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, 19 May
Corvin Summer Opening Beer Festival
At the seventh annual Corvin Summer Opening Beer Festival,
running between 18-22 May, you can neck IPAs, EPAs, APAs, fruit beer or unfiltered wheat varieties with abandon.
In addition to drinks, the exhibitors are also laying on delicious beer snacks. Among many others, brews by Fehér Nyúl, the Fót Craft Brewery and Czech Holba all feature. Event details
Megáll az idő/Time Stands Still
Hungarian classics are screened with English subtitles at the wonderfully retro Bem cinema, such as this cult feature from 1982. Set in the wake of the 1956 Uprising, it focuses on a group of rebellious Budapest teenagers who dance to Elvis and dream of the West. Showtime is 6pm, admission 1,500 forints. Event details
Friday, 20 May
Hooverphonic
Since the band started more than 25 years ago, Hooverphonic have always been keen to experiment with elements from several genres, poppy and psychedelic notes fusing with their initial dark trip hop. Joining founding members Alex Callier and Raymond Geerts, singer Geike Arnaert returned in 2020. Expect tunes from the classic The Magnificent Tree album, and even older numbers. Supporting will be Budapest's downtempo Belau, exponents of electronica, trip hop and chillwave. Event details
Kaukázus
Award-winning Kaukázus hail the coming of summer and this year's concert season at Kobuci Kert. In addition to the old hits, songs from the band's new album Lux will also be performed, including the song from this year's RoadMovie video, Ez a Te Magyarországod. Guests are Möbius. Event details
HVOB
Sell-out dates across Europe, in Berlin, Prague and Amsterdam, hint at the huge popularity of Her Voice Over Boys, aka Viennese electronic duo HVOB. Anna Müller and Paul Wallner have visited Budapest several times, each date a special experience. The sound of the band is brittle, mechanical and warm at the same time, full of emotion, which creates a magical mix. The band's fifth studio album, TOO, was released in April, bringing them to the Akvárium Klub on 20 May. Event details
Art Cinema Night
Five classic Budapest cinemas, 14 screening rooms, one night and well over 50 films, most of them screened in English with Hungarian subtitles – oh, and a single, across-the-board admission price of 3,800 forints! Participating venues for Art Cinema Night are the Művész, Puskin, Toldi, Kino Café and Tabán, where you can see acclaimed recent features such as Belfast, Dune, Spencer and House of Gucci. Performances start around 6pm and last showings are at around 3am. The Hungarian-only schedule should be fairly easy to work – just click through the film you're interested in. Event details
Saturday, 21 May
Prémium Art Fair
The B32 Gallery and Cultural Space on trendy Bartók Béla út will be filled with kiosks for this art fair on 21 May. More than 40 contemporary artists exhibit their wares. While browsing through the selection of goods, you can also support Ukrainian refugees by purchasing the unique Japanese kokeshi dolls on display. Event details
Taste Åland
Every year, the Finnish Embassy stages a gastronomic festival. For 2022, the theme is Åland, an archipelago currently celebrating a centenary of autonomous rule. As well special local dishes prepared by visiting chefs, there will be an photo exhibition also presenting the works of Åland poets Carina Karlsson, Sanna Tahvanainen and Katarina Gäddnäs, live music, Finnish bowling and a yard sale of used Finnish artefacts. The event is free but all other proceeds will be going towards helping children in Ukraine. Event details
Tea Day at Flying Bird
International
Tea Day is 21 May and to mark the occasion, the Flying Bird Tea House awaits with a full day of tastings, demonstrations and
other activities. At the matcha table, you can
learn all about the origins and preparation of this popular drink, with similar presentations at the gongfu, senchado and ganpao tables. Krisztián Bokor will be dedicating editions of
his poetry while Máté Bánki demonstrates
the beauty of calligraphy in tea script. Event details
Magic
Garden light show
The date of 21 May marks the 250th anniversary of
the founding of the ELTE Botanical Gardens. For the occasion, visitors can
enjoy a special light show, featuring the shapes and
textures of the garden's plants, perfect for those
who want to see their spectacular charm. Event
details
Sunday, 22 May
SHUK SHUK Design Fair
Design, fine arts, fashion and much more – after a successful inaugural event last November, SHUK SHUK, Budapest's youngest design fair, sets up again in May. This time round, SHUK SHUK vendors gather to showcase and sell their exciting creations at the Turbina Cultural Centre. In between purchases, while browsing for inspiration, you can sip a cool, fresh Turbina lemonade especially mixed for the occasion. Event details
Lidokain Klub
Another party Sunday on the deck of the good ship A38, this time in the company of resident DJs Naga, Zvezda Beta and Peter Bernath. Part of the Sunset Raves series, the Lidokain Klub starts at 5pm (HUF 1,000), with a dusk session from 7pm-10pm (HUF 1,500). Event details
Waiting for Waiting for Godot
In this new take on the Beckett standard, two understudies are waiting for their chance to take to the stage and wait for Godot themselves. This one-act play in English, written by Dave Hanson, features Roderick Hill and Ralph Berkin. Shows are on the 22 and 29 May, at the cultish Három Holló Café. Tickets available here. See our feature article on Budapest theatre company Artificial Moon here. Event details
