Budapest’s Summer and Fall Events Illuminated With Art, Heritage and Cuisine
As the summer rolls on and leads into autumn, Budapest is brightening up and enticing us with ample amounts of events for cultural and culinary enlightenment. The city is awash with beautiful architecture and culture, while the country is full of bountiful farms and vineyards. A mariage parfait sure to broaden our perspectives as much as our waistlines, this city continues to astound and outdo itself.
Art Exhibitions
Frida Kahlo – July 7 – November 4, 2018
The Hungarian National Gallery will exhibit a collection of more than 30 of the iconic artist’s work from Museo Dolores in Mexico together with private collections. The exhibition includes her first painting, her characteristic self-portraits, and many other works from throughout her life. This exhibition offers us a unique glance into the difficult life of an evocative and inspirational woman.
100 Years of Hungarian Poster Art – July 14 – August 25, 2018, Hungarian National Museum
Sometimes you need to visit a museum to see art from a new perspective. The Hungarian National Museum presents 100 years of posters representing brilliantly-illustrated political and commercial propaganda from a century of rapid change. A rare opportunity to discover how thousands of pieces of mass-produced, masterful imagery can move human behavior to consume or persuade them to swallow a particular political pill – all on display under one roof.
World Press Photo Exhibition 2018 – September 20 – October 23, 2018, Hungarian National Museum
As the summer winds to a close, the hits just keep on coming to Budapest in the fall. The traveling World Press Photo Exhibition spends a month in Budapest at the Hungarian National Museum. Photography has firmly entrenched itself in art and culture with its ability to capture the beauty of the planet earth and the soul of its inhabitants. The photographers of the world press invite you to take a peek at the world’s finest imagery.
Food & Drink
The Budapest International Wine Festival – September 6 – 9, 2018, at Buda Castle
An unmissable experience for any wine aficionado, the Budapest International Wine Festival brings together many of Hungary’s best vintners with oenophiles and lovers of food from all over. This year’s guest country is Chile, offering us an exclusive chance to taste wines and cuisine from the other side of the world, as well. Set in the beautiful Buda Castle, this event makes for a memorable wine-filled experience.
Bio Food and Wine Festival – September 14 -16, 2018, at Hajdúszoboszló
This event is an excellent way to dip your toes into the organic culinary scene in Hungary’s most popular thermal water bath town. Indulge in the vegetarian and omnivorous delights made onsite whilst local wine regions present some of their produce. Further, one can get acquainted with the laidback lifestyle associated to this movement with some folk music and dance, as well as concerts and programmes.
Sweet Days Chocolate Festival – September 16 – 18, 2018, at Szent István tér
Top off your culinary tour of Budapest with some sweet indulgence. Sample some taste-tempting, hand-made chocolate confections, take a chocolate-tasting tour or a chocolate-making course. And for your second dessert: more fine wines and folk music.
Music, Festivals & Events
Budapest Summer Festival – June 9 – August 31, 2018, multiple locations
This summer-long festival held between two open-air venues, Margaret Island and Városmajor, and the Margaret Island Water Tower, has a sensational lineup of performances, from Richard Strauss’ opera Salome to the National Philharmonic Orchestra and a ballet presentation of The Great Gatsby.
Vajdahunyad Castle Summer Music Festival – July 2 – August 16, 2018, Vajdahunyad Castle
On Mondays and Thursdays, for more than one month, Budapest’s Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park hosts an incredible lineup of musicians. The list includes symphony and chamber orchestras, gypsy, klezmer, swing and jazz performances, all held in the summer evenings in the park.
Festival of Folk Arts – August 18 – 21, 2018, Buda Castle
Hungarian folk craft artisans from all over the country converge in Budapest for four days of wood carving, egg painting, ceramics and more. Visitors can try their hand at the traditional craft work set to the tune of live traditional Hungarian folk music and dance performances. You can also get your fill of Hungarian dishes, wines, and pastries.
Saint Stephen’s Day – August 20, 2018, multiple locations
Come celebrate Hungary’s biggest national holiday in Budapest on August 20. Saint Stephen’s Day celebrates the origin of the Hungarian State and commemorates Saint Stephen, its first king. Start the day by the banks of the Danube with a slice of cake from the Street of Hungarian Flavors, then walk it off all day long with a series of open air concerts, and free entry to the Hungarian Parliament building. At 5 pm you can attend the Holy Mass at St. Stephen’s Basilica, then follow the crowd for the Procession of St. Stephen’s Holy Right Hand, wherein they carry the 1000-year-old hand of the Saint through the streets. Be sure to catch the spectacular fireworks over the Danube in the evening as well.
Jewish Cultural Festival – August 26 – September 2, 2018, multiple locations
Jewish culture and traditions are the focus of this annual event. Proudly displaying klezmer, cantor and classical music concerts, as well as multiple other events, come get to know Central and Eastern Europe’s blossoming Jewish heritage in some of Budapest’s most impressive synagogues.