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.
Friday, 9 June
Repertory farewell party & design fair
Repertory, the concept store of two Hungarian brands, Daige and Mama Kin, is closing its doors. But before that, they are throwing a 5-day-long farewell party (6-10 June), where you can get your hands on designer pieces with huge discounts. The participating brands are Daige, the Mama Kin, this is Redy, Greenway Candle, Paprika Keramika and AGNESKOVACS.
More details here.
Placc Festival 2023
Local and foreign breweries, new-wave street food, buttery pastries, and fiery spirits will all be on the menu at the upcoming Placc Festival. In the new cultural space of Margaret Island (called Kristály Színtér), you can taste more than 50 types of draught beer from 18 breweries, fuel up on Neapolitan-style pizza and speciality coffee in the Food Truck Corner, and see musicians perform on the stage. You can also opt for the Chillzone and sit back and relax on a beanbag.
Get tickets here or on the spot.
Alex Kelman (SK), Naqoy, Highbay
Alex Kelman blends psychedelic postpunk and electronic music with a '90s twist. This resuts in a mix of beautifully noisy guitars, catchy dance beats and rousing synthesizers, layered with captivating vocals. On June 9th, he will present his second album, Ilusia, to the Hungarian audience at the 8th district bar Auróra. Warming up the stage will be Hungarian Naqoy and Highbay.
The entry fee is HUF 2,000 (to be paid on the spot), more details here.
Asteroid City at the Művész Cinema
A new Wes Anderson film entered the scene, and you can watch it in English at the Művész Cinema (e.g. at 8:15 pm on Friday). So if you would rather sit in a comfy chair nibbling on popcorn and admiring pastel aesthetics instead of roaming the city in the rain, head to the Grand Boulevard!
Get tickets on the spot or on the Hungarian website.
Saturday, 10 June
Vállfa Fest – Alternative fashion show
On June 10th, Vállfa (Hanger) Project will bring designers and fashion aficionados together at an alternative show. The one-year-old project and the upcoming event promote ethical and sustainable fashion. You can meet the Vienna-based brand Kids of the Diaspora and Dezső, and learn more about Terike from Budapest (an online platform and magazine that collects works of fashion designer students and young designers). You can see a performance (and fantastic costumes) by Baltazár Theatre, a company that works with people with intellectual disability. Also, participants of the Vállfa Fest Competition will present their fashion design sets.
More details here.
Rosalia Wine Picnic
Picnic in the City Park filled with wine, pearl, sparkling wine, champagne, cheese plates, friends, and live music. Just head to the BalloonFly to enter the 12th Rosalia Festival (9-11 June), then get to know what's on offer in the booths of 40 wineries. Rosalia refers to rosés being the centre of attention, but worry not if you don't feel rosy: you can go white or red too. If you get peckish, you have street food options and Hungarian specialities. During the day, up-and-coming artists then well-known musicians perform then a DJ takes over the stage.
More details here.
Be Massive party
The Be Massive party series, an electronic music event popping up in unusual places, has been present in Budapest for 20 years. On June 10th, it will be back at the Hong Kong-inspired bar Badhanna. You can expect high-quality music and Metha, Robert Makai + Dubecticut and Abertura as resident DJs.
Book a table here.
Jónás Craft Fair
Right next to the lake and the ducks in Bikás Park, designers and artists will fill the space on June 10th. It might not be a downtown location, but Jónás Craft Fair will be worth a little trip: you can browse ceramics, jewellery and other goodies, then have lunch, accompanied by a pint of cold craft beer at Jónás.
See the list of the participating brands here.
Sunday, 11 June
Makers' Market
The Makers' Market Budapest is a monthly fair where you can get your hands on contemporary, artsy and designer products by Hungarian designers. While at it, you can also chat with them and learn more about the items, which can also make beautiful presents. Their upcoming event is on June 11th (10 am - 5 pm), and apart from stocking up on super cool designer products, you can also join workshops and listen to live acoustic music at the Fény utca Market.
To Kill a Mockingbird at Bem Cinema
If you feel like going retro and watching a black-and-white movie while discovering an authentic cinema, head to 'Margit híd, budai hídfő' (Buda side of the Margaret Bridge) on Sunday. Starting at 7 pm, the film 'To Kill a Mockingbird' will be screened at the Bem cinema in its original language.
More details here.
Danube Carnival
Learn about Hungary's rich folk dance and music heritage at the Danube Carnival (8-11 June)! This international cultural festival brings national ensembles, music bands and foreign guest performers under one roof to showcase the most different types of folklore traditions from around the world. On Sunday (3 pm), you can join a vibrant parade and march from Városháza Park to the garden of the Hungarian National Museum, then see the Dance Gala with Hungarian and international dance and music groups (4 pm, National Museum - garden).
See the rest of the programme here.
