 August (Wednesday) and 15 August (Thursday). Car access to the closed section of the embankment is possible for destination traffic only based on the judgement of the police.
Taxi services
The official partner of Sziget is City Taxi, Budapest Taxi and Főtaxi. Your attention, please! Taxi services can be provided only on the price specified by the authority. We would like to kindly ask you to use the service of taxis operating legally, which are supplied with well visible taxi fare charts, in order frauds could be prevented. Taxi services will be monitored and controlled with special focus by BKK in the Sziget area.
Sziget – Budapest CITYPASS
During its validity period, the two-day, the five-day and 13-day Sziget-Budapest Citypass entitle to unlimited trips
- on Budapest public transport, on bus – except for bus line 100E –, tram, trolleybus, metro, cogwheel railway, suburban railway and ferry services and on public transport riverboat lines within the administrative boundaries of Budapest.
- on the full route of the SZIGET–AIRPORT special transfer service. On the airport-to-Sziget route, the Sziget wristband vouchers are also accepted for travel
- on the special dedicated boat services to Óbuda Island departing from Jászai Mari tér.
The CITYPASS wristbands is valid for travel only if worn on the holder’s wrist in an undamaged condition. The same holds true for the 48-hour and five-day CityPASS tickets with the difference that it needs to be validated by punching. The Sziget wristband is to be fastened by the plastic clip, which invalidates the Sziget wristband for travel in case it is unfastened. Unfastening the clip is always clearly visible. Unfastening the clip, which is always clearly visible, will render the wristband invalid for travel. Further discounts are applicable in possession of the Sziget – Budapest CITYPASS.
The CITYPASS with the validity period of 13 days is valid from 0:00 on 3 August to 12:00 midnight on 15 August. Its price is HUF 14,900. The 48-hour CITYPASS is valid from day of purchase to midnight of the following day and is available at the price of HUF 5,900. The five-day CITYPASS is valid from the day of purchase to midnight of the fifth day and is available at the price of HUF 9,900. Further information and CITYPASS ticket purchase are at the website: szigetfestival.com/hu/citypass. In person, CITYPASS can be purchased at BKK Airport Customer Service Centre or at SZIGET.
Sziget Festival launch Green Sziget sustainability programme
Set on a leafy 108-hectare island on the Danube in Budapest with more than 1,000 performances across 60 stages, for seven days with half a million people from all over the world, Sziget Festival has established itself as one of the largest and most popular festivals in the world.
Acknowledging their responsibility to minimise the festival’s ecological footprint, Sziget Festival has been committed to reducing its environmental impact for almost 20 years.
2019 see’s Sziget launch their ‘Green Sziget’ sustainability programme, aiming to minimise their potential negative impact on the natural world.
With a dedicated approach towards raising awareness for environmental sustainability during the lead-up, duration and break down of the festival, Sziget has determined five important key areas of impact creating a strategic sustainability practice applicable to each area. This will encourage a steady improvement in becoming as environmentally friendly as possible with the hope of also inspiring neighboring events.
THE GREEN SZIGET SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMME
1. Waste Production and Management
Reducing and recycling waste created throughout the festival.
About 30-40% of the waste produced during the event can be reused. The goal is to minimise waste and achieve a 50% recycling rate at least. They strive to achieve this by: Selling drinks in reusable cups, allocating freshwater points for water refill; asking vendors to distribute napkins, take away boxes, utensils, plates and straws made from biodegradable materials only. Promoting the Don’t suck! program, encouraging attendees to refuse straws. Handing out pocket ashtrays; Collecting cardboard; Installing recycling bins throughout the island. Distributing trash and recycling bags to attendees; Collecting tents, sleeping bags and mats on the last day of Sziget at the three Recycling Centers and donating them to local charities; Working with volunteers who help picking up waste from the site and recycling at the Recycling Centers; Collecting and composting food waste at the mobile composting plant located on the island; Collecting cooking oil separately and disposing of it properly.
2. Energy and Emissions
Repurposing, redistributing and monitoring energy where possible.
Energy use is a necessity at festivals, therefore using the most efficient methods to put the least pressure on the environment is of paramount importance. Sziget will create a dining block where environmentally-conscious vendors gather and where meal preparations will produce lower CO 2 emissions. Commercial units will be equipped with standalone meters, providing them with energy efficiency advice. Volunteers will help to monitor which of the proposed measures were implemented by festival partners; LED lighting throughout the festival site; Renewable energy to power various elements of the festival, as well as city power used throughout the site (no aggregators) and ensuring green energy is used where possible.
3. Transportation
Promoting shared travel and sustainable travel methods.
Transportation is one of the largest contributors to the festival’s impact on the environment, thus Sziget is supporting the use of sustainable travel methods to reduce the impact, they are: Promoting train services and special shuttle trains for all visitors. Providing a shuttle bus service between Budapest Airport and Sziget; Promoting the Sziget Boat which runs between Jászai Mari Square and Sziget Festival. Encouraging attendees to use public transport in the city, which runs more frequently during the festival. Providing free bike storage and a quick repair facility, offering bike rental services, encouraging festival staff to use the bikes allocated for them; Introducing electric vehicles for festival staff to use on-site. Bringing attention to other types of sustainable transport, such as carsharing.
4. Water
Green Shower Initiative, ECO toilets, Ecocamping.
Conscious water use is a must in today’s world and Sziget Festival is applying measures to protect watercourses. The festival is committed to minimise water use and take care of the waterways by: Applying the Green Shower Initiative, in which we encourage attendees to cut back on their shower time; Monitoring the Danube riverbank more closely to make sure that no waste gets in the water; Using ECO toilets with vacuum flushing technology to save 85% more water at the Ecocamping; Encouraging the use of biodegradable cleaning products; Using time-limited push stop taps to prevent the wasting of precious water.
5. Land Use
Recultivating the land and introducing biodegradables.
As Sziget Festival takes place on the beautiful island of Óbuda every year, they are dedicated to do everything in order to come back and experience the breath-taking diversity of nature year after year. The measures taken to achieve this, are:
Assessing the environmental impacts of the festival; Recultivating the territory of the festival, to give it back to the public in the condition they received it; Introducing biodegradable cleaning chemicals to ensure we do not harm the soil; Preparing a public Sustainability Report to keep track and monitor all progress, in order to learn more about how effective their policies and measures have been.
Further to this, Sziget has also taken the following steps:
- Employing a sustainability and technical manager, who coordinates all eco-friendly
- measures to enable them to run as smooth and successful as possible;
- Preparing and teaching hired volunteers about the diverse
sustainability measures, to help them rebound environmentally friendly practices and
behaviours; Providing space for lectures and workshops promoting environmental
sustainability at the Green Sziget Center; - Organizing workshops with the Climate-KIC Alumni Association and The Climate
Reality Project Europe; Dedicating time to bring awareness to environmental issues at the Main Stage during the daily Climate Special Party programming, influential climate - activists and organisations to take part; Organizing art workshops where attendees can learn about sustainability measures while having fun.
Sziget recognizes that reducing their impacts require unabated efforts to establish the best practices. Therefore, this Sustainability Policy will be reviewed and updated annually.
Please see full Green Sziget Programme here.
https://dailynewshungary.com/news_to_go/gigantic-rubbish-island-floating-on-river-tisza-video/
Sziget festival to feature South Korean theatre, music, circus
The Sziget Festival, to be held between August 7 and 13 in Budapest, will feature one of South Korea’s most popular groups Idiotape, the creative circus group BONGnJOULE and a street theatre performance by Elephants Laugh, the South Korean Cultural Centre said on Saturday.
The electro-rock group Idiotape will play at the Europe Stage on August 9. Their music reflects influences from 1960s and 1970s Korean rock, as well as The Doors, Radiohead, Metallica and Pantera, the statement said.
The contemporary male dance troupe Modern Table will perform a piece entitled Darkness Poomba at the Theatre and Dance Tent on August 10 and 11.
The Elephants Laugh troupe will perform at Sziget during their European tour. Their performance dubbed Muljil was inspired by the female divers of Jeju Island and they will present it at the Theatre and Dance Tent, on August 8 and 9.
The creative circus BONGnJOULE will show a performance dubbed The Road to Heaven at the Cirque du Sziget outdoor stage daily between August 8 and 13.
Professional trainers from the K-Pop Academy will offer free singing and dance course to those who wish to learn about Korea and its pop culture, the statement added.
Maccabi, Formula 1, and festivals: the summit of the summer peak at the airport
Two major sport events at the end of July and the beginning of August and several festivals are about to start in Hungary. In preparation for the busiest days of the year, Liszt Ferenc International Airport has strengthened its terminal operations, security screening, car park management, and cleaning services. Due to increased traffic, the airport operator is asking passengers to come to the airport earlier than usual.
The European Maccabi Games will start on 29 July and will last until 7 August in Budapest, the 2019 European Capital of Sport.
The program lasting for almost one and a half weeks is the biggest Jewish sport and cultural event of the continent, and, as such, the biggest sport event in Hungary this year. Athletes, teams, performers, and fans arrive days before the start of the Games, most of them by plane, which requires a special organizing effort by the airport and the authorities in view of the already busy summer period.
On the same week, the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix will also be held, attracting tens of thousands of fans to Hungary days before the race weekend.
At the same time, private jet traffic also peaks at the airport as organizers, teams, and drivers alike arrive at the general aviation terminal, to depart soon after the race on Sunday.
For a long time, the weekend of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix was the only real peak with record traffic in the summer, but thanks to numerous music festivals our summer peak looks more like a plateau now, as for instance Sziget Festival and the Ozora festival bring tens of thousands of mostly young people to Hungary from all corners of Europe.
Over the next few weeks, the airport will frequently handle more than fifty thousand passengers per day, and therefore Budapest Airport is asking passengers to come to the airport earlier than usual.
In an effort to ensure faster service to passengers, Budapest Airport can rely on a number of developments this year: early baggage drop-off (several hours before departure), enhanced queue management, displaying of waiting times, and additional new passenger security screening lanes are operated now in order to make the process as smooth as possible. Budapest Airport is working together with all authorities concerned to serve all visitors headed for sport events and festivals.
Latest flight information is continuously offered to passengers on the website and the mobile application of Budapest Airport.
On August: WAMP – Design in the City
In August you can meet your favourite WAMP designers two times: at the first Sunday of the month the design fair will await everyone at the usual spot at the poolside of Erzsébet square, then in the upcoming week the designers will move to Óbuda Island at SZIGET Festival, one of the biggest music and cultural festivals in Europe to the colourful wooden huts of Hello Wood.
The brand Pamut Apparel is devoted to create comfortable and unique garments. The whole manufacturing process is made by hand, each piece is tinted exclusively by waterbased dye, which adds a softer structure to the materials. Their clothes are all annealed so as to prevent their textile from fading and shrinking. All of their products are made of soft organic cotton which gives you comfort even on the hottest days.
The mission of Judit Vigvári Design is to create traditional collections for the next generation by rethinking the classic Hungarian motives. In these cute little dresses kids and babies will surely enjoy summer, and will happily embark on holiday adventures.
The aim of the brand SoadyArt is simple: creating casual handmade jewellery and accessories decorated with unique illustrations for those who love unique articles made locally. These cute tiny pieces can be great presents for kids, but due to their stylish fun packaging they can be perfectly suitable for adults too. Beyond earrings you can also buy uniquely decorated beer opener, key holder, stickers and tattoos too from the designer herself.
The designer of the Month in August is: K e.s.h A
Andrea Kesserű’s armbands and necklaces made of reused glass lenses and plexi and her multifunctional backpacks are huge hits among WAMP fans. Many of her accessories are decorated by the colourful and vibrant drawings of Andrea’s son, Dani, which gives a unique look to each piece.
Hungarian girls make bikinis out of waste in oceans – PHOTOS, VIDEO
Fastest Growing Festivals of All Time Revealed!
Been to a festival this year yet? Perhaps there’s one in your diary you are counting down the days until? That’s right, festival season in full swing, with Glasto already flying by and Y Not and Kendal Calling kicking off this very weekend.
There’s no doubt that festivals are a powerful medium, bringing all walks of life together for sheer enjoyment. With that, it’s no wonder they have only grown in popularity.
While some of these events have always had pretty large crowds, others started from much more humble beginnings. The team at StubHub love the festival-buzz, so decided to find out which festivals have become the all-time faves since they started out. Just who has taken the world of festivals by storm?
Top 10 Fastest Growing Festivals (& Growth Since First Year)
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Amsterdam Dance Event, Netherlands- 23,233%
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New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival -17,043%
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Glastonbury Festival, UK – 8,900%
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Boomtown Fair, UK – 6,500%
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Green Man Festival, UK – 3,233%
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South by Southwest, Texas – 2,757%
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Electric Daisy Carnival, Vegas – 2,600%
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Dour Festival, Belgium – 2,320%
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Strawberries & Creem, UK – 1,775%
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St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, Australia – 1,329%
The Fastest Growing Festival Genre – EDM
The Oldest, Most Popular Festival – New Orleans Jazz Festival, US
The Fastest Growth in The Shortest Time – Mad Cool Festival, Spain
Biggest Growth in Past Decade – Boomtown Fair, UK
Most Common Festival Location – USA
Decade of The Festival Start-Up – 2000
Festivals With No Growth – Secret Solstice & Wilderness Fest
The Most Attended Festival – Summerfest
The Most Popular UK Festival – Capital FM Summertime Ball
Sziget Festival – Budapest, Hungary
Genre: Various
First year: 1993
Original capacity: 40,000
Current capacity: 90,000
Growth numbers: 50,000
%Growth: 125%
First year: 1993
Original capacity: 40,000
Current capacity: 90,000
Growth numbers: 50,000
%Growth: 125%
To see the full list of festivals and find out the growth of other festivals, simply click here.
How did Hungary become the capital of European festivals?
Hungary is the host to a number of amazing festivals, both popular and critically acclaimed ones. What is behind this outstanding success?
There are a lot of summer festivals taking place in Hungary just as there are in other first-world countries, but ours seems to excel in hosting them. Sziget, Balaton Sound, and Ozora are continental blockbusters while smaller events like Kolorádó, Bánkitó and Fishing on Orfű cater more to the local alternative scene. What are the reasons for this exceptional standard of quality?
Tradition
Musical festivals sprung out of nowhere in the 1990s, right?
Well, not quite.
Obviously, there were no such festivals under socialism per se, but events like Táncdalfesztivál, a show broadcast by the national TV channel where emerging artists could showcase their musical skills, helped foster a musically appreciative environment. When you combine a desire for good music and the tradition of “going out in the open” (just think of socialist summer camps) with the sudden burst of freedom in the 1990s, you get the recipe for a perfect festival landscape.
Károly Gerendai
It’s often unfair to attribute the success of an entire industry to one person, but perhaps we can make an exception with Károly Gerendai. The Gödöllő-born gastronomist and businessman launched Sziget on an island in northern Budapest in 1993 and made it the biggest European festival in 25 years.
Just to list some of the headliners in recent years: Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Robbie Williams, and many others: Sziget has truly become a festival that must be included in any mainstream artist’s European tour.
His portfolio includes Balaton Sound and Volt as well, generating interest for other smaller festivals in the meantime.
Prices
Last but not least, we have to acknowledge that prices, both for tickets and on-site activities, are one of the main factors in the competitiveness of Hungarian festivals. A standard pass for a big festival like Sziget is a fraction of a Western one.
Just look at the difference: a 3-day pass for Tomorrowland in Belgium costs 293 euros while a 5-day pass for Sziget is capped at 299 euros. That makes one day cost approximately 100 euros in Tomorrowland compared to 60 euros for Sziget.
And let us not forget the prices for beverages which are around 2-3 euros in Hungary and most likely start at 6-7 pounds in a festival like Glastonbury.
Hungarian venues on the European Festival Index! – Ultimate guide
Festival season is here! It’s time to grab your tent, sunglasses and dancing shoes, because a festival is one of the best ways to spend your summer!
With this in mind, the team at ICMP, have researched 50 of the biggest festivals in Europe based on their price, travel costs and the weather you can expect, to reveal The 2019 European Festival Index.
They’ve researched 50 of the biggest festivals in Europe based on their price (including getting there), as well as the weather that you can expect in their 2019 European Festival Index.
The Cheapest Festivals
- OFF Festival, Poland – £72.00
- Super Bock Super Rock, Portugal – £95.87
- Awakenings, Netherlands – £97.18
- Secret Solstice, Iceland – £100.74
- Colours of Ostrava, Czech Republic – £118.68
The Most Expensive Festivals
- Sziget, Hungary – £282.94
- Øyafestivalen, Norway – £278.12
- Balaton Sound, Hungary – £275.20
- Creamfields, UK – £265.00
- Boomtown, UK – £264.00
The Rainiest Festivals
- Dour Festival, Belgium
- Rock am Ring, Germany
- Øyafestivalen, Norway
- Rock Werchter, Belgium
- Pinkpop, Netherlands
The Warmest Festivals
- Ultra Europe, Croatia
- Mad Cool Festival, Spain
- Benicassim, Spain
- NOS Alive, Portugal
- Super Bock Super Rock, Portugal
To view the results in full and find the best place to pitch your tent this summer, click here.
Featured image: László Mudra http://www.mudralaszlo.hu – Rockstar Photographers
Sziget festival’s island in Budapest taken off World Heritage recommended list
Not long before the UNESCO voted about World Heritage, the government took Hajógyári Island off the list of recommended places to earn World Heritage status, revealed Magyar Közlöny on Friday.
The decree signed by Viktor Orbán does not account for why out of the borders of the Roman Empire’s — the part on the Danubian Limes in Hungary — sites recommended for UNESCO protection the onetime lower-Pannonia province’s centre’s — Aquincums’ — most important location, the Hajógyári Island (in Óbuda) is getting taken off the list, reports Népszava.
The 32 hectare island is under archaeological protection. The most valuable relic of the island is a still 1.5-2 meters deep in the ground; an enormous 8,000-10,000 square metres palace, which — according to some opinions — was built at the beginning of the 2nd century, at the time of Emperor Hadrianus’s reign.
In 2014 the government was for revealing the palace — which they had gotten back from Israeli investors wanting to build a casino there — and create a national park.
In 2016 the Orbán-government decided that the Island in Óbuda should also be a part of the World Heritage. In 2018 they applied accordingly. The case got a separate Ministerial Commissioner, Zsolt Visy.
The application submitted on January 31, includes 98 sites in 15 kilometres, 65 of which can be found in Hungary. UNESCO will decide about the joint application in June.
Magyar Nemzet has since reported that the island was taken off the list because getting the World Heritage status would make is impossible to reconstruct the relics of Hadrianus’s palace.
See Hungarian World Heritage sites HERE.
Featured image: https://www.facebook.com/SzigetFestival/
HungaryTrends – The most important news in business and finance
See below main business and financial news from the previous week:
ORBÁN TRAVELS TO BEIJING FOR BELT AND ROAD FORUM
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán travelled to Beijing with a delegation of government ministers and officials to participate in the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Orbán said China’s Belt and Road Initiative is “in full accordance” with the national interests of Hungary, adding that the country would not bend to “any kind of external ideological pressure” regarding its participation in the scheme. Read more HERE.
HUNGARY’S BIGGEST EVER RAILWAY PROJECT GOES TO ORBÁN’S FRIEND
Lőrinc Mészáros’s RM International Zrt received the contract in collaboration with two Chinese companies to construct the new train line from Budapest to Belgrade. In their article, index.hu point out that the government did not mention the owner of RM International Zrt in their communication. Read more details HERE.
RICHTER SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE HUF 100-PER-SHARE DIVIDEND
Shareholders of Hungarian drugmaker Gedeon Richter approved a proposal to pay a 100 forint-per-share dividend on last year’s earnings at an annual general meeting. The dividend fund comes to 18.6 billion forints. Last year, shareholders approved a 68 forint-per-share dividend on 2017 earnings.
GIGA-INVESTMENT! CANADIANS MIGHT PURCHASE HUNGARY’S SECOND BIGGEST MILITARY AIRPORT
The Canadians made an impressive offer on a 330-hectare ex-military airport, which used to be the second biggest military airport in Hungary. The owners are leaning towards selling. Read more HERE.
TAKARÉKBANK BALANCE SHEET BALLOONS
Takarékbank, the “central bank” for Hungary’s integrated savings cooperatives, had total assets of 1,165 billion forints at the end of last year, up almost 30 percent from twelve months earlier, a report approved at a shareholders meeting showed. Takarékbank had after-tax profit of 7.7 billion forints, according to Hungarian Accounting Standards, the lender’s PR agent said. Public records show Takarékbank had consolidated losses of 12.3 billion forints in 2017.
EUROSTAT ARGUES FOR RECLASSIFYING HYDROCARBON STOCKPILING ASSOC
Eurostat said the Hungarian Association for the Stockpiling of Hydrocarbons (MSZKSZ) should be classified inside the general government in a reservation on the quality of data reported by Hungary. The reclassification would raise state debt relative to GDP by 0.3-0.4 percent in 2015-2018. Eurostat also repeated its stand that the foundations of the National Bank of Hungary should be classified inside the general government.
BUDAPEST TO INTRODUCE FLIGHT BAN FROM MIDNIGHT TO 5AM
Budapest Mayor István Tarlós announced a ban on flights in the capital between midnight and 5am from August. Fines will be levied for exceeding noise pollution thresholds and the proceeds used to soundproof homes close to Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport. Read more HERE.
MOL CEO TAPPED TO HEAD CORVINUS UNI FOUNDATION
Zsolt Hernádi, the chairman-CEO of oil and gas company MOL, was asked to head a foundation that will take over the assets and operation of Corvinus University of Budapest. Hernádi, himself an alumnus of the university, said Corvinus is already the most competitive university in Hungary, but the aim is to make it competitive in the region, and even outside of the region.
BUSINESS CONFIDENCE WORSENS, CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IMPROVES
Economic research institute GKI’s combined gauge of consumer and business confidence fell 3.3 points to 2.9 in April, declining for the fourth month in a row. The business confidence index fell 5 points to 7.1. The consumer confidence index improved 1.8 points to -8.9.
REVENUE OF HUNGARIAN SPAS CLIMBS 9 PC
Revenue of Hungarian spa operators rose by 9.1 percent to 64.2 billion forints, last year, the Hungarian Spa Association said. Visitor numbers were up 2.2 percent. Read more HERE.
SZIGET FESTIVAL BUDGET OVER HUF 10 BN
Budapest’s Sziget Festival, a week-long musical extravaganza on an island in the Danube, is working with a budget of over 10 billion forints this year and will spend half a billion forints more on headliners, chief organiser Tamás Kádár said. Among the main stage acts at this year’s festival, slated for August 7-13, are Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, Twenty One Pilots and Foo Fighters.
EUROTRADE BREAKS GROUND FOR HUF 1.6 BN SOLAR PARK
Hungarian-owned Eurotrade launched construction of a 1.6 billion forint, 5 MW solar park in Környe (NW Hungary). Eurotrade took out a ten-year loan from Takarékbank to finance the investment.
Sziget Festival to address social issues with record budget
The budget of this year’s Sziget Festival, to be held between August 7 and 13 in Budapest, will surpass 10 billion forints (EUR 31m), organisers told a press conference on Thursday.
The festival will feature headliners like Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, the National, the Franz Ferdinand, Richard Ashcroft, Florence + The Machine, Johnny Marr, Twenty One Pilots and the Foo Fighters, they said.
The line up in the A38 tent includes Frank Turner, Razorlight, CHVRCHES, Xavier Rudd, James Blake, Richie Hawtin and Broken Social Scene whereas Petofi Radio-Telekom VOLT will offer on its stage for the first time foreign acts next to Hungarians, programme director Jozsef Kardos told the press conference. These include Gili Yalo, Shake Shake Go, Stella Donnelly and Inspector Cluzo.
Sziget will continue its “Love Revolution” campaign addressing issues such as environment protection and human rights.
Under the campaign performances and short speeches will be given for the first time on the Main Stage between acts to draw attention to social changes around the world and society’s collective responsibility.
Speakers to give addresses include renowned environmentalist and UN Peace Envoy Jane Goodall, and poet, activist Emi Mahmoud, an UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and former refugee. Former US Vice President Al Gore, founder of The Climate Reality Project civil group, will deliver a video-message to Sziget-goers, Kardos said.
He highlighted programmes addressing issues around migration and cultural diversity at the Civil Island, one of which will allow live discussions with 40 spots around the world including Iraq, the Gaza Strip and North Africa about tolerance and social integration in a studio set up in a container.
The Sziget festival in 2018 attracted a record 565,000 visitors.
For the full programme and details of this year’s event visit https://szigetfestival.com/en
Featured image: www.facebook.com/SzigetFestivalOfficial
Sziget add final acts to line-up including Macklemore, 6lack and Michael Kiwanuka
The week-long cultural gathering also reveals stage schedules across all six main stages.
Date: 7 – 13 August 2019
Venue: Óbudai-sziget, Budapest, Hungary
International superstars Macklemore, 6LACK and Michael Kiwanuka are today announced as the final additions to Sziget’s incredible genre-spanning line-up, joining the likes of previously announced headliners Ed Sheeran, Florence + The Machine, Foo Fighters, The 1975, Post Malone, Twenty One Pilots, Martin Garrix and The National and other acts including James Blake, Richard Ashcroft, Mura Masa, Years & Years, IDLES, Jungle, Johnny Marr, Tove Lo, IAMDDB, Masego and more.
Multi-Grammy Award-winning Macklemore shot to fame in 2012 with his unavoidably catchy summer single Thrift Shop. With numerous Billboard Hot 100 number ones under his belt and a discography of hit after hit, his performance at Sziget promises to be unmissable.
Atlanta-born 6LACK is best known for his unwaveringly honest and brooding take on hip-hop, covering topics including heartbreak and loss and earning multiple Grammy award nominations along the way.
English folk-rock singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has also earned himself nominations multiple honours including the Brit Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, Mercury Prize, BBC Music Awards. His profound ruminations on his own inner turmoil come out in beautifully raw vocals that continue to captivate audiences across the globe.
Sziget brings together a programme of world music, theatre, cabaret, installations, performances and art. Set in the heart of Budapest on Óbuda Island, Sziget is a community built festival and known as the ‘Island of Freedom’.
Headline acts this year are Ed Sheeran, Florence + The Machine, Foo Fighters, The 1975, Post Malone, Twenty One Pilots, Martin Garrix and The National, and with preparations well underway for next August, year 27 is set to be Sziget’s biggest and best festival to date.
Sziget returns in 2019 between 7 – 13 August. Three-day tickets are now on sale starting at €209, with ticket prices set to increase on 9 May. For more details on Sziget head to szigetfestival.com.
Line-Up
Foo Fighters
Ed Sheeran
Florence + The Machine
Post Malone
Twenty One Pilots
The 1975
The National
Macklemore
Martin Garrix
Richard Ashcroft
Franz Ferdinand
James Blake
Years&Years
6LACK
Tove Lo
Catfish & The Bottlemen
Mura Masa
Kodaline
Chvrches
Michael Kiwanuka
Johnny Marr
Jungle
Tom Odell
The Blaze
Razorlight
Big Thief
Son Lux
Richie Hatin CLOSER
Honne
Maribou State
David August
Jain
IDLES
Yeasayer
Yellow Days
Broken Social Scene
Parcels
Superorganism
Pale Waves
Tove Styrke
Boy Pablo
Masego
Iamddb
Protoje &The Indiggnation
Xavier Rudd
Coheed and Cambria
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
Alma
Gang Of Youths
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
W&W
Vini Vici
Carnage
Jax Jones Live
Sigala
Yungblud
Kayzo
Tyla Yaweh
Of Mice & Men
Wanda
Elderbrook
John Digweed
Sonny Fodera
Kink Live
Anna
Colin Benders
Algiers
Naaz
Jungle by Night
Sophie Hunger
Polo & Pan
Khruangbin
Anna of The North
Roosevelt
Black Mountain
Hucci
Fakear
Virtual Riot
Grace Carter
Tamino
Valeras
Welshly Arms
Ocean Alley
Hospital pres. High Contrast DJ set, Metric, Danny Byrd, Dynamite MC
Burak Yeter
Jean Tonique
Photo: www.facebook.com/SzigetFestivalOfficial
Sziget reveal expansive multi-genre line-up for Europe stage
30 acts from 20 countries across Europe join the blockbuster bill for the continent’s answer to Glastonbury, with new artists to discover at every turn during Budapest’s week-long culture clash
Date: 7 – 13 August 2019
Venue: Óbudai-sziget, Budapest, Hungary
Championing new music from across the continent, Sziget’s Europe Stage showcases artists about to break in Europe. Highlights this year include underground French hip-hop hero Hippocampe Fou, nine-piece Dutch electronic instrumental collective Jungle By Night, Czech Celtic punk band Pipes and Pints, Belgian rap trio L’ Or du Commun and more. This eclectic line-up sits within a major programme of music, arts, performance and more across 60 stages with over 1000 acts across the week-long bucket list festival. One, three, five and seven-day tickets and accommodation options for Sziget 2019 are now on sale, with ticket prices set to rise on 9 May. For more information, head to szigetfestival.com
A Sziget newcomer, Sophie Hunger is nothing if not versatile. A singer-songwriter, film composer, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader, the Swiss star’s special blend of electro-folk has won her a cult following across Europe. Italian indie-pop-rap-duo Coma Cose unparalleled onstage energy takes influence from techno and drum’n’bass raves and promises to be a stage highlight, while Latvian indie rockers Carnival Youth – one of the most successful new generation bands in Europe – will bring their own energy with unavoidably catchy tunes.
For 2019, the Ibis presents Europe Stage also host Polish rockstars Cheap Tobacco, home grown Hungarian pop heroes Mongooz and the Magnet, serene Netherlands-based singer-songwriter Naaz and more.
Sziget is proud of its international inclusivity and welcomes more than 1,000 artists from over 60 countries.
The festival welcomes 500,000+ Szitizens from over 100 countries each year. Programming is dedicated to embracing diversity as a part of its ‘Love Revolution’, using the power of the community to celebrate and bring love, acceptance, tolerance and freedom to the heart of Budapest and beyond.
Sziget brings together a programme of world music, theatre, cabaret, installations, performances and art. Set in the heart of Budapest on Óbuda Island, Sziget is a community built festival and known as the ‘Island of Freedom’.
Headline acts this year are Ed Sheeran, Florence + The Machine, Foo Fighters, The 1975, Post Malone, Twenty One Pilots, Martin Garrix and The National, and with preparations well underway for next August, year 27 is set to be Sziget’s biggest and best festival to date.
Sziget returns in 2019 between 7 – 13 August. Three-day tickets are now on sale starting at €209, with ticket prices set to increase on 9 May. For more details on Sziget head to szigetfestival.com.
IBIS PRESENTS EUROPE STAGE LINE-UP
Hippocampe Fou
Jungle by Night
Bosse
47Sou
Maruja Limón
Algiers
Sophie Hunger
Lord Esperanza
Coma Cose
L’ Or du Commun
Whispering Sons
Carnival Youth
Naaz
Leoniden
I Hate My Village
Lucille Crew
Idiotape
The Ringo Jets
Ivan Dorn
Pipes & Pints
La Ganga Calé
Rendez-Vous
Celeste Buckingham
Mörk
Esti Kornél
Satellites
Belau
Cheap Tobacco
Hearts Hearts
Mongooz and the Magnet
FULL LINE-UP
Foo Fighters
Ed Sheeran
Florence + The Machine
Post Malone
Twenty One Pilots
The 1975
Martin Garrix
The National
Richard Ashcroft
Franz Ferdinand
James Blake
Years&Years
Tove Lo
Catfish & The Bottlemen
Mura Masa
Kodaline
Chvrches
Johnny Marr
Jungle
Tom Odell
The Blaze
Razorlight
Big Thief
Son Lux
Richie Hatin CLOSER
Honne
Maribou State
David August
Jain
IDLES
Yeasayer
Yellow Days
Broken Social Scene
Parcels
Superorganism
Pale Waves
Tove Styrke
Boy Pablo
Masego
Iamddb
Protoje &The Indiggnation
Xavier Rudd
Coheed and Cambria
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
Alma
Gang Of Youths
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
W&W
Vini Vici
Carnage
Jax Jones Live
Sigala
Yungblud
Of Mice & Men
Wanda
Elderbrook
Sonny Fodera
Polo & Pan
Khruangbin
Anna of The North
Roosevelt
Black Mountain
Hucci
Fakear
Grace Carter
Tamino
Valeras
Welshly Arms
Ocean Alley
Burak Yeter
Photo: www.facebook.com/SzigetFestivalOfficial