Thursday
6pm - 10pm: BETWIXT at the Akvárium Klub
BETWIXT is a progressive workshop showcasing contemporary electronic music with an emphasis on less mainstream but an exciting and stimulating range of subgenres. Marion will play d'n'b, slamjeez a liquid dnb set, trflshh her gently stroking 4/4 music and illben will provide his favourites mainly selected from German electronica.
8pm - : Nicola Benedetti at the Margaret Island Open-Air Stage
Nicola Benedetti, one of her generation’s most sought-after violin soloists, is playing in Hungary for the first time. Benedetti arrives in Budapest with the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, one of the best of its kind in the world, to play Detlev Glanert’s American Prelude No.1 and Mahler’s Symphony No.1 in D Major.
10pm - 4am: Britney Spears vs Justin Timberlake Night at Budapest Park
Don your best jean on jean outfit as the songs of the dream couple of the '90s, Britney and Justin, play all night on Thursday at Budapest Park. The first 500 guests get a free shot.
Friday
6pm - 1am: Nordic Metal Night at Dürer Kert
On Friday, the sixth edition of Nordic Metal Night takes place at Dürer Kert. The event brings six bands to Budapest from Australia, Romania, the Czech Republic and Austria, with a wide range of folk, epic and Nordic subgenres such as pirate metal, epic folk-pagan metal, pagan melodeath metal, extreme folk metal, Viking metal and folk doom metal.
10pm - 4am: Necc Party at Budapest Park
Don sassy socks, choker necklaces or baggy pants and a baseball cap as the songs of Eminem, the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Bon Jovi, the Spice Girls, Blink 182 and other treasures from the ’90s trash bag will be back again. Head to Budapest Park on Friday night, and zig-a-zig-ah with the coolest kids in town to the hottest retro hits.
11pm - 5am: Caliente at A38
Machos and mamacitas will be shaking it on the dance floor to the hottest Latino tunes on Friday night at the A38 Ship, where the best songs by Shakira, Ricky Martin, J Lo and others fill the sensual atmosphere.
Saturday
Noon - : Liberty Bridge Picnics at Liberty Bridge
On all four weekends of July, one of Budapest's most picturesque landmarks, Liberty Bridge, will be closed to traffic so people can enjoy spontaneous gatherings, concerts, BBQs, performances and just chilling directly over the Danube.
Noon - 6pm: Retro Fair at Szimpla Kert
On Saturday, the city's oldest ruin bar, Szimpla, holds a vinyl, CD and cassette fair. Entry is free, but if you also want to sell, registration is a must.
3pm - : Pride March at Kossuth Lajos tér
On Saturday, Budapest marches for Pride. A colourful crowd will gather by Parliament on Kossuth tés from 3pm, before the procession beings at 4pm, twisting on downtown streets all the way to Március 15 tér. The official afterparty takes place at Budapest Park.
Sunday
9am - : Pancs Gasztroplacc Farmer's Market at Élesztőház
This friendly farmer's market sets up at ruin pub Élesztőház to offer Hungarian produce such as seasonal fruit, vegetables, cheeses, hams, salamis, pastries, cordials, jams, juices and wine.
10am - : Thai Festival at Vajdahunyad Castle
On Sunday, a special venue – the sylvan setting of Budapest’s Vajdahunyad Castle – introduces guests to the culture, gastronomy and traditions of the Land of Smiles. Authentic Thai treats, dance performances and shows all feature.
Noon - : Markett Design Market at Big Lumen
Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Markett Design Market returns to the back garden of the Lumen Café on Sunday. From leather bags to swimsuits, a wide variety of hand-crafted goods made by Hungarian designers are presented for sale.
Movies screening
If you’d like to see English-friendly films, mainly blockbusters, your best bet is always Cinema City, especially the ones at Allee or Aréna, sometimes at Campona and WestEnd. Budapest’s art-house film theatres mainly focus on artsy and indie films, while the Bem Cinema brings back the classics to the big screen, almost always in English.
This weekend’s English-friendly film selection:
- In Toy Story 4, a new character called Forky joins Woody and the gang for a road trip alongside old and new friends, revealing how big the world can be for a toy. Shows at CinemaCity.
- The Secret Life of Pets 2 continues the story of Max and his animal friends, following their secret lives after their owners leave for work or school each day. Shows at CinemaCity.
- In Spider-Man: Far From Home, following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever. Shows at CinemaCity.
- Yesterday follows Jack, who wakes up after a bus accident to discover that the Beatles had never existed. Performing their songs to a world that has never heard them, Jack becomes on overnight sensation with a little help from his friends. Shows at CinemaCity and at art-house cinemas.
- A whole new world awaits in Aladdin, screening at Cinema City.
- The story of one of the X-Men’s most beloved characters, Jean Grey, evolving into the iconic Dark Phoenix in X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Showing at Cinema City Allee, Aréna, Campona and WestEnd.
- An epic musical fantasy about the uncensored human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years, Rocketman. Showing at Cinema City Allee, Aréna, Campona and WestEnd, as well as at art-house cinemas.
