For the 2025 edition, the award specifically acknowledges Sziget’s dedication to equality and its strong support of the LGBTQIA+ community. This marks the second time Sziget has received the Take A Stand Award, following its first win in 2023. 

The Take A Stand Award honours festivals that actively stand for humanity, tolerance and dialogue. In 2025, Sziget Festival publicly expressed its support for the queer community across its own platforms and throughout the festival itself. 

In a year where standing up for equality wasn’t always easy, Sziget stayed committed. For more than 20 years, the Magic Mirror has been the proud home of the queer community at Sziget.

It is a space where entertainment meets education: from drag shows to panel discussions, open conversations and artistic showcases, the Magic Mirror continues to be a platform for expression, connection and dialogue. 

“From the very beginning, Sziget has stood for acceptance, tolerance, inclusion and individual freedom. We have always been the Island of Freedom and this year, freedom meant courage: standing up for equality when silence would have been easier,‘’ said Tamás Kádár, CEO of Sziget Festival.

“Receiving this recognition for the second time confirms that we are on the right path. Freedom of speech is a fundamental value for us, and it is essential that both our local and international visitors experience Sziget as a safe space where everyone can express themselves openly. This is something we are deeply proud of, and something that truly matters to our community.” he added.
 

This year, Sziget returns from 11 - 15 August.

Sziget Festival takes place on Budapest’s Óbuda Island, where visitors from all over the world gather for a true festival holiday: five days of music, art, culture and shared memories on an Island in the heart of Budapest.

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