The programmes will be held between Aug 19-21, and the Budapest venues 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, she said.

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, she said.

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.

A 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.

Food festivals will be held on the embankment in front of Varkert Bazaar and in Szabadsag Square, an arts and crafts festival in the Castle, while concerts will be held in front of the technical university.

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 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. 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.

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

MTI Stock Photos

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

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