Friday
August 9-16: Sziget Festival at Óbuda Island
One of Central Europe’s biggest musical extravaganzas, the Sziget Festival, is happening non-stop on Budapest’s Óbuda Island during August 9-16. Many major international and local music artists step on stage at Sziget over the weekend, while during the day cool cultural programs, film screenings, circus performances, and many other intriguing programs entertain festivalgoers. For more information about the festival, check out this article.
3pm - 10pm: American BBQ Picnic at Kopaszi Dam
Between Friday and Sunday, Budapest’s best BBQ chefs fill Kopaszi Dam, offering mouthwatering BBQ meals and traditional American flavors spiced up with some southern pride. Furthermore, concerts, a car and motorbike exhibit, and American football show, children’s programs, fireworks, and an eating contest await lovers of freshly cooked meals at this alfresco gathering.
6pm - 10pm: I love the 2000s party at Budapest Park
On Friday night you can shake various body parts to the hottest hits of the 2000s, as cool concerts turn back time at Budapest Park. Groove Coverage, Safri Duo, and Alice DeeJay all step onstage amid an abundance of psychedelic LED lights and other visual elements that help you forget the reality you leave behind at the gates.
7pm - 5am: Dirty Black Summer Tribute Festival at Dürer Kert
Hear classic songs by major rock and metal bands (or at least their tribute bands) playing on three different stages at Dürer Kert. Thanks to enthusiastic tribute bands, you can enjoy everything from Nightwish through Iron Maiden to Lynyrd Skynyrd. More details
7pm - : Duo Meksyk at FUGA
Duo Meksyk is made up of two truly talented pianists, Daniel Torres and Luis Herman Miranda. On August 11th they perform several pieces by well-known Mexican musicians like José Moncayo, Carlos Chávez, Carlos Vidaurri, Manuel M. Ponce, and Arturo Márquez in Budapest. More details
10pm - 4am: - : Total Rush Holiday In Raveland at Beat on the Brat
Budapest’s only happy rave party series, Total Rush, opens the gate to a new dimension, to the fantasy empire of rave and happy hardcore music from the ’90s. Travel in space and time on Friday night with the smashing lineup of Dj NINth, DJ Flatline, RikeR, and Hiffy & Nu-C. More details
Saturday
9am – 12am: Szabihíd By Valyo Act 3 at Liberty Bridge
One of Budapest’s most picturesque spans, the Liberty Bridge, will be closed to traffic one last time this summer during August 12-13, encouraging everyone to occupy this super-central space full of all kinds of cool programs. As happened earlier this summer, the bridge will once again be the venue of heartwarming scenes: friends sharing glasses of wine and fine bites, amateur musicians filling the air with acoustic tunes, and couples cuddling under the velvet sky. Come join this special picnic on the bridge, aiming to make the Danube more involved in the lives of Budapest’s residents. More details
10am - 10pm: Gorongosa Pool Party at Napozó Terrace
The Gorongosa Music record label was founded one year ago, inspired by charming forest walks and sizzling-hot summer days. The label celebrates its first anniversary on Saturday with a rowdy pool party featuring special guests, DJs, and live performances. More details
8pm - 11pm: Junk Big Band at Kobuci Kert
Junk Big Band is an energetic jazzfunk ensemble of altogether 20 musicians, which also plays Latin and R’n’B covers. They do not perform very often, but when they do the night is guaranteed to be awesome and unforgettable. Numerous well-known Hungarian musicians stepped on stage with them in the past, and they always have several surprises up their sleeve. More details
9pm - 2am: Night of Shooting Stars at the Open-Air Theater of Csillebérc
Listen to live music and lyric songs performed on an almost completely dark, candlelit stage at the Open-Air Theater of Csillebérc, while watching magical meteor showers and enjoying the closeness of nature on Saturday night. More details
10pm - 5am: ¡Caramba! – The Latin Pop Party at the WAVE Club, Margaret Island
If you love Latin tunes, head to Margaret Island on Saturday, where the best songs of Shaikra, Ricky Martin, J. Lo, and other Latin divas and macho mens fill the sweet summer night and entice everyone onto the dance floor. More details
Sunday
9am - 2pm: Pancs Gasztroplacc at Élesztő
This weekly market – enhanced with a homey Hungarian ambience – boasts various cooking and entertainment shows to accompany the culinary jamboree, where up-and-coming vendors offer handmade delicacies like tasteful vegan dips, cream cheese, and scrumptious vegan cakes, as well as crimson sausages and aromatic smoked meat for carnivorous guests.
10am - 6pm: Magic of India Festival at Lélek Palotája
The magical incense-stick-scented atmosphere of India comes to Budapest for a day on Sunday, bringing wonderful dancers, mouthwatering meals, traditional musical instruments, henna tattoos, an Indian wedding celebration with a fire ceremony, colorful theatrical programs, a row of bazaars, children’s programs, a drum show, special spices, astrology, and many other exciting Indian specialties to the city.
4pm - 11pm: Divat PLACC by Night at Rácskert
The evening market of Divat Placc returns to bring fashion designers of various sectors to a common platform and to allow visitors to browse through an impressive selection of designer jewelry, clothes, and accessories. This time, expect a double act: on August 13th, the market will be open from 4 pm to 11 pm, while on August 17th, opening hours stretch from 5 pm to 11 pm.
4pm - 10pm: Hungarian Beatles Convention at Kobuci Kert
The Bits, a Hungarian tribute band devoted to the Beatles, holds a national convention all about the Fab Four for the second time this year, featuring concerts, discussions, and quizzes. The Shakers, Liverpool’s best beat-band, will perform as a guest band.
8pm - : Fairplay by the Coincidance Dance Theater at the Városmajor Open-Air Stage
On Sunday night, the open-air stage Buda’s Városmajor Park hosts a special performance, the dance spectacle of the Coincidance ensemble, that blends Irish step dancing with contemporary elements in a truly unique way. This time, expect special visuals and a moving performance that also commemorates a sport legend, the deceased dad of director and choreographer Júlia Gyulai.
