Over three days, the festival blends indoor stage productions with free open-air events, covering a range of genres including folk dance, contemporary pieces, Argentine tango, and film screenings.

As Péter Ertl, Director of the National Dance Theatre, notes, the gathering has become a fixture in the late-summer cultural calendar over the past two decades, serving as a popular meeting point for both local arts enthusiasts and professional dancers.

Festival Lineup Highlights

The program opens on Thursday, September 10, with the Székesfehérvár Ballet Theatre’s production of Pinocchio. This dance-theater adaptation combines movement and visual storytelling to reimagine the classic tale for audiences of all ages.

The opening day also features a screening of 30 Shades of Dance, a short film produced by the National Dance Theatre featuring thirty Hungarian dance troupes performing in notable locations across the country.

On Friday, September 11, the Danube Art Company takes the stage with Partium – From the Creek to the Ocean. The folk performance highlights the traditional music, regional costumes, and ethnic heritage of the historical Partium region.

The final evening, Saturday, September 12, shifts to Argentine tango with the Argentine Tango Dance Theatre’s production of EXISTENCE, a narrative dance drama exploring personal relationships through tango movement.

Free Street Events & Program Details

In addition to the main theater schedule, several free open-air events will take place in central Keszthely.

On the evening of September 12, presenters Léna Megyeri and Ádám Bősze will host On Tiptoe – About Music and Dance, in Pairs in Keszthely’s Main Square, providing an informal look behind the scenes of classical music and dance performance.

Tickets can be purchased at the Balaton Theatre box office and online.

Program: 

Thursday, 10 September 2026, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Pinocchio
Balaton Színház - Auditorium
Székesfehérvár Ballet Theatre

Thursday, 10 September 2026, 6 p.m.
30 Shades of Dance
Balaton Színház, Simándy Hall
National Dance Theatre

Friday, 11 September 2026, 7 p.m.
Partium - From the Creek to the Ocean
Balaton Színház - Auditorium
Duna Art Ensemble

Saturday, 12 September 2026, 7 p.m.
EXISTENCE - Argentine Tango Dance Play
Balaton Színház - Auditorium
Argentine Tango Dance Theatre

Saturday, 12 September 2026, 8 p.m.
On tiptoe - About Music and Dance, in Pairs
Keszthely - Main square
Léna Megyeri - Ádám Bősze

The programme is subject to change.

More: 
lake-balaton-dance-september

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