Christmas Lights
10 December 2007 - 30 December 2007During Advent and the Christmas period the beautiful gothic Mátyás Church in Buda Castle holds a series of classical music concerts. For details see http://matyas-templom.hu
Budapest Christmas Market
24 November 2007 - 1 January 2008The city is decorated with Christmas ornaments and a large fair is held from Vörösmarty tér and the Parade Square, next to Városliget (City Park). At Vörösmarty tér visitors can buy quality folk art and individual applied art products and enjoy a variety of cultural programs.
The Cafe also offers a fantastic selection of traditional Hungarian Christmas cakes.
On December 21-23 a living Bethlehem awaits the audience.
Don`t forget to taste the colour and tasteful Hungarian Christmas cookies in the huts on the square, but only after you have tried the fried sausage (kolbasz) accompanied by a cup of mulled wine.
www.budapestinfo.hu
European New Year`s Gala and Ball
31 December 2007 - 1 January 2008The Opera House gives venue for the most prestigious Gala Evening of the year.
The Gala Programme starts at 8:00 pm, followed by a Gala Dinner and endless dance. New Year`s Balls have been held for decades in one of Europe`s most beautiful buildings. The gala concert features soloists, ballet dancers and the orchestra of the National State Opera.
Gala Dinner is served at 9:30 pm. After greeting the New Year with champagne, the ball starts with the opening dance of professional dancers and lasts until dawn.
See detailed programme and ticket information
Autumn and Christmas Concerts in Matthias Church
27 September 2007 - 31 December 2007One of Budapest`s symbols, the centuries-old Matthias Church dominates the Castle District in Buda. Thanks to its excellent acoustic qualities, for many years it has also served as a venue for concerts, oratories and symphonic performances arranged from the works of both Hungarian and foreign composers. http://matyas-templom.hu
Budapest Spring Festival
16 March 2007 - 1 April 2007The 2007 Budapest Spring Festival takes place from 16th March to 1st April and will feature guest orchestras from all over Europe including the Philharmonia with Riccado Muti.
Sziget Festival – Budapest
8 August 2007 - 15 August 2007Europe's longest and largest music festival, the Sziget (Hungarian for island) takes place in early August and is just a short HÉV ride to the north of Budapest. The big name bands and around-the-clock hedonism attracts an increasingly international crowd, but Sziget has plenty more to offer, including football tournaments, a chess and bridge club, a marriage tent and bungee jumping. If you can't handle a full week of boozing, Budapest is near enough to spend a day sightseeing and relaxing in the baths. Expect to spend a small fraction of what you would at a festival in the UK, a weekly pass purchased in advance costs 20,000 Ft (under £60) and a beer will set you back £1.20.
Formula-1 Marlboro Hungarian Grand Prix -Hungaroring
3 August 2007 - 5 August 2007World famous racing drivers do their best to grapple with speed and power at the Hungaroring www.hungaroring.hu
Jewish Summer Festival – Budapest
26 August 2007 - 2 September 2007Featuring a week of books and films, exhibitions and gastronomic events, the festival intends to present a cross section of Jewish culture, and in doing so relies also on music and dance, the internationally spoken ‘languages’ of culture. http://www.jewishfestival.hu
Budapest International Wine Exhibition and Fair
5 September 2007 - 9 September 2007Hosted in the grounds of Buda Castle, this exhibition and fair present the best winemakers, where a wine auction and a harvest procession are essential elements of the event. The festival also offers a cultural menu of classical and jazz concerts. http://www.vinagora.hu/
Budapest Autumn Festival
12 October 2007 - 21 October 2007The festival, which has become known as the “meeting point” of new arts, presents projects representing novel directions in art genres. The fields covered include: music, theatre, dance, fine arts and media arts, film and literature as well as happenings.
www.festivalcity.hu/bof
Budapest Wagner Days
7 June 2007 - 10 June 2007The Palace of Arts is organising the “Wagner in Budapest” Opera Festival for the second time. In 2006, a semi-staged performance of Parsifal enjoyed immense success and in 2007, complete performances of the first two operas from Wagner’s legendary tetralogy, The Ring of the Nibelung will be presented.
For more information click here.
Danube Carnival International Cultural Meeting
16 June 2007 - 24 June 2007This gathering organized around the city attracts top European and overseas artists from the worlds of classical music, brass bands and world music as well as contemporary dance, together with the best of Hungarian folk dancing. www.dunaart.hu
Budapest Fair
23 June 2007 - 24 June 2007The Fair has been organized since 1991 to commemorate the final withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary. The programme includes a summer carnival, street theatre meeting, jazz concerts, children’s programmes and a classical music concert on Heroes’ Square. All events are free. www.festivalcity.hu
Budafest Summer Music Festival
3 July 2007 - 19 August 2007The Hilton Hotel’s Dominican Courtyard is the scene for opera, ballet, jazz, klezmer and ragtime summer evening concerts. Top symphony orchestras from Hungary perform in the square in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica; the Opera House is the venue for marvellous opera and ballet performances. www.viparts.hu
Ghymes Ensemble - World Music at Christmas
26 December 2007The Ghymes Ensemble was founded in 1984 in Slowakia and integrate Hungarian and other Central-Eastern European folk music into their unique sound of traditional folk instruments but also drums and saxophone.
For further information please visit www.ghymes.hu
Gala Concert of the 100-member Gypsy Orchestra
30 December 2007This event in the Budapest Congress Centre is part of the traditional New Year's Eve celebrations: The evening starts with wine-tasting followed by the concert of popular classic and Hungarian tunes. Dinner will be during the concert.
Further information www.vipart.hu
New Year's Eve in Budapest
31 December 2007Budapest is all buzz on New Year's Eve but the action concentrates on three locations: a 10 hour disco at Oktogon, Hungarian pop groups at Nyugati Square and live bands from different countries on Vörösmarty Square. Midnight is celebrated with fireworks at Oktogon.
7th International Circus Festival
24 January 2008 - 28 January 2008This celebration of the world of circus is a serious competion for the participating professionals. Producers, directors and agents are always searching for new talent and attractions. This event is only held every other year to guarantee exclusivity and maximum interest for the international community.
See www.maciva.hu for more details
Budapest Opera Ball
31 December 2007 - 1 January 2008The crowning event of the carnival season is undoubtedly the Opera Ball in the Hungarian State Opera House. The ball is opened by more than a hundred debutante dancers and after the opera programme guests can dance till dawn.
See www.operabal.com for details
Óbuda Summer 2007
10 June 2007 - 4 August 2007Óbuda offers a huge selection of music events this summer both in the charming surroundings of Aquincum Museum and Kiscell Palace. On the Main Square from 10th June every Sunday morning classical and big band concerts take place besides the musical evenings.
From 14th July to 4th August visitors can enjoy classical miniatures (from Vivaldi to Kreisler) like serenades, dances and divertissements played by the Erkel Ferenc Chamber Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra , the Weiner-Szász Chamber Symphony Orchestra and the Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra in the courtyard of Kiscell Palace.
For further details please click here.
Nike International Half-Marathon
2 September 2007Runners can choose between the 21km half-marathon and the alternative 4km, 8km and 12km runs. The route leaves from City Park and takes in the most attractive parts of Budapest. INFORMATION:
Budapesti Sportiroda•
H-1146 Budapest, Dózsa György út 1-3.
Tel.: 36-1/273-0939•Fax: 36-1/273-0936
E-mail: paitz.krisztina@bpsportiroda.hu
www.budapestmarathon.com
17th Champagne and Wine Festival of Budafok
31 August 2007 - 2 September 2007For the 17th time this year, the Municipality of Budafok–Tétény organizes the Budafok Champaigne and Wine Festival, which has become one of the largest autumn events in the Hungarian capital by now. The programme of the festival is designed so that the young and the elderly can find the best entertainment for their age. In addition to the romantic visits to wine cellars and the gastronomical delights, there is a colourful cultural programme for visitors: foreign and domestic folk ensembles, wind orchestras, jazz bands and various popular performers will make sure that the guests enjoy the show. The inauguration of the Promontorium Wine Knights’ Order and the Chevalier Törley Champaigne Order are also expected to be spectacular. Following the tradition of the previous events, several of Hungary’s historical wine-regions will be featured in the festival.
http://www.budafokiborfesztival.hu/
Pannon Wine national Assembly Wine Festival and Festivities- Budapest
8 June 2007 - 10 June 2007The festival of top wines and top winemakers in City Park; marvels of Hungarian gastronomy and a real market atmosphere. Visitors can sample wines, listen to Gypsy, folk and dance music, and browse through the stalls of the crafts fair.
MORE INFORMATION:
Pannon Bormíves Céh
1146 Budapest, Állatkerti út 2.
Tel.: 36-1/468-4045 Fax: 36-1/363-4848
E-mail: kalman@gundel.hu
Web:www.pannonbor.hu
Festivities around the Bridge- Budapest
16 June 2007On the Chan Bridge's "birthday" there are spectacular shows outside Parliament Building, in the Tunnel underneath the Buda Castle and on the Danube, made more colourful by air shows and sports competitions. Starting time: 10.00. Locations: Chain Bridge, Tunnel, "Clark Ádám" Square and Roosevelt Square. Character of events: musical and dance performances, a show program, entertainment, folklore and fair.
MORE INFORMATION:
Budapesti Fesztiválközpont
1053 Budapest, Egyetem tér 5.
Tel.: 36-1/486-3300
E-mail: info@fesztivalvaros.hu
Web:www.festivalcity.hu
Budapest Equestrian Festival-Budapest
21 June 2007 - 24 June 2007Visitors are offered programmes on Shipyard Island over four days: Celebration of Fire (ancient ceremonies associated with St. John's Day) on the 22nd, the Open Historical Day (early Magyar culture) on the 23rd, equestrian show (archery, mounted warfare, stunts and other excitement) on the 24th and 25th
MORE INFORMATION:
Tourinform Iroda
1061 Budapest, Liszt Ferenc tér 11.
Tel.: 36-1/322-4098 Fax: 36-1/342-9390
E-mail: liszt@budapestinfo.hu
Summer on the Chain Bridge- Budapest
30 June 2007 - 12 August 2007Each weekend Budapest's oldest bridge is given over to pedestrians who can enjoy exclusive music programmes, brass band concerts, accordionists and jazz bands, view exhibitions and stroll across the Chain Bridge free of charge.
MORE INFORMATION:
Budapesti Turisztikai Hivatal1056 Budapest, March 15. tér 7.
Tel.: 36-1/266-0479 Fax: 36-1/266-7477
E-mail: info@budapestinfo.hu
Web:www.budapestinfo.hu
Genghis Khan and his heirs- The Mongol Invasion of Hungary 1241-42
25 May 2007 - 2 September 2007After many European metropols the Hungarian National Museum (Budapest) shows the popular Genghis Khan and his heirs Exhibiton which deals with the history of the Mongols from the metal age to the 20th century and the works of Buddhist arts.
Furthermore as a companion exhibition visitors can have a taste of the remnants of the Mongol Invasion of Hungary 1241-42.
Valley of Arts - Kapolcs
27 July 2007 - 5 August 2007In the picturesque uplands north of Lake Balaton five villages, Kapolcs, Monostorapáti, Pula, Taliangörögd, Vigánpeternd celebrate the summer with 800 productions in 50 venues, crafts, folklore, jazz, film, classical music, the whole spectrum.
Full details on www.kapolcs.hu
Anna Ball in Balatonfüred
27 July 2007 - 29 July 2007Name days are big in Hungary, celebrated in families, the workplace, in the media. This ball was first held on St Anne's day in the early 19th century to celebrate the name day of the daughter of a local burgher. Balatonfüred is all dressed up for this occasion for the weekend on 27-29th July.
Blue Ribbon Regatta -Balatonfüred
1 July 2007 - 31 July 2007Lake Balaton is popular for sailing races and this is one of the most important race in the calendar. For this and other major races please check http://www.hunsail.hu/
Veszprém Festival
3 August 2007 - 11 August 2007North of Lake Balaton is the episcopal town of Veszprém. In the historic city centre the beginning of August brings the annual arts festival.
Balatonfüred Wine Weeks
4 August 2007 - 26 August 2007This is just one of the many wine festivals around the lake but it is one of the better known ones. It takes place on the promenade along the water. Please check the local Tourinform offices for the dates of other wine festivals, from mid July there is almost no weekend without a celebration somewhere.
Cross Balaton Swim
20 July 2007Every year thousands take to the lake and swim across from Révfülöp on the north shore to Balatonboglár on the south. This year the event takes place on 28th July, but the date can change due to weather conditions. For information please contact the local Tourinform office revfulop@tourinform.hu
There are other long distance swims in the Balatonfüred area during the summer, for details click here
Season-opening "Unfurling of the sails" Festival- Balatonfüred
12 May 2007The official opening ceremony of the sailing season has a history going back more than 75 years. The first yachting competition is accompanied by a folklore programme and the opening of exhibitions.
MORE INFORMATION:
Tourinform Iroda 8230 Balatonfüred, Petőfi u. 68.
Tel.: 36-87/580-480Fax: 36-87/580-481
E-mail: balatonfured@tourinform.hu
Web:www.balatonfured.hu
Whitsun Season Opening- Gyenesdiás
27 May 2007 - 28 May 2007Arts and crafts exhibition, fishing tournament, fish soup cooking and folklore programme - just a sample of the many things of interest to young and old alike.
MORE INFORMATION:
Tourinform Iroda
8315 Gyenesdiás, Kossuth L. u. 97.
Tel./fax: 36-83/511-790
E-mail: gyenesdias@tourinform.hu
Web:www.gyenesdias.hu
Harley Davidson Motorcyclists' Festival-Alsóörs
14 June 2007 - 17 June 2007Harley Davidson bikers' rally with a procession, shows, musical events at the "Európa" Camp Site at Lake Balaton
MORE INFORMATION:
H.O.G. Budapest Center
Tel.: 36-1/248-1516
Web:www.hog.hu
Balaton Sound Hungary's Newest Music Festival
12 July 2007 - 15 July 2007The town of Zamárdi on the southern shore of Lake Balaton will host Balaton Sound, Hungary's newest music festival, on July 12-15.
The new festival will feature a diverse line-up of internationally renowned acts including the Beastie Boys and Basement Jaxx.
For more information click here.
Events Calendar 2008
1 January 2008 - 31 December 2008You can find the most fascinating events in 2008 in the Events Calendar 2008.
