On June 9th, classical, contemporary and folk music will spill out of Budapest’s balconies and inner courtyards to fill downtown streets and squares with melody. For the Night of Choirs, the stately Palotanegyed, the Palace Quarter behind the National Museum in District VIII, will be transformed into a grand stage for live concerts performed by local and international ensembles at ten venues. Events begin at 4pm and run until midnight. Community singing brings the day to a close.

On Saturday from 4pm, choral tunes will entertain passers-by around the palatial buildings of District VIII. Walkways spanning the Kálvin tér transport hub and Pollack Mihály tér will be transformed into musical thoroughfares, where choirs will be giving one-minute performances until 5pm. Chants and humming will be heard from doorways, while whistling groups congregate around the sculptures lining the route. This initiative, Singing Street, provides a little teaser for what will unfold nearby later that evening.

For the rest of the day, popular Palace Quarter square Mikszáth Kálmán tér and surroundings will be the centre of attractions, with a one-off admission charged. Gardens and inner courtyards, balconies and squares, are all among the venues hosting concerts until midnight. Locations include the open part of Lumen Café, the garden of the National Museum and the alfresco area of Szabó Ervin Library. Meanwhile, keep your ears open and your eyes peeled for flashmob shows.

Visitors can listen to folk songs performed by the Irish Lalala Choir, contemporary tunes by the Amsterdam Student Project Choir and enjoy pop music by the Budapest-based Street Art Choir. The event culminates in public singing from 11:30pm, when the audience can join participating ensembles for the closing song.

Tickets are available online (1,600 forints) from the Night of Choirs website or from information desks (2,000 forints) set up on June 9th.