1/10
A38 Concerts
In August, scores of cool concerts will be rocking the A38 Ship, a repurposed Ukrainian cargo vessel that is today one of the hottest hangouts in Budapest. Parties aboard are aplenty, but here is our pick of the bunch: on August 5th Texas-based alternative rock band …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead take the stage, while on August 13th one of the most significant hardcore/punk figures of the '90s, Damien Moyal, brings his solo project, Damien Done, to Budapest. On August 31st, a true industrial/EBM party awaits aboard with the two legends of the genre, the German Die Krupps and the Canadian Front Line Assembly. There are many more parties to pick this month, see the website for more details.
2/10
WAMP Design Fair
WAMP is a regular community event and design fair, a meeting place for creative and trendsetting young talents. For this event, local designers showcase their limited-edition collections offering clothes, jewellery, bags and other accessories, so if there is anything missing from your festival outfit, this is the perfect opportunity to buy it from independent Hungarian fashion and product designers. After Sunday’s market, WAMP moves to the Sziget festival for a week. More details
3/10
Rigoletto
As a major opera premiere of the 2018 Budapest Summer Festival, this Verdi masterpiece tells a tragic story about licentious Duke of Mantua and his hunchbacked court jester Rigoletto who is also the father of a pure and innocent girl, Gilda. When the duke seduces Gilda, Rigoletto is ready to take revenge on the nobleman. Italian baritone Giuseppe Altomare stars in the title role, while The Duke of Mantua is played by renowned Mexican operatic tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz. The performance takes place on August 3rd and 5th at the Margaret Island Open-Air Theatre. More details
4/10
Liberty Bridge Picnics
This will be the last weekend to have Budapest’s Liberty Bridge to yourselves. This historic span is once again closed to car traffic on four weekends this summer, and this will be the last one. The party is usually great here, with local bands, flamenco and swing dancers, Zumba and yoga instructors and all kinds of wannabe artists entertaining crowds. So bring your mates and have one last blast on the bridge this summer. More details
5/10
Jason Derulo
On August 5th, the city’s main outdoor live-music venue, Budapest Park, welcomes one of the most popular pop and R&B singers, Jason Derulo. The Swalla star will throw a huge alfresco party at this mini-festival venue, delivering chart bangers such as 'Talk Dirty', 'Want To Want Me' and 'Ridin' Solo'. One day before, Paul Kalkbrenner takes the stage here. More details
6/10
Sziget Festival
Revellers from all around the globe flock to Budapest’s Island of Freedom every August for one of Europe’s biggest alfresco musical events, the Sziget Festival. International superstars and up-and-coming local performers of all genres are given the stage at this week-long good-time gathering, while various cultural acts and events can also be enjoyed on Budapest’s Óbuda Island. This year’s most anticipated artists include Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, Dua Lipa, the Arctic Monkeys, Mumford and Sons and many other major music artists. The Sziget Festival is an experience that you will never forget; well, perhaps only partly… More details
7/10
Festival of Folk Arts
During August 17th-20th, this festival celebrates Hungarian folk arts in the historical setting of Buda Castle. Unique handmade pieces of jewellery, wooden musical instruments, ornate pottery, fine fabrics, fashion accessories and many interesting Magyar-made craft items will all be available for purchase. This year’s festival focuses on weaving and spinning, one of the oldest crafts, with workshops awaiting everyone eager to learn this special skill. More details
8/10
CityMatiné
Delicious daytime drinks by the pool, fine food, dancing to hedonistic house beats amid the coolest company – and be in bed by 11pm. Sounds pretty hard to beat, doesn't it? The pioneer of daytime parties, CityMatiné, throws another sunlit party this summer at Napozó, with a Supermario theme on August 18th. More details
9/10
Saint Stephen’s Day
August 20th is a national holiday in Hungary, when the country honours its founding king, St. Stephen – who was crowned in AD 1000 – with fantastic festivities and spectacular fireworks. Solemn ceremonies and open-air performances are held on this special day nationwide, but the biggest St. Stephen’s Day blowout is always held in Budapest, where fantastic fireworks light up the night above the Danube soon after sunset. In the morning, a flag-rising commemoration is held at Parliament, while religious rituals are observed at St. Stephen’s Basilica in the afternoon. At another ceremony, Hungary’s national birthday cake will be cut as part of an all-encompassing fiesta of Hungarian patriotism. This is the first day to try the cake of the year, which will then be available at numerous confectioneries around Budapest.
10/10
The Budapest Short International Film Festival
Between August 29th and September 3rd, the annual Budapest Short International Film Festival provides a showcase for young aspiring artists of the short-film genre to make their mark on the international scene. A selection of mini movies – 64 short films, including 43 fictional, 16 animated and five experimental films – are screened in their original language and with English subtitles at various venues during the festival. Furthermore, the organisers annually invite filmmakers and important figures in the Eastern- and Central-European audiovisual sector to offer these communities a platform to meet and develop professionally. The main venue will be the Puskin Cinema, while evening screenings take place at the Art+Cinema and, as a new addition this year, there will be panoramic screenings every day at the Italian Institute as well. More details
