Friday, 29 November
K11 Conversation Club
If you're an expat living in Hungary, eager to learn Hungarian, here's a fun and interactive way. K11 Conversation Club, in downtown Budapest, is open to beginners who are just starting to learn the language. You can indulge in a 1.5-hour-long chat in small groups, with a maximum of 15 people, held by a teacher from the Hungarian Language School. Next up, they are gathering on 29th November!
Pannon Philharmonic: Kaddish
Join a special performance at the Müpa Budapest on 29th November! Kaddish is set to remember the Holocaust, mourn all that was lost and offer healing with the power of music. It was eighty years ago that the Holocaust reached its terrible peak, and all remain puzzled to this day as to how such a thing could have taken place in an enlightened Europe. But the Jewish tradition is not silent: the Kaddish funeral hymn has accompanied the mourning period for thousands of years and, despite the loss, upliftingly entrusts the dead to God's benevolence. Art has not remained silent either, as several composers have crafted musical treatments of this text.
Get tickets here.
Indie Party: Tesco Disco at Akvárium Klub
If Mr. Brightside, R U Mine?, and Take Me Out speak to your indie heart, get on your dancing shoes, and head to downtown Akvárium Klub for a laidback party. You'll have all the best alternative hits to dance and sing to, and there'll be no reason to stop until dawn!
Get tickets here.
Saturday, 30 November
Exhibition: Hungarian fashion photography
Budapest's 1st district has long been – and still is – a hub for fashion photography, offering a unique space where historical traditions meet modern urban life. Opening on 28th November, this new exhibition at Virág Benedek Ház (at the foot of Buda Castle) offers a diverse selection of fashion photographs from the past, shot in the district. They all serve as witnesses of time gone by, giving you a glimpse into what was cool in the past decades. You can also see displayed garments and accessories that are featured in those images. The exhibition is free and is open until 15th February 2025.
Details here (Hungarian-only).
Art Weekend Budapest 2024
On the first weekend of Advent (29 November – 1 December), Art Weekend Budapest kicks off as the final major contemporary art event of the year, with over 30 galleries, studios, and exhibition spaces joining in. The free program series features guided art walks on multiple routes (three times daily), with 15-20 minute tours at each stop. In addition, special tours feature successful figures from various fields – such as fashion designers, psychologists, and contemporary dancers – to share their insights on artworks in dialogue with guides. The weekend also offers exciting programs: on 30th November, enjoy a Film Night, join educational activities at Képező Gallery, and see the event's central exhibition at Bura Gallery, showcasing works by young Roma artists.
Details here.
Hungarian cinema: Circus Siblings
The feature-length documentary Circus Siblings tells the story of a unique Hungarian circus artist class that earned the chance to study abroad. That ultimately led them to the Kyiv Academy of Circus and Variety Arts. Directed by Glória Halász, the film will be screened on Saturday, 30th November, at 7 pm at Cirko-Gejzír Cinema with English subtitles, followed by a special audience Q&A session.
Get tickets here.
Friendsgiving at 360 Bar
If gathering with friends above the city sounds like your kind of Thanksgiving, you'll love 360 Bar's Friendsgiving event. Sit around a table in an igloo, peer out occasionally at Andrássy Avenue, St Stephen's Basilica and more iconic landmarks, pick the sharing option to nibble on delicious bites, and clink your glasses – top-notch signature cocktails are on offer!
Book a table here.
Sunday, 1 December
Exhibition: Munkácsy – Story of a worldwide sensation
Mihály Munkácsy is a world-renowned Hungarian painter from the 19th century. He is most famous for his genre pictures and biblical paintings. Now, you can get to know his work at the gorgeous Museum of Fine Arts, where a large-scale exhibition opened to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the birth and 125th anniversary of the death of the artist. It features more than a hundred works of art, archival photographs, documents, and cult objects, which help to gain an even better understanding of the life, achievements and incomparably rich oeuvre of one of the most famous Hungarian painters.
Details here and tickets here.
Charity Santa Run 2024
Santa Run on Margaret Island is a tradition by now, not to mention that it's for a good cause. The organisers, LÁSS – an association for equal opportunities in sports for the visually impaired – are raising money for future sports events. So don your Santa hat (it comes with the registration for the race), and set off on a festive run: complete one round (5.35 km), two rounds, or try yourself at running 400 metres with your eyes covered.
Details and registration here (Hungarian-only).
Flamenco and Latin Jazz Night: Soul Strings
Warm your soul this Sunday withLatin rhythms and flamencoat the iconic Budapest Jazz Club, one of the main centres of Budapest's local live-music scenes! The essence of both genres is the hidden communication that can only be created through connection, attention, and mutual attunement.
Details here and tickets here.
(Cover photo: Márton Koncz - We Love Budapest)
