As Müpa celebrates its 20th anniversary, the cultural landmark marks the winter season with a programme that blends tradition, innovation and a sense of celebration. From uplifting New Year’s concerts to meditative January rituals, British classics and long-awaited contemporary stars, the anniversary line-up offers something special for every music lover. We’ve selected some of the highlights to enjoy as the new year begins.

Begin the year with two New Year’s concerts

Müpa opens 2026 with a festive double programme. In the afternoon, the New Year's Concert for Young People introduces audiences of all ages to the world of classical music in a playful, engaging way — a tradition that has become a cornerstone of the venue's family events. Later in the evening, the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall hosts a majestic performance of Haydn's The Creation, a luminous oratorio that feels especially fitting for the first night of the year. Performed by leading soloists, choir and orchestra, it promises a stirring musical opening for 2026.

Details here and here

Peer Gynt at Müpa with the Ballet Company of Győr

Among Müpa’s anniversary-season highlights is the Ballet Company of Győr’s acclaimed production of Peer Gynt, which takes to the Festival Theatre stage on 20 and 21 January. Inspired by Henrik Ibsen’s timeless story, the company blends contemporary dance and theatrical imagery to follow Peer’s wandering, dreamlike journey between reality and fantasy. The production returns later in the spring as well, but the January performances offer a perfect mid-winter escape into a visually striking world shaped by one of Hungary’s leading dance ensembles.

Details here

English Marathon: Purcell, Elgar, Britten 

On 15 February, Müpa’s annual marathon turns its attention to English music, offering a full day of concerts built around three composers who defined their eras. The programme spans the Baroque refinement of Henry Purcell, the “British Orpheus” whose vocal works still feel remarkably vivid today; the noble, orchestral world of Edward Elgar, capturing the confidence of imperial Britain; and the modern yet tradition-rooted voice of Benjamin Britten, whose 20th-century pieces reflect both turbulence and timelessness. Across 11 concerts in one day, leading Hungarian musicians guide audiences through centuries of English musical heritage.

Details here

Max Richter makes his Müpa debut

On 9 March 2026, Müpa Budapest welcomes Max Richter, the German-born British composer who has shaped today’s post-minimalist classical landscape, for his first-ever concert in Hungary. Known for his work across stage, ballet, opera, and his Grammy-nominated film scores, Richter moves fluidly between genres and collaborations — from re-imagining Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to working with Roni Size and FSOL, creating the genre-defining “documentary music” of Memoryhouse, and composing the globally acclaimed eight-hour project Sleep. His debut Budapest performance arrives as part of his world tour, featuring music from his 2024 album In a Landscape, which echoes the introspective atmosphere of his earlier The Blue Notebooks. Audiences can expect excerpts from both works, performed with string quintet and narrator, in what promises to be one of the season’s most evocative concerts.

Details here

Ichiko Aoba: a dreamlike acoustic world 

On 21 March 2026, Müpa Budapest hosts the Hungarian debut of Ichiko Aoba, the Japanese singer-songwriter whose ambient, dreamlike folk-pop blurs the line between reality and fantasy. Known equally as a music publisher and acclaimed film composer, Aoba has been captivating listeners since her 2010 debut of delicate, airy indie-folk pieces built around guitar and piano. Her international breakthrough arrived in 2020 with Windswept Adan, a lush, pastoral concept album that drew global acclaim, and her 2025 release Luminescent Creatures has already been hailed as one of the year’s standout records. With a sound world that drifts through peaceful, meditative textures and explores what she calls “the cosmic secrets of life”, Aoba brings a uniquely ethereal voice to contemporary music. Her Müpa performance forms part of a two-year world tour — and marks a rare chance to experience her intimate, otherworldly universe live.

Details here

(Cover photo:  Müpa Website)

Legyetek ott első városi piknikünkön!

Gyertek, és töltsünk el egy vidám napsütéses tavaszi napot együtt a városligeti fák lombjai között május 1-jén, ahol day-time piknik, workshopok, sok szuper food truck és dizájnvásár is vár mindenkit.

Ünnepeljük együtt a tavaszt, a találkozásokat és azt a pezsgést, amiért annyira szeretjük Budapestet!

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