The world-famous Diner en Blanc alfresco dinner party, where all guests must wear snow-white clothing, premiered in Budapest last year. The venue of this chic picnic – which is kept top-secret until just before the event begins – was a parking lot by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Chain Bridge, and it was filled with a flabbergasting flash mob of several hundred people. This elegant event returns to Budapest on September 9th, but the rest of the details still remain a mystery.

Diner en Blanc started out as a birthday party almost 30 years ago, which Frenchman François Pasquier organized the event for his friends. What was supposed to be a one-time garden party is now an immense worldwide event spanning 70 cities (including New York, Paris, and Sydney) in 25 countries. The dinner-party rules remained the same over three decades: guests clad in white clothing enjoy an elegant dinner together at a special location that remains a secret until the very last moment.

The local organizers of Diner en Blanc are the same as last year: Gábor Rókusfalvy (Roxer Event), Gábor Kurják (New Edge), Dalma Kormos, and Hubert Hlatky-Schlichter (KIOSK). “Last year my experience was that Diner en Blanc is a perfect occasion to strengthen already existing friendships, and to turn business relationships into friendships,” said Gábor Rókusfalvy at the press conference. Gábor Kurják added that this year centerpieces and decorations will get a bigger emphasis, and there will be a number of prizes to be won, for instance for the prettiest picnic table.

This year, Diner en Blanc has four ambassadors in Budapest: Adrienn Marton, Csilla Tatár, Gábor Baronits, and Marci Tóth. Being an ambassador not only means personally promoting the event, but also helping invitees with advice and information until September 9th.

In order to keep the traditions of Diner en Blanc, guests need to adhere to the following rules:

  • Participation is by invitation, or through the waiting list.

  • After confirmation, participation is compulsory even under less-than-perfect weather conditions – the event is held even in light rain.

  • Dress code: elegant and strictly white. Creativity is appreciated within the boundaries of sophisticated taste.

  • Tablecloth and decorations: strictly white.

  • To keep the location top-secret, invitees meet at a given meeting point, where the final venue of the dinner is revealed.

  • In order to keep the venue clean, everyone is required to take their litter and leftovers with them.

Guests are required to bring the following items to the dinner:

  • A white table for two with chairs and a tablecloth.

  • A picnic basket with white accessories and homemade food (those who do not wish to make a picnic basket can purchase one through the website).

  • Wine or champagne (beer and spirits are forbidden).

On the whole, participation is by invitation. In the first round, friends of the organizers have a chance to register, while in the second round invitees can include further guests on the list, and in the third round empty spots get filled up. A total of 800 people can register online for a registration fee of 9 dollars. Further information and rules are available on the website of Diner en Blanc in Budapest, as well as on Facebook.