Shows, concerts and cultural attractions – Budapest is always buzzing. Each week, we gather all of the important happenings taking place in our favourite city so you can plan ahead. Get out and get involved!

Thursday

;fbclid=IwAR1A0GCke22VPk-mBrBZXLdN2ZtMyXVrIErxHBFL3XuPKDmlWVwOuSB_-z8 6pm-11pm: Glass of Jazz vol 8 at the Budapest Jazz Club 
For the eighth time of asking, jazz buffs can also enjoy a long evening of wine tasting, with nine winemakers presenting their wares as the Szakcsi Jr Trio provide live music accompaniment. Tickets start at 8,000 forints.

7pm & 9pm:Paris de Nuit by Recirquel at Müpa 

With Paris De Nuit, acclaimed Hungarian contemporary-circus troupe Recirquel take their audience into the louche pre-war city. They reveal illusionary moments from the lives of prostitutes and illicit lovers who lived on the edges of society for an evening of lust, love and loneliness inspired by the famous Hungarian photographer, Brassaï. Part dance, part acrobatics and full of choreographic invention. The troupe give two performances this evening, at 7pm and 9pm.

8pm-11.30pm: Peet Project at Dürer Kert Successful Hungarian jazzsters Peet Project, aka The Bad Boys of Budapest, play songs from their new album at the Dürer Kert. Having won over America with their violin-inspired pop, funk and jazz, the crew now bring their breezy sounds back to the homeland.

Friday

7pm-9.30pm: VOICE LAB at Müpa  ‘From opera to beat box’ is the theme of this unique concert, part of the Transparent Sound Festival at Müpa. Trained opera singer Frauke Aulbert has mastered a number of traditional and contemporary urban vocal techniques. The so-called Hamburg Queen of the Avant-Garde has been invited to Budapest by Ernő Rubik, the jazz musician son of the famous inventor, to present the three main directions of her solo repertoire. Before the concert, Rubik will also hold a beatbox and vocal improvisation session.

8pm- Sarah Chaksad at the Opus Jazz Club Writer, composer and alto saxophonist Sarah Chaksad brings a multi-national septet to Budapest, Songlines, to showcase material due to appear on their upcoming album. This is not a line-up you see every day – Hildegunn Øiseth on goat horn, a prize-winning saxophonist from the Tyrol and Sarah Chaksad herself, known for her work leading the 15-piece International Female Musicians Collective. The Opus is one of Budapest’s best live venues, with a top-notch kitchen should you want a meal before the show.

10pm-5am:The Hive at Dürer Kert Highlight of this weekend’s electronica in town, Groningen-based DJ Fre4knc (somehow pronounced ‘Frequency’) returns to Budapest for a two-hour session of raw, dark drum and bass. A veteran of the festival season with appearances at Outlook and Blackout under his belt, Fre4knc releases his work through Dispatch Recordings in Leeds. Also on the bill are MVRK, Dub Personal, Unofficial: Horns, Filth Company and Crism.

Saturday

5pm-11.45pm: Indiana Jones marathon at Bem cinema Indulge in a night of pure entertainment with original audio screenings of the first three classic films in the Indiana Jones franchise. The product of a meeting between George Lucas and Steven Spielberg while they were taking relaxing after the global success of Star Wars and Close Encounters, the high-adventure Indiana Jones created an iconic figure out of Harrison Ford in a battered hat. Each film – Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom and the Last Crusade – runs for about two hours, with a 15-minute break in between. Screened in original English with Hungarian subtitles.

6.55pm-9pm: Berg: Wozzeck at Müpa

A live HD transmission from The Met, this new production showcases the production techniques of renowned animation artist William Kentridge, lending his stunning visuals to an opera dating back to World War I. A smash at the Salzburg Festival in 2017, this version of Alban Berg’s doom-laden look at conflict and everyday life in a German-speaking community features Swedish baritone Peter Mattei as Wozzeck. Currently earning rave reviews and attracting a packed house in New York.

7pm-9pm: HULD New Year concert at the Harmónia Palota Rendezvényközpont  This concert in the Neo-Renaissance surroundings of the Harmony Palace by the National Museum shows what happens when Sami joik music meets Norwegian language tones, mixed with the rich texture of Hungarian traditional music. This is the third HULD performance to take place in Hungary, having already opened the Budapest International Book Festival.

8pm-midnight: 12th anniversary show at the Budapest Jazz Club Fashioned out of a pre-war cinema near the Pest side of Margaret Bridge, the BJC has been listed among the best venues in DownBeat, and been graced by the likes of Ravi Coltrane, Stacey Kent, Joshua Redman and Lonnie Smith. The club also gives a platform to young talent, hosts several of Hungary’s main jazz events and its friendly café and restaurant are a great place to hang out before a show. Tonight is its 12th anniversary, with free admission and sets from the Elek István Quartet and the East Gipsy Band, and a BJC jam session with the István Gyárfás Trio.

Sunday

7am-4pm: Zúzmara Half Marathon and Running Festival at Hungexpo The chilly weather can’t stop dedicated joggers from getting together at the running tracks around the Hungexpo site on Sunday morning.There will be asphalt, concrete, grass and dirt surfaces for runs up to a half marathon of 21km. Snow isn’t expected this year – but braving the cold will still be part of the fun.

10am-4pm:Record & CD fair at Dürer Kert Hungary’s biggest vinyl and CD fair takes place at top punk/metal venue Dürer Kert, with some 70 vendors purveying secondhand product of all genres, as well as DVDs, books, posters and T-shirts. Those looking to set up their own stall should contact info@lemezpiac.com or call +36 70 606 5000. For browsers, admission is free.

2.30pm –:Peter Pan at the Duna Palota Back by popular demand after its successful debut in May 2019, Dance Craze Academy’s own amateur dramatics group will be performing Peter Pan, the Musical on Sunday. The prestigious Duna Palota Theatre will play host to this storybook world in a production filled with charming costumes, captivating music and colourful sets. As Academy founder Sandra Knibbs puts it: “With a lack of children’s English theatre in Budapest, we feel this is a great opportunity for families to see quality entertainment in a prestigious theatre in the city centre”. For ticket enquiries and purchase, contact sandra@dancecrazeacademy.com or call +36 30 919 8417.