Friday
5pm - : Borjour Bubbles at Stefánia Palota
For this themed tasting event, the Borjour community for oenophiles prepare fine fizzy drinks from more than 20 Hungarian cellars and 13 champagne houses. Sparkling champagnes, proseccos, crémants and cavas await. The sampling takes place at the neo-Baroque Stefánia Palace in District XIV (Stefánia út 34-36).
7:30pm - : Muzsikás Christmas concert at Müpa
Renowned Hungarian folk group Muzsikás play Müpa, the main contemporary cultural venue on the Pest riverfront. The ensemble will be joined by dancers and the Folks of Bengal band from India. Guests can also try the Müpa ice rink set up in front of the building. Take scenic tram 2 from the Danube Promenade to get there.
7:30pm - : Qualitons & Deep Glaze concert at the Akvárium Klub
Hungarian band Qualitons blend distinct funk-rock tunes with psychedelic sounds and improvisation. The group’s sound is unique for Hungary and the region. For their Friday night show at the central Akvárium Klub, the combo are joined by young indie rockers Deep Glaze.
11pm - : Crisis – Martyn at Lärm
Inner-city underground electronic-music club Lärm hosts Martyn, a Dutch DJ who masterfully fuses drum ’n’ bass with dubstep. In his music, Martyn also incorporates elements of techno and jungle. He now brings the best sets of his career to a Budapest audience.
Saturday
7pm-11pm: The Trousers, Peter Kovary & The Royal Rebels at Robot
In circulation for ten years or more, enthusiastic rockers The Trousers play underground club Robot in this party vortex. A fifth album from the band, entitled Invisible Darkness, was released earlier this year, prefaced by the video Dancer from the Dance. The show would not be complete without the appearance of Peter Kovary & The Royal Rebels, a band that often join The Trousers on stage.
7:30pm - : Kéknyúl concert at the Akvárium Klub
Inspired by the soul and funk tunes of the ’70s, music by the Hungarian band Kéknyúl will fill the Akvárium Klub in the city centre. To celebrate the band’s tenth anniversary and new album release, singer Andrew Hefler, originally from Los Angeles, performs alongside Mátyás Premecz, who plays his trademark Hammond organ.
8pm-11pm: King of Punk movie screening and concerts at Gólya
Crumbling walls, old-school rugs, ramshackle sofas and vintage posters make Gólya a one-of-a-kind communal hangout in District VIII. Come here on Saturday to see King of Punk, a documentary about dear departed Dee Dee Ramone, bass player with the legendary Ramones. Concerts are scheduled before and after the film.
8pm - : Jazzaj Extra at Big Lumen
Three intriguing musicians team up for a special Saturday show, in which the unexpected should be brought to the fore. André Vida, the now Berlin-based, New York saxophone player, formed a duo with Ernő Zoltán Rubik in 2013. They are now joined by Áron Porteleki, emblematic of the new generation in the Hungarian improv and contemporary dance scene.
8pm - : Kerekes Band, Zuboly, Szeder pre-New Year’s Eve concert at Fonó Music Hall
A trio of local bands give a joint pre-New Year’s Eve concert on 29 December at the Fonó Budai Zeneház. Kerekes Band combine folk music with funk, blending them into their own unique genre they call ethnofunk. Zuboly also draw inspiration from Hungarian folk, but then mix it with hip hop, while singer-songwriter Szeder-Szabó Krisztina, aka Szeder, brings chansons, jazz and folk vibes.
Sunday
4pm-6:30pm : PomPom X Jazz’nBass pre-NYE party – the family rave at Anker’t
A year-ending party for kids? PomPom People and Jazz’n’bass bring such an event to Anker’t, where children can jump and dance to bouncy tunes. Dance lessons, a confetti party, UV face-painting and creative workshops await young ones and their parents for this pre-NYE party downtown.
4pm - : Cruisin X Truesounds – pre New Year’s Eve boat party at Európa Hajó
Party boat Európa sets sail one last time in 2018 for a pre-New Year’s Eve party featuring nothing but techno and house music. The line-up includes Davko, Gregory S, Justrice, Marco Grandi, Peter Makto, and Yvel & Tristan.
4:35pm - : Christmas tram setting off from Jászai Mari tér
Frequently cited as the world’s most panoramic route, tram 2 makes travelling merry in Budapest during the holiday season, when the streetcar is enhanced with sparkling LED lights. This special Christmastime carriage connects Jászai Mari tér with Közvágóhíd, following the curve of the Danube. A journey aboard the glittering tram is accessible with regular public-transport tickets and passes. See here for the schedule.
6pm - : Us and walls don’t really get along exhibition at the Három Holló Café
Thousands of physically challenged people live in Hungary. They go to work, university, the theatre and enjoy the great outdoors but they often find themselves fenced in by stereotypes. In this exhibition, artists have collaborated with members of a disability rights organisation to make people confront these hidden assumptions. The group worked closely with the young creatives to base the display on real conversations.
7pm - : The Shawshank Redemption at the Bem Cinema
Banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to life for the murder of his wife and her lover, even though he stubbornly proclaims his innocence. He arrives at the Shawshank State Penitentiary, where he has to face the brutalities of prison life. There he befriends Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding (Morgan Freeman). The two bond over the years, forming a meaningful connection and finding solace. The movie is screened in English with Hungarian subtitles.
11pm - : Pre-NYE with Kollektiv Turmstrasse at the Akvárium Klub
Popular German techno music artists, Kollektiv Turmstrasse, return to the Akvárium Klub to shake the house the day before New Year’s Eve. The line-up also features the Hungarian Secret Factory and tech-house group Poli.
