The sales of early bird tickets has doubled this year compared to the last. This year’s programme and line up was announced at Jurányi House earlier.

Valley of Arts Festival had 200.000 visitors in 2016. According to the organizers’ estimates 2017 will bring at least as many visitors; they have already sold twice as many early bird tickets as last year.

’We expect slightly more visitors now than last year, but our most important goal is to keep offering a festival with a human scale – this is why we have expanded the festival premises: this year we will have 27 separate locations, 40 smaller venues in 3 settlements, with nearly 1200 programmes’ – explained Natália Oszkó-Jakab, Programme and Marketing Director of Valley of Arts Festival

The festival organizers have prepared the broadest cultural palette possible to present a multitude of disciplines – everyone is in for a treat and bound to find their own interests reflected in the festival’s events ’Valley of Arts Festival is one of the most valuable events of the Hungarian festival scene; it contributes greatly to the popularity of cultural and arts events in Hungary with its unique and diverse acts and line up ’ – said Magdolna Závogyán, Deputy State Secretary for Cultural Policy of the Ministry of Human Capacities.

Ticket prices are still affordable: the early bird day tickets and three-day passes can be purchased until the 9th of June, later reduced priced tickets are available until the 14th of July. The five-day flexible and ten-day passes can only be purchased before the start of the event.

Children below age six can enter the festival for free. This year an online game helps visitors navigate across the broad festival schedule: users have to answer questions regarding their interests, based on which they will receive their own customized programme schedule. The game starts on the 3rd of May, and is available on the webpage of the festival: programajanlo.muveszetekvolgye.hu or on the festival’s Facebook page.

1200 programmes

The festival’s biggest stage, MOL Nagyon Balaton Panoráma Stage will accommodate the most well-known Hungarian bands and performers, along with two world-famous French bands, Nouvelle Vague and Deluxe, as well as the American band, Pink Martini. Fábián Juli & Zoohacker, 30Y, Hiperkarma, Anna and the Barbies, Quimby, Irie Maffia, Kiscsillag, Csík zenekar, Bea Palya, Péterfy Bori & Loveband, Hobo, Vad Fruttik, Magashegyi Underground, Szabó Balázs Bandája, Ivan and the Parazol, Pál Utcai Fiúk, and Budapest Bar will be among those bands taking the stage. Belau, Pluto, Antonia Vai Band and Kistehén will perform at Elevenkert, which is made possible thanks to the Tamás Cseh talent programme.

With Fidelio’s support, Színház Stage (Theater stage) will be the venue of acts and plays of József Katona Theatre, the New Theatre, Orlai Production, Tünet Együttes, Jurányi House, and Kaposvár-based Gergely Csiky Theatre. Momentán Társulat will have their own yard for people who like to play, think, listen, laugh and get involved in creative actvities. The so-called “heroes” of this venue will be Ganxsta Zolee, András Kepes, and Róbert Dolák-Saly.

Valley of Arts Festival also introduces the world of contemporary circus this year: at the tent of Cirque Du Tókert in Vigántpetend, elements of contemporary circus and contemporary dance performances will be presented to the festival-goers.

Kaláka Versudvar (Kaláka Poetry Yard) awaits visitors for the seventh time this year, while Tilos Radio yard, also part of the festival for several years now, brings the radio’s DJs and presenters together with the audience. At Veronika Harcsa’s yard we can start the day with some yoga, and in the evenings indulge in scoundscapes of the most important musicians of Hungarian jazz’s, foreign guest stars and DJs. At the yard of Edina Szirtes Mókus visitors can enjoy the performances of Maladype Theatre among many others.

Szimpla Lemming Yard is the meeting point of the bands that are integral to Szimpla’s musical life – the band following their own artistic path. Kőbánya will fill the Valley’s most beautiful venue, the iconic Gástya Trench with life: on the Council of Kőbánya’s and the Kőbánya Music Studio’s stage music, young talents and rock legends will play the main role.

This year, the venue of classical music and opera will be Papageno Klasszik in Vigántpetend and the Roman Catholic Church of Kapolcs, where not only famous Hungarian and foreign performers, but the young talents of Virtuózok will entertain classical music enthusiasts.

The repertoire of the National Theatre will be represented by Nemzeti Szín-Tér in Taliándörögd: where visitors can enjoy performances and other programmes compiled by the theatre’s young artists. University of Theatre and Film Arts’ students will bring their most exciting performances to Taliándörögd: at the special place of SZFE Globe prosaic, musical, puppet and physical theatre performances will be performed. With the help of Hungarian Natural Film Archive, real motion picture treats and interactive workshops will entertain adults and children alike

This year, Fonó Udvar will move to Kocsor House, and bring Budapest-based Fonó’s folk and world music selection to the Valley: among others, György Ferenczi, László Kollár-Klemencz, Cimbaliband, Sena Band, Kerekes Band and PASO will perform here. At Folk Yard, the lovers of traditional folk music, folk dance and handicraft can enjoy colorful programmes and traditional dishes – Muzsikás will perform here. Muharay-yard will organize their programmes within the idea of ’tradition and modernity’. The Museum of Ethnography awaits visitors in their community area called Etno Liget with activities and conversations. At Jancsi Bácsi’s yard, authentic Roma music, dance and Lovarian language courses will enrich the programme. Éltető Valley invites visitors with their products of Balaton Highlands’ manufacturers and craftsmen.

During these ten days, visitors cannot miss literature either: the Hungarian Writer Society’s programmes will take place in Lilla Mill of Kapolcs. Hobo’s own club is preparing Pilinszky, Faludy and Attila József-sessions, and an Ady- and Visocky-themed day. On the 500th anniversary of reformation, Református Yard in Taliándörögd and Tarisznya Evangelican Yard will have art programmes, film clubs and an interactive folk instrument demonstration as well.

Children’s Valley, Sport Valley and exhibitions

Children will have their own venue this year: Children’s Valley will provide board games, folk music and literature games for children for ten days. The festival is announcing an A-side football tournament for the event’s participants: in addition to Sport Valley’s Art Valley Cup, they will organize a half marathon and short-distance runs as well. The role plays of Lemanguria Creative Movement Yard will be self-knowledge, creating, improvisation and body awareness. People can visit the exhibitions – like HelloWood’s village or Art Moments’ photo exhibition – organized by the Valley of Arts in Kapolcs and Vigántpetend for free.

Sustainable Valley

The organizers of Valley of Arts Festival continue the tradition of emphasizing sustainability. Several ’green’ organizations collaborate in a yard called the The Green of the Arts – they will arrange colorful programmes, presentations, trips and games. In the Yard of Creation Protection, they will try to answer questions about how we could learn to think and act responsibly towards eachother and nature, to introduce the way of life of self supporting people and living in harmony and respect of with nature.

During the festival, waste will be collected selectively, and within the collaboration with Oszkár, visitors can use a carpool service. Csigabusz, which will operate between the festival’s venues can be used free of charge with a valid Valley-wristband. Just like in previous years, donating blood will be possbible on site with the support of Veszprém County Red Cross: people who donate blood there will receive a day ticket. Last year, valley residents donated 3375 litres of blood, which means they saved 2253 lives.

Thanks to the programmes made possible by Kutyabarát.hu, Valley of Arts Festival places a particular emphasis on visitors arriving with their favorite furry friends.

Detailed programme


Ticket prices:

10 days pass - all seats reserved

Till 14th July: 33.000 HUF
Till 20th July: 35.000 HUF

5 days pass - all seats reserved

Till 14th July: 17.000 HUF
Till 20th July: 18.000 HUF

Daily ticket

all seats reserved

Till 9th June: 3.500 HUF
Till 14th July: 3.800 HUF

on the spot and online (from 15th July): 4.000 HUF, by showing student ID or pensioner card on the spot: 3.500 HUF

on the spot and online (from 15th July): 11.000 HUF, by showing student ID or pensioner card on the spot: 10.000 HUF

For children aged under 6, entry for all programs is free.

Source: Valley of Arts