There are a lot of major events going on in April that you don’t want to miss: film festivals, Budapest Art Week, all kinds of concerts, and more. In this event roundup, we collect all of the important happenings taking place in Hungary’s capital during the upcoming weeks, so that you can plan ahead to attend whatever events are the most interesting for you. Get out there and enjoy everything that Budapest has to offer!
1/12
Akvárium Spring Terrace
As a friendly scene in the heart of the city center – and one of the main venues of the Budapest Spring Festival – Erzsébet Square’s Akvárium Klub presents a special program series for the month of April to shake up sunshiny spring evenings: they set up a temporary stage to welcome popular Hungarian musicians and up-and-coming artists to give acoustic gigs and other exciting performances every day to entertain visitors on the lively terrace. Furthermore, other additional programs, like a kids’ corner, also await families here. More details
2/12
Banff Mountain Film Festival
Embark on an adrenaline-filled escapade to exotic places and explore the wonders of the world out there with its massive rock formations, fast-flowing waters, and snow-capped mountains through exciting adventure documentaries brought to Budapest by the BANFF Mountain Film Festival. Happening during April 4-6, this film festival presents a selection of adventure documentaries at a historic Budapest movie theater, the Corvin Cinema. The films discuss a wide range of topics, but they all have a few things in common: the love of outdoor sports, reverence for nature and human achievements, and a unique and somewhat artistic point of view. More details
3/12
Titanic International Film Festival
Hungary’s most popular international film festival – happening during April 6-13 this year – annually brings a selection of motion pictures from around the world to art-house theaters, multiplex cinemas, and eminent event venues found around the Magyar metropolis. All of the films are screened with original audio and Hungarian subtitles, but all non-English dialogue is subtitled in English. This year, the festival’s opening film is The Giant, telling the story of Rikard, an autistic and severely deformed man whose only wish is to win back the love of his mother by winning the Scandinavian championship of pétanque. Furthermore, the selection of feature films include American, Canadian, Brazilian, Chinese, and Estonian productions, among others. More details
4/12
32nd Telekom Vivicitta Spring Half Marathon
During April 8-9, the 32nd Telekom Vivicitta Spring Half Marathon entices enthusiastic runners to Budapest’s beautiful Margaret Island to complete diverse distances amid an inspiring ambience. Within the framework of this two-day jogging jamboree, runners can take on a ten-kilometer Vivicitta and a 21-kilometer half marathon on Sunday, while on Saturday the focus is on shorter races ranging from 750 meters to seven kilometers for less-experienced runners. The half marathon’s route passes by many of Budapest’s major sights, like the Chain Bridge and the Parliament, and as an extra innovation this year, it can also be completed in pairs. Furthermore, refreshments are provided every 4-5 kilometers, and several musical points make the race more enjoyable. More details
5/12
Easter in Hungary
In the Christian calendar Easter (Húsvét in Hungarian) celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and marks the end of Lent. In Hungary, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, and – for the first time this year – Good Friday are public holidays, when Magyars host high-spirited celebrations that evoke old traditions and customs all around the country. In Budapest, the Várkert Bazaar near the Buda Castle awaits families with day-long festivities during April 15-17, such as a colorful Easter-egg exhibit that presents various traditional methods of egg painting, as well as artisanal activities, concerts, and a kid’s corner. Meanwhile, the Easter Fair on presents a wide range of folk-art merchandise and workshops with masters of various traditional crafts, while those who are curious about how Hungarians celebrated Easter in centuries past can visit the nearby town of Szentendre for their annual Easter Festival at the Skanzen open-air ethnographic museum, featuring concerts, egg-painting events, a carousel, dance shows, and the traditional “watering” of the girls. More details
6/12
Budapest Art Week
During April 18-23, an amazing festival of fine arts, Budapest Art Week, is happening for the second time in the Hungarian capital, inviting art lovers to admire the intriguing exhibits of more than 60 Budapest museums, galleries, and exhibition halls, alongside nearly 70 other exciting cultural events – like guided tours, organized gallery walks, museum programs, and conferences – all accessible with just one ticket. Among the participating venues this year, we find the , the, the, and the . More details
7/12
International Book Festival Budapest
This free Budapest festival and intellectual forum presents books by authors from all around the world, and is complete with colorful programs like book-signing sessions, cultural events, book launches, round-table talks, concerts, and many other exciting events organized during April 20-23. This year’s guest of honor is Turkish novelist and Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk. Furthermore, Budapest’s Millenáris Park provides a modern atmosphere for this exciting event. More details
8/12
Budapest Photo Street Festival
Within the framework of the Budapest Spring Festival, during April 21st-23rd the and the transform downtown Pest’s Nagymező Street – found just off august – into an alfresco festival dedicated to photography, providing an eclectic mix of free events from the morning into the late-night hours for analogue diehards and digital devotees alike. Throughout the festival, the whole street turns into an exhibition space welcoming visitors and passersby with a wide range of creatively comprehensive programs that bring contemporary photography closer to camera buffs, such as guided tours, workshops, discussions, children’s programs, video screenings, costumed portrait shoots, performances, professional lectures, signings, and various concerts.
9/12
Budapest100
Several of Budapest’s century-old buildings open their gates for curious visitors on the weekend of April 22-23 this year, enabling everyone to take a glimpse into what life is like in these extraordinary edifices. Budapest100 annually highlights a selection of the historic buildings that have been standing strong in the Hungarian capital for a century, this year focusing on those that are found along the Danube Quay between Rákóczi Bridge and Árpád Bridge. At many of the edifices, you can also participate in exciting artistic programs, or meet residents who might even reveal a few intriguing secrets about their building’s history.
10/12
I Bike Budapest
On April 22nd, several roads of Hungary’s capital will be cleared of cars to be filled with a true family-friendly festival feeling instead, with a great group of bikers who hit the streets on two wheels, passing by the spectacular sights of the city. This immensely popular mass-cycling event began in Budapest in 2004, and by 2013’s group ride, over 100,000 people turned up to roam the empty city streets on two wheels, and to silently draw attention to the continuing need for creating better bike routes around town.
11/12
Hyperspace Electronic Music Festival
World-class DJs spin discs at this surreal electronica extravaganza happening on the Hungexpo premises on April 22nd, where headliners include Chris Liebing and the Kaiserdisco from Germany, Italy’s Sam Paganini, Rebekah from the UK, GABOR KRAFT from Hungary, and many other prominent local and international music masters. More details
