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, 20 October
360 Design Budapest 2023
Between 17 and 22 October, 360 Design Budapest will bring outstanding works of local and regional product designers, industrial artists, and fine artists to downtown Adria Palace. You can browse an array of insanely cool products and brands, join exclusive guided tours, and chat with designers.
Sign up here.
Pizza&Vino Garden Party at Ensō
Enso is a hidden gem of a restaurant in Budapest's 8th district with an atmosphere of Japanese izakayas and Asian-inspired food. They have dazzled us with impeccable duck ramen for three years, and the anniversary calls for a celebration. They cooked up a special event for 19 and 20 October, involving pizza and wine. But picture this pizza with kimchi, katsuobushi, or silken tofu on top! Wash them down with natural wines.
The event is planned to take place outdoors. In case of bad weather, you can seek cover at wine bar Bar Bizarre.
More details here.
Garden of Lights – Alice in Wonderland Immersive Exhibition
The 250-year-old ELTE Botanical Gardens welcomed a new multimedia exhibition, which will definitely brighten any chilly and gloomy evening. From 20 October, you can go down the rabbit hole (and along a 52-metre light tunnel) and immerse yourself in the fairytale world of the Garden of Lights! Walking around, you can explore a realm evoking the surreal world of Alice in Wonderland: meet the Cheshire Cat, talk to the Caterpillar, and experience how poor the world would be without imagination at a Mad Tea Party! Have a sneak peek here.
More details and tickets here.
Decolonize Your Mind Society
The Decolonize Your Mind Society stands out as a one-of-a-kind psychedelic microtonal band, the only one of its kind in the region. Founded in 2018 by Hungarian musician Bálint Szabó, the band quickly gained attention and acclaim, not just within Hungary but on a global scale, thanks to their debut album released in 2020. Their music, deeply rooted in non-Western cultures and characterized by non-standard tunings and psychedelic ritual influences, is a unique experience. Beyond showcasing compositions from their previous releases, their Trubina debut promises unexpected surprises, adding to the intrigue of their musical journey.
Get tickets here.
Saturday, 21 October
Harvest Celebration and Farmers' Market
It's harvest season, which will be marked with a vibrant, family-friendly celebration at Hunyadi tér Market. In the morning (10 am - 10:40 am), you can enjoy Hungarian folk dance, then join a traditional dance house. Children will be invited to try activities in a dedicated, harvest-themed playing area (10 am - 1 pm). Besides, the tables will be filled with goods from local producers, including grapes, wine, cheese (serving as great nibbles to wine), and other delicacies.
Cinemira Teen – International Children's and Youth Film Festival 2023
Cinemira Teen is an international children's and youth film festival, which piles up and presents the best films addressing important topics about children's lives. Though most international films don't receive English subtitles, on 21 October, you can watch the Sundance prizewinning Scrapper in its original (English) language. The story is about 'Georgie, a dreamy 12-year-old girl, who lives happily alone in her London flat, filling it with magic. Suddenly, her estranged father turns up and forces her to confront reality.' IMDB
Get tickets here or on the spot.
Szimpla Craft Fair
This Saturday, 21 October, local designers' beauty products, home furnishings, gifts, delicacies and many other goodies will fill the courtyard of Szimpla Kert. The 'Kraft' Craft Fair is a perfect opportunity to see Budapest's most famous ruin bar from a different perspective.
More details here.
English Stand-Up Comedy with Shahak Shapira
The Hot Paprika Comedy team of Bangladeshi student Tauseef Parvez and former senior ad exec Rupert Slade, both comics in their own right, are getting ready for another great show. On 21 October, their special guest will be Shahak Shapira, an Israel-born, Berlin-based comedian. 'Shahak is mostly known for things that have nothing to do with comedy, such as his art projects YOLOCAUST, #HeyTwitter and the 90's BOILER ROOM. He was the head writer and host of his own sketch comedy show 'Shapira Shapira' on a public German TV channel, toured all over Germany with his first standup special 'German Humor', recorded another one for Comedy Central, and wrote two best-selling books with over 80k sold copies.' Don't miss out!
Get tickets here.
BeThrifty Vintage Kilo Sale – October
Europe's coolest vintage sales series BeThrifty is returning to Budapest's Tesla Loft between 21 and 22 October. They offer the biggest and best selection of vintage and recycled clothes, which you can buy on a kilo-basis. So if you enjoy a good treasure hunt, make your way to Kazinczy utca at the weekend.
Reclaim a free ticket here.
Feledi Project: Cosmic Conflict / Created World / Missa Duodecima
Be part of a magical ballet performance at Budapest's cultural hub, Müpa! The choreography of Cosmic Conflict is based on Szentpáli’s The Wind and the Sun, an award-winner of Müpa Budapest’s 2020 Composition Competition. The ballet follows the story of the Greek fabulist Aesop, in which the Sun proves to the North Wind that persuasion is more effective than coercion. The performance will lead you into the world of spirituality: the combination of sung words and movements evokes the endlessness of nature, our despairs, joys and sorrows, while all this is given a voice by György Orbán’s music with playfulness and plenty of charm and magic.
Get tickets here.
Oktoberfest in Óbuda
Beer, food, and music are all flowing at this Hungarian-styled Oktoberfest! Óbuda's new bar and pizza spot Átszálló is bringing the gastronomic essentials of the Bavarian celebrations: pints of draught beer, grilled sausages with Dijon mustard, pickles, and sourdough bread, Frankfurt soup, pressed knuckle with Viennese potato salad, pretzel, and plates packed with Hungarian bacon, paprika Salami, Serrano ham, Liptauer Cheese, and bread.
Book a table here.
Lumina Park – Opening
Last year, a new attraction landed in Budapest for the Christmas holidays – the spectacular travelling light exhibition Lumina Park. Luckily it has just returned for this season, allowing you to wander among a new set of incredible light installations. The location is the Palatinus Open-air Baths on Margaret Island, so besides your camera, pack some extra layers of clothing, too.
Get tickets here and a sneak peek here.
Monday, 23 October
Bank Holiday: October 23rd Celebrations
23 October is a national holiday commemorating the uprising by Hungarians against the Soviet regime on this day in 1956. On this occasion, historic locations across Budapest welcome the public to observe the legacy of the Magyars’ struggle against Soviet rule in the exact places where the revolution occurred. The day traditionally starts with a solemn flag-raising ceremony outside Parliament on Kossuth tér, followed by various free museum openings – from the Parliament to the House of Terror.
More details here.
De Markt x Kommenzi Vinyl Fair
The era of vinyl is back, which we welcome with open arms. The organising team of the upcoming vinyl market, De Markt fairs, is also a huge advocate for the genre, so they make sure you get your records, CDs, cassettes and merch in Kőbánya on October 23rd. Kommenzi will be responsible for the all-day accompanying programmes and the evening dance.
More details here (Hungarian-only).
Candlelit Dinner at the Quay
The 2023 season of the car-free Quay is drawing to an end, and you can bid farewell to it at a lovely community event. From 5:30 pm, come and settle down at a long table, laid with the Hungarian speciality zsíroskenyér (bread covered in lard and served with sweet paprika and red onion slices) and hot tea. Candles and music will make the evening a perfect one.
More details here (Hungarian-only).
LaBrassBanda (DE)
LaBrassBanda is more than a typical German band associated with beer festivals. Their style is a mixture of modern Bavarian folk music, ska, punk, techno, reggae, and wind instruments. They like being inspired by different cultures, resulting in unique tones. They are quirky (have you seen anyone else performing atop a tractor?) but loveable, and now they are coming to Budapest's downtown Akvárium Klub on 23 October.
Get tickets here.
