The programmes will be held between 19-21 August, and the venues in Budapest will include Margaret Island, the Danube embankment in front of the Budapest Technical University, Kossuth Square, Buda Castle, City Park, St Stephen Square and St Stephen Basilica.

Events in Budapest on August 19 - 21 at a Glance

August 19: 

The programme gets underway, with concerts, food and cultural events, family activities, craft programmes and other entertainment taking place around Budapest.

August 20: 

The main national holiday begins with the flag-raising and military officer inauguration at Kossuth Square, followed by the air show over the Danube. The St Stephen procession takes place in the evening, with the 10-minute fireworks and audiovisual show starting at 9pm.

August 21: 

More free concerts and cultural programmes continue as the three-day celebration draws to a close.

The celebrations will cost around 4 billion forints (EUR 11.0 million), a gov't spokesperson announced.

The official programme will start at 8am on Aug 20, with the raising of the national flag and inauguration of officers of the army in Kossuth Square, followed by an air show of the Armed Forces, which is well worth a look.

The procession venerating the relic of St Stephen, the right hand of Hungary's founding king, will be held at 7pm on Aug 20, after mass at St Stephen's Basilica.

The main event on the evening of August 20 will be a major audiovisual show, featuring spectacular projection mapping onto the iconic Hungarian Parliament building.

This 30 minute production will tell the story of Hungary’s thousand-year history, from its natural beginnings through the present and towards a shared future, combining special visual effects, a 1,500-drone show and other lighting effects.

The audiovisual production will culminate in the annual fireworks display.

The fireworks will start at 9pm and take 10 minutes.

Parliament will be open for visitors, free of charge, over the weekend.

A wide range of free music events will be held at multiple riverside and central locations.

On 19 August, the Elektro Rakpart at the University of Technology Embankment focuses on electronic music, with performances including Nina Kraviz, while a Queen tribute concert is also scheduled at the 'Road Movie Live' venue there in District XI.

The main music programme takes place on 20 August. At Beats Sziget on Margaret Island, highlights include Deva, Random Trip – LGT Special, Boban Marković and Quimby, followed by an electronic set from Infragandhi. 

Also on the 20th, the Elektro Rakpart hosts DJ performances and international electronic artist Christian Löffler, while Diszkótér on Kossuth Square features an Anima Sound System DJ set and performances by JumoDaddy and guests.

Most of the major free concerts are concentrated on 19 and 20 August, with a smaller musical programme continuing on 21 August.

The celebrations this year will offer considerably more than the main national ceremonies and evening fireworks, with a wider programme featuring more than 100 events at 11 venues around Budapest.

One of the main events will be the Festival of Folk Arts in the Buda Castle, where Hungarian and international craftspeople will demonstrate traditional skills and offer visitors the chance to explore and buy handmade crafts.

Food will be a major feature again this year. The Street of Hungarian Flavours at Castle Garden Bazaar will showcase local specialities, while Liberty Square will host further food and community programmes.

The organisers say they will once again limit the price of beer during the celebrations, while highlighting that no state subsidy would be used for this purpose. A half-litre bottle of mineral water is set to cost less than HUF 500, while half a litre of beer will be less than HUF 1,000.

The celebrations also feature the annual traditions surrounding the Cake of Hungary and St Stephen’s Day Bread.


Bíborfehér was named Hungary’s Cake of 2026, created by László Balogh, Zoltán Balogh and Roland Kis of Kézműves Cukrászda in Gyula.



The sugar-free winner is Szilvafácska, created by Alena Puchovszki, Gábor Pethő and Jenő Vadócz of Promenád Kávéház in Balatongyörök. Both cakes will be available to taste from August 20.



Margaret Island will host the Family Experience Island, offering free family activities together with entertainment and concerts.

Children can choose from sports , interactive activities and performances, providing an alternative to the large crowds expected around the Danube for the evening celebrations.

Music fans will have plenty of choice, with concerts ranging from contemporary and electronic music to Hungarian and international performers.

Among the artists appearing are Quimby, Anima Sound System, Sena, Random Trip, DEVA, Nina Kraviz and Boban Marković Orkestar, alongside many other performers.

The Műegyetem Embankment will provide a particularly lively setting, with an electronic music festival and light show forming part of the programme this year.

A new element this year is the Budapest Military Band Festival, bringing nearly 200 Hungarian and foreign military musicians to the capital. Military-themed activities will also be held in City Park, including an interactive exhibition of military technology.

The national holiday programme also includes a wide range of cultural and family entertainment, with performances, creative activities and other events taking place at different venues across the capital.

For those looking to experience the celebrations away from the main riverside crowds, the varied venues provide opportunities to explore different sides of Budapest while experiencing local food, music, crafts, culture and live entertainment.

The full programme, including individual events, artists and venues, is available on the officia August 20 website: https://augusztus20.hu/en

Post-fireworks parties in Budapest, then early-morning transport home nationwide

After the August 20 fireworks, Budapest's streets will host all-night celebrations, David Vitezy, the transport and investment minister, said on Tuesday. But to ensure the fun isn't just for the capital's revellers, early-morning trains, buses, and suburban rail lines will run to every corner of Hungary.

The fireworks display will be slightly shorter than usual, Vitezy said in a video posted on Facebook.

However, from 11pm on the 20th until 3.30am, the city will throw "massive street parties" in locations like Kossuth Square in front of Parliament, Margaret Island, and the University of Technology and Economics quayside near Szent Gellert Square.

"The idea is that people can stay out and enjoy themselves after the fireworks," Vitezy said, though he warned that, as always during the celebrations, public transport in the city will be disrupted.

Chain Bridge, Elizabeth Bridge, and Margaret Bridge will all be closed, so underground trains are the best bet for getting around, he said.

To make sure the celebrations aren't just for Budapest's young crowd, for the first time early-morning services will run nationwide, so everyone can get home after the parties.

The Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) is preparing for metro trains to run until 3.30am, with more frequent night buses and tram 6 operating, making it easier to reach train stations and bus terminals, where special services will depart in all directions, particularly to county seats and cities with county rights.

All related public transport information is available on the websites of the MAV Group and BKK.


MTI Stock Photos

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.

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