Friday
12pm - 12am: Junibor and Gastro Festival at Szent István Square (by St. Stephen’s Basilica)
Between September 28 and October 1, the stands of altogether 40 winemakers from all over the country line Budapest’s beautiful Szent István Square, offering aromatic libations and tasty bites. Head to this city-center plaza this weekend, take a seat by the fountain, or stroll through this splendid square sizzling under light garlands while tasting glasses of fine Hungarian reds, whites, and rosés.
5pm - 10pm: Budapest Transfer Festival at Petőfi Literary Museum
The Budapest Transfer Festival is an annual interdisciplinary arts festival focusing mainly on contemporary literature, happening this year between September 28 and Ocotber 1 in Budapest. The festival highlights the topics of the future and our dreams and fears connected to it, looking at a world balancing on the verge of spectacular scientific progress and ecological collapse and amazing wealth and security and suffering and poverty. Scientists and authors dwell on what the future holds for the arts, literature and for mankind, exploring the blurring line between human and machine, fact and fiction, and prophecy and scientific forecasting.
6:30pm - OFF-Biennále Budapest at various venues
OFF-Biennale Budapest is an international contemporary art event, and the largest civil, independent arts initiative in Hungary. It is based on self-organization and a voluntary collaboration of artists, groups of artists, curators, gallerists, and collectors, among others. Settling in private apartments, vacant shop premises, industrial buildings, alternative theaters, and public places, it invites the public to explore the city, and produces new artworks, exhibitions, publications, events, and education programs. More details
11pm - 6am: Fritz Kalkbrenner at Akvárium Klub
Berlin-based electronic-music producer Fritz Kalkbrenner blows up Akvárium Klub with an amazing live gig spinning discs in the grand hall all night long. Bear in mind that tickets sell out quick!
11:30pm - : LTJ Bukem (UK) ‘Spectrum Set’, Incident, DJ Ren at A38
Viewed as an innovator in the drum and bass style, Bukem is known for developing an accessible alternative to that hardcore genre’s speedy, assaultive energies. His style pays homage to the Detroit-based sound of early techno, but Bukem also incorporates earlier influences, particularly the mellow, melodic sonorities of 1970s-era jazz fusion.
Saturday
10am - 2pm: Race the Cogwheel Railway at the “Szent János Korház” station of the railway
If you feel up for an uphill battle (literally), join this family-friendly jogging jamboree on Saturday morning. The idea is that participants leave at the same time as Budapest’s Cogwheel Railway, and have to run up the hill to the railway’s final destination, “Széchényi-hegy, Gyermekvasút”, and ideally get there before the Cogwheel Railway arrives (although that would be a superhuman feat). Once up on the hill, Normafa, is close enough for a whole day out amid the sylvan setting of the beautiful Buda Hills. Don't forget to arrive early (before 9:30am) to leave enough time for registration before the race! More details (in Hungarian)
5pm AND 7:30pm: Under the Sun at the Bem Cinema
Do not miss out on a chance to see Under the Sun, a film aiming to reveal what real life is like in North Korea, that only screens at the Bem Cinema in Budapest. Despite continuous interference by government handlers, director Vitaly Mansky still manages to document life in Pyongyang, capital city of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in this fascinating portrait of one girl and her parents as she prepares to join the Korean Children’s Union on the “Day Of The Shining Star” (Kim Jong-Il’s birthday). Do not forget to register via e-mail at bidf.guests@gmail.com
12pm - 10pm: Goodbye Szabadság Square by BAOTIFUL
BAOTIFUL is soon leaving beloved Szabadság Square behind to move to a new locale, enhanced with a brand-new design and menu. However, first they say goodbye to their original venue properly, hosting a hearty party where guests can devour everything for the half of the originalprice – well, only until the food runs out, so you’d better be quick!
7:30pm - 11:50pm: Linkin Park tribute by 1StepKloser at Instant
Due to the recent unexpected and devastating death of Chester Bennington, Instant commemorates Linkin Park’s lead singer with a touching night featuring 1StepKloser, a local tribute band to the iconic American rock group. Come and let your heart beat to the rhythm of old and new melodies by Linkin Park that fill Instant on Friday, bidding farewell to dear Chazy Chaz.
10pm - : Birthday Party at Buddha-Bar Budapest
Buddha-Bar Budapest celebrates its 5th birthday on Saturday with spectacular dance shows, live music, and other surprises. The special guest of the night, DJ RAVIN – the #1 DJ of Buddha-Bar Worldwide – is returning to Budapest for this celebratory event to make the night even more memorable as his fantastic music accompanies Buddha-Bar Budapest’s resident DJs.
Sunday
11am - 10pm: Fellini Farewell Party at Fellini Kultúrbisztró
On Sunday, one of the Római Shore’s most beloved open-air hangouts, Fellini, closes the summer season with one last fun-filled day. In the morning there will be family-friendly programs, while in the afternoon all kinds of concerts await everyone at this lovely hangout located right on the riverbank.
7pm - : Spiral Stairs (Scott Kannberg from Pavement) (US) at Dürer Kert
Christopher Scott Kannberg is best known for being a founding member of the indie-rock band Pavement. On Sunday evening he brings the newest album of his Spiral Stairs project to Budapest’s Dürer Kert as part of his autumn Europe tour.
7pm: UH Fest opening at Trafó
UH Fest – a festival dedicated to modern Magyar music – returns to Budapest in October with more than 40 concerts by both international and local music artists, lectures, workshops, and talks held at various venues around town. The opening night is held at Trafó with performances of the legendary Gudrun Gut and her Berlin-based mates Danielle De Picciotto, Barbara Morgenstern, and Sonae, as well as Swedish sound artist Ellen Arkbro, who starts the night with her intonation compositions. More details
8pm - 10pm: Chalaban – album launch at the Palace of Arts
On Sunday evening, Chalaban presents their new album, “Gleimim”, which is a nickname of Saïd Tichiti’s hometown, Guelmim, in Morocco. The city lies on the cusp of the desert, and is a melting pot of Berber, Arab, and African cultures. The band was formed in Budapest 19 years ago, and combines the traditions of the band members’ homeland with music from the Carpathian Basin. Their new album sees a return to their African roots, with the discovery of South Moroccan musical influences. While the lyrics talk of homesickness, spirituality and love, the music shows traces of desert blues, Afrobeat, and trance music.
