Running this year from 15–20 September, the ninth edition also marks two major anniversaries: 125 years since the pioneering days of Hungarian filmmaking and 70 years since the 1956 Revolution.

The programme combines Hungarian and international classics with rare archive material, silent films accompanied by live music, discussions and other events.

Queen's Historic Budapest Concert Opens the Festival

One of the headline events will be the restored concert film documenting Queen's legendary 1986 Budapest performance.

The fully restored 4K film, Queen Budapest, will open the festival on 15 September at the Uránia National Film Theatre, 40 years after Queen played to around 80,000 people at the Népstadion.

The restoration was carried out by the National Film Institute Hungary's Film Archive and Film Lab together with Peter Jackson's Park Road, using the original material preserved in the NFI Film Archive.

The concert film is scheduled for wider cinema release in Hungary from 7 October 2026.

The footage will also recall one of the most memorable moments of Queen's Budapest visit, when Freddie Mercury sang the Hungarian folk song Tavaszi szél vizet áraszt.

Puskás Returns to the Big Screen

One of the most intriguing selections is the original version of Márton Keleti's 1956 film The Match of the Century (A csodacsatár), featuring Hungarian football legend Ferenc Puskás.

The satirical film was made during the era of Hungary's legendary Golden Team and contains sharp social criticism. Its story centres on a fictional country where an unsuccessful football star continues to be celebrated while an all-powerful minister remains in control, until the public eventually rebels.

After Puskás left Hungary in 1956, three scenes were reshot with fellow Golden Team player Nándor Hidegkuti. The festival will show the original version featuring Puskás.

The screening is particularly fitting in a year when Hungary is marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution.

Major International Classics

The programme also includes a wide selection of internationally recognised films.

Among the announced highlights are:

* Amélie, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's much-loved French film starring Audrey Tautou and Mathieu Kassovitz

* Thelma & Louise, Ridley Scott's acclaimed road movie starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis

* La Haine, Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 drama about social tensions in the Paris suburbs

* Ashes and Diamonds, Andrzej Wajda's 1958 Polish classic

* The Pianist, Roman Polanski's Oscar-winning film based on the memoir of Polish pianist Władysław Szpilman

* 80 Hussars, Sándor Sára's monumental 1978 Hungarian historical drama

The festival will also present legendary silent films, including screenings accompanied by live music.

David Bowie & The Hunger

For fans of cult cinema, one of the more unusual selections is Tony Scott's The Hunger.

The 1983 vampire film stars Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie and Susan Sarandon and is part of the Blood Countesses – Female Vampires in 20th-Century Genre Cinema programme.

The film places vampire mythology in a modern urban setting while exploring themes including mortality, ageing and desire.

1956 and Hungary's Film Heritage

The 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution is one of the central themes of this year's festival.

Another major milestone is the 125th anniversary of the pioneering days of Hungarian filmmaking, with the programme highlighting important figures and works from the country's cinematic heritage.

Dedicated sections will focus on the work of Hungarian filmmakers Gábor Bódy and János Herskó, while other programmes explore Eastern and Western cinema and female characters in international film.

The Open Archives section will offer rare films and newly restored material from leading film archives around the world.

Free Open-Air Cinema at Budapest's Basilica

The festival's popular open-air screenings will once again take place at Szent István Square in front of St Stephen's Basilica.

The free screenings are accompanied by indoor programmes at several Budapest venues, including:

* Uránia National Film Theatre
* Toldi Cinema
* French Institute

The open-air screenings provide an opportunity to see restored classics on a large screen in one of central Budapest's most recognisable settings.

The event also has a substantial professional programme.

The Budapest Classics Lab brings together Hungarian and international specialists to discuss film preservation, restoration and archive research. More than 100 international film preservation and distribution professionals are expected to attend the professional events.

There is also a strong focus on younger audiences, with student screenings, discussions, workshops and interactive programmes for school groups.

Since its launch in 2017, the festival has developed into an established European film-heritage event, combining public screenings with an international professional forum.

Budapest Classic Film Marathon Details

Dates: 15–20 September 2026
Venues: Uránia National Film Theatre, Toldi Cinema, French Institute and Szent István Square
Open-air screenings: Free
Organiser: National Film Institute Hungary

More: 
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