Friday
5pm – 10pm: Friday at A38
When you just want to chill out under the clouds, drum ‘n’ bass is the best for some background music. And the DJs of Bladerunnaz are ambassadors of the genre in Budapest. When they come together on the panoramic terrace of the A38 Ship, where cocktails sell on a twofer basis, a good mood is guaranteed. Friday makes you forget about the troubles of the week sets you up for the weekend.
6pm – Akvárium Terrace Summer Sessions at Akvárium Klub
A warm summer evening, a glass of wine in hand, a group of friends or your special someone and mellow beats in the heart of Budapest. Does it get any better? Akvárium Klub on Erzsébet tér shakes up summer evenings with gigs by up-and-coming artists on the terrace. On Friday it’s the turn of house DJ Stereostrip.
7pm - : The Whisky Robber (A Viszkis) with English subtitles at the Budapest Rooftop Cinema
After officials ordered the closure of the Corvin Club party venue, former hosts of the English-friendly Rooftop Cinema series, the terrace at the Corvin Plaza will be everyone’s favourite alfresco picture palace from this weekend onwards. On Friday, a Hungarian hit movie tells the strange-but-true story of Attila Ambrus, Hungary’s Whisky Robber, (in)famous for committing 30 robberies around Budapest in the ’90s, each after knocking back a glass – or two – of Johnnie Walker. Read more about him in our interview. On Saturday, UK multi-plot comedy Love Actually screens here.
7pm - 3am: Seb Wildblood ~ mhmm at PONTOON
PONTOON is everything you love about the Budapest summer all in one place: cool company, cold drinks, hammocks, a perfect panorama and pizza, all right by the river. On Friday night, Seb Wildblood mingles mellow jazz beats with house here.
8pm - : Giuseppe Verdi: Rigoletto Opera Premiere at the Margaret Island Open-Air Stage
As a major opera premiere of the 2018 Budapest Summer Festival, this Verdi masterpiece tells the tragic story about licentious Duke of Mantua and his hunchbacked court jester Rigoletto, who is also the father of a pure and innocent girl, Gilda. Italian baritone Giuseppe Altomare stars in the title role, while The Duke of Mantua is played by renowned Mexican operatic tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz. The performance takes place on Friday and again on Sunday at the Margaret Island Open-Air Theatre. More details
Saturday
8am - 2pm: Czakó Piacz at Czakó Kert
A farmers’ market full of friendly vendors awaits visitors in the lovely garden of an old Hungarian peasant house, bringing the atmosphere of the countryside to Budapest. Stalls offer organic products, vegetables, eggs, mouthwatering meats, handcrafted cheeses, wild mushrooms and countless unique specialities unavailable elsewhere in the capital. The chef at Czakó Kert prepares breakfast and lunchfrom the delicacies on sale here while the market is open.
9am - : Liberty Bridge picnic at the Liberty Bridge
This will be the last weekend to have Budapest’s Liberty Bridge to yourselves. This historic span is once again closed to car traffic on four weekends this summer, and this will be the fourth. The party is usually great here, with local bands, flamenco and swing dancers, Zumba and yoga instructors and all kinds of wannabe artists entertaining crowds. So bring your mates and have one last blast on the bridge this summer. More details
Noon - 11pm: Generali Night Run at the Várkert Bazaar
On Saturday you can discover stunning Budapest at night while getting some exercise. The run takes joggers up to the Buda Castle and along the Danube, offering participants a great opportunity to see the city lights, beautiful bridges, the Buda Castle Funicular, Várkert Bazár and Parliament sweeping by. You can still sign up for the race on Saturday at the Várkert Bazaar. More details (in Hungarian)
3pm - : Paul Kalkbrenner at Budapest Park
On Saturday, Berlin-based electronic-music producer Paul Kalkbrenner rocks Budapest Park with an amazing live gig. Considered more of a live act than a DJ, he often breaks down his tracks into elements that are then reassembled onstage, so expect something special here. More details
11pm - Ramin Sayyah at Lärm
Ramin Sayyah initially moved from Teheran to Budapest to study. Now he is the one giving lessons about analogue electronic music to his Budapest audience. The father of the Analogue Soul party series will play a full night at Lärm on Saturday.
Sunday
9am - Budapest Voices Charity Lunch at Szimpla Kert
The members of Budapest Voices choir group will participate in a charity cooking session at Szimpla Háztáji on Sunday. By buying their dishes, you support UNICEF and their education programme for schoolchildren, with lessons on human rights and activism.
11am - 4pm: Pet Adoption Day at Kertem
If you are planning to take on a four-legged friend in Budapest, you can head to Kertem on Sunday, where an animal rescue society awaits with answers to your questions, and with whippets and greyhounds wishing for a sweet home.
11am - 9pm: WAMP Design Fair at Erzsébet tér
WAMP is a regular community event and design fair, a meeting place for creative and trendsetting young talent. For this event, local designers showcase their limited-edition collections offering clothes, jewellery, bags and other accessories on central Erzsébet tér, so if there is anything missing from your festival outfit, this is the perfect opportunity to buy it from independent Hungarian fashion and product designers.
5pm - : Jason Derulo at Budapest Park
On Sunday, the city’s main outdoor live-music venue, Budapest Park, welcomes one of the most popular pop and R&B singers, Jason Derulo. The Swalla star will throw a huge alfresco party at this mini-festival venue, delivering chart hits such as Talk Dirty, Want To Want Me and Ridin’ Solo.
8pm - : ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead at A38
In August, scores of cool concerts will be rocking the A38 Ship, a repurposed Ukrainian cargo vessel that is today one of the hottest hangouts in Budapest. Parties aboard are plenty; on Sunday,Texas-based alternative rock band …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead take the stage.
