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
7pm-11.30pm: Five Finger Death Punch at the Papp László Sportaréna
Five Finger Death Punch are currently embarked on their biggest European tour and call in at Budapest tonight. The leather-clad Las Vegas combo will be accompanied by platinum-selling metal legends Megadeth and rockers Bad Wolves. Venue is the spacious Papp László Sportaréna.
8pm-9.30pm: Krantz Carlock Lefebvre at Müpa
Having first played together as a jazz fusion trio more than 20 years ago, guitarist Wayne Krantz, drummer Keith Carlock and bassist Tim Lefebvre have come a long way since those early shows at the 55 Bar in New York. Session musicians on David Bowie’s last album, Blackstar, KCL have an impeccable pedigree, having also played with Sting and Steely Dan. A recent reunion has sparked a series of live dates.
8pm-2am: Duckshell Carnival at Dürer Kert
Hungarian world music band Duckshell lead the audience on a merry dance for their Carnival night at the Dürer Kert. Formed in 2017, throw in Latin rhythms to their Hungarian folk repertoire, keeping things ethnic and danceable. Support will be provided by Giliszta and HuskyJoe, who then takes to the DJ decks before midnight.
Friday
7pm-8pm: New Liszt Ferenc Chamber Choir Tenth anniversary concert at the Franz Liszt Music Academy
Carefully selected pieces by Kodály, Arvo Pärt and, of course, Liszt himself, among several others, will be performed by the New Liszt Ferenc Chamber Choir to celebrate their tenth anniversary conducted by Péter Erdei and László Norbert Nemes. Admission is free.
7pm-10pm: Monuments at the Akvárium Klub
UK progressive metal band Monuments perform their latest and most innovative record at the Akvárium Klub, fronted by a new singer, Andy Cizek. Guests will be compatriot metalcore band Heart of a Coward, bringing their latest album The Disconnect, as well as Aussies I Built the Sky.
8pm-10.30pm: Borbély Balkan Jazz Project featuring Mihály Dresch at the Budapest Jazz Club
Hungary’s foremost interpreter of jazz, Mihály Dresch, teams up with fellow saxophonist Mihály Borbély for a night of inventive improve. Balkan touches will be provided by bouzouki player Mihály György and accordionist Agatics Krunoszláv.
8pm-11pm: Carson Coma at the Dürer Kert
The second annual retro party by dance band Carson Coma brings the best songs from the beat generation, the hippy era and dance festivals to the Dürer Kert on Friday night. Last year’s big hits, the uncrowned queen of Hungarian alt rock, Bori of Péterfy Bori & Love Band and Iván Vitári from Ivan & The Parazol have again been invited to tread the boards.
Saturday
Noon-midnight: ELTE Movie Marathon at the Bem cinema
The diversity of the mind is the theme of this year’s annual ELTE Movie Marathon at the Bem cinema. Five films are being screened in all, four in original English, the first, the Oscar-nominated On Body and Soul, in Hungarian with English subtitles. This will be followed by Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar-winning Rain Man with Dustin Hoffman, the psychological dance horror Black Swan and the cult classic Fight Club with Edward Norton and Brad Pitt. A five-movie pass costs 4,000 forints.
5pm-9pm: Hungarian Day of Ice Skating at the City Park rink
On 22 February, the Városliget Skating Rink opens its doors for a single day, welcoming anyone to enjoy free skating lessons, fun games and other exciting events. You can expect a vibrant atmosphere with lively music and appearances from renowned Hungarian skaters.
6pm-7pm: Hungarian Folk Tales by the Bozsik Yvette Company at Müpa Choreographed by the dancers themselves, this premiere of a contemporary dance show for children delves into Hungarian folk lore to showcase shared wisdom and tradition. Having already presented popular shows such as Puss in Boots and Pinocchio, this acclaimed company are adept at tailoring their art for younger audiences. The performance will also be staged at 11am and 3pm on Sunday.
11pm- : Stranger Synths Upside Down Carnival at the Dürer Kert
Party upside down at this special retro party inspired by the Netflix hit series Stranger Things. Dürer Kert turns into Hawkins with the best songs from the ’80s and current hits in a retro-flavoured DJ-set, hosted all night long by Quixotic, the main pioneer of the Hungarian retrowave scene. Dress up as Hopper or Eleven from Stranger Things, or anyone iconic from the ’80s or ’90s eras, such as Marty McFly, Rambo or the Terminator to win the night’s costume contest. You can register on the night, but get here early.
Sunday
10am-3pm: Wardrobe Fair at the Dürer Kert
Refresh your wardrobe with cheap, vintage and secondhand items, or get rid of your old clothes, bags and accessories. Free for shoppers, vendors should apply to gardrobkv@gmail.com.
11am-6pm: Vegan Sunday Market at ELLÁTÓház
The regular communal vegan market can be found at a new location on 23 February, the ELLÁTÓház. Here you can purchase, among many other things, sausages, cheese, sweets, handmade cosmetics and delicious dishes – all vegan of course. Besides the organic goods, organisers prepare cooking workshops, round-table discussions and other activities. The event is child- and dog-friendly.
7pm-11pm: Obscura, God Dethroned, Thulcandra and Fractal Universe at Dürer Kert
Settle in for a Sunday night of Teutonic death metal from Obscura – fresh from completing their four-album concept work inspired by oceanic floods – backed by their Benelux touring partners and musical empathisers God Dethroned. Thulcandra and Fractal Universe provide warm-up.
7pm- : Alcest, Birds in Row & Kaelan Mikla at the A38 Ship
All the way from Bagnols-sur-Cèze in the sunny south of France, Alcest were originally a one-man band, Neige, aka Stéphane Paut, before he teamed up with Winterhalter, aka Jean Deflandre. The hivernal duo teamed up with two other members to tour and record albums such as the recent Spiritual Instinct. Their modus operandi is blackgaze, a self-created genre embodying black metal and shoegazing. Compatriots Birds in Row bring hardcore from Laval while Kaelan Mikla hail from Iceland.
