Hungarian summer 2023
In Hungary, there is a succession of “mega” events throughout the year. In August, one of Europe’s biggest and best music festivals, Sziget, will attract major artists as well as hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world. There are also a host of festivals, cultural and sports events awaiting visitors to Hungary this summer.
Hungary and Budapest have been growing in popularity with tourists for years, thanks to a succession of festivals, and cultural and sporting events, among others factors. Here’s a look at what’s in store for those who choose Hungary as their destination this summer.
Festival ON: International Stars Arrive
Having been one of the biggest summer events in Hungary for years, the Sziget Festival (organized in August) has once again been shortlisted in the “Best Major Festival” category, the most prestigious of the European Festival Awards. From 10 to 15 August, festivalgoers can enjoy concerts by artists such as American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and French music producer and house DJ David Guetta.
Central Europe’s largest lake, Lake Balaton, is also an important tourist destination in the summer, so Balaton Sound, which kicks off on 28 June, will once again attract crowds to the lakeshore to cool off on the beach between two concerts. The line-up includes Armin van Buuren, Dutch trance music producer and DJ, Belgian DJ duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and one of the world’s leading DJs, Tiësto.
In 2023, the European Union awarded the city of Veszprém the title of European Capital of Culture, which comes with a series of cultural events and special attention. This year’s VeszprémFest will feature multiple Grammy Award-winning American singer, songwriter and actress Norah Jones, and Spanish singer Alvaro Soler, who rose to fame a few years ago with his song “Sofia” and is now considered one of the most successful Spanish artists.
The World Watches the Athletics World Championships Held in Budapest
Sports competitions and events always occupy a prominent place on the annual program schedules. This year, the World Athletics Championships, which will be held in Budapest from 19 to 27 August with the participation of 2,000 athletes from more than 200 countries, will be a major attraction. So far, the organizers have sold 150,000 tickets to fans from 68 countries and expect one billion television viewers globally. The competitions will be partly hosted in the city center of Budapest and the marathon will pass through the city’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, with the magnificent panorama of the Danube as the backdrop.
Madame Tussauds and Renoir are Also Coming to Budapest
Hungary’s program schedule also offers cultural delights for lovers of art, including classical music festivals and art exhibitions. In Budapest, the Dali exhibition will be open until the end of June, while the Museum of Fine Arts, after the successful El Greco exhibition, is already preparing for an exhibition of Renoir’s paintings in September in collaboration with the Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. For those who prefer less serious exhibitions, the Madame Tussauds Museum is scheduled to open in the heart of Budapest this summer.
This Summer will Also be Full of Culinary Adventures and Wine Festivals
In recent years, Hungarian gastronomy has been steadily catching up with the world’s bests. Hungary now boasts a total of 2 restaurants with two, and 7 restaurants with one Michelin star, ahead of other countries in the region. Wine is an important part of Hungarian gastronomy, so it is not surprising that there is almost no place in the country where at least one wine or champagne festival isn’t held every year. In June, for example, the Rosalia Festival in Budapest and the Tokaj Wine Days will be welcoming all interested visitors, where the best white, red and rosé wines as well as sparkling wines compete for the attention of the judges and wine lovers.
