Europe is known for hosting some of the top music festivals in the world, and these festivals see thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. One of the most famous festivals in Hungary, the Balaton Sound festival, is hosted right in Hungary, and it happens every year during the months of June or July. Balaton Sound is a dance music festival in Zamárdi, Hungary. The festival was co-founded by the people behind Sziget.

Attracting over 150,000 music lovers ready to party across its five days each year, Balaton Sound puts together an enviable lineup of the world's biggest DJs.The festival has performances from some of the top music artists and DJs in the world, from genres such as EDM, electronic music, pop, rock, hip-hop and more, and in recent years, artists like Alesso, Axwell, The Chainsmokers and more have performed their music at the stages of this festival.

Location: Zamárdi, Hungary

Dates: 29 June – 2 July 2022

The Hollókő Easter Festival has been attracting Hungarian and international visitors alike to the World Heritage village for over 20 years. The event recalls the Palóc Easter traditions presenting traditional folk groups, folk musicians, folk dancers, folk singers and folk craftsmen. The religious festivities played a distinguished role in the traditional community of Hollókő, which was complemented by the system of traditions and the rich world of legends and beliefs of the local residents.

Taking the popularity of the event extended in time and space and turned into a three-day series of programmes, the event is complemented with elements, which are closely linked to the mystery of Easter, however at the same time offer a novel experience to the visitors. The spraying of women with well water has always been inevitable part of Easter, which tradition has been kept alive until this day by the event.

Location: Hollókő, Hungary

Dates: Easter Weekend 2022

Many traditions and rituals are common in most parts of the country, while some are so unique that you have to visit a specific village at a specific time. Such a tradition does exist in Hungary, and it is called Busójárás. It is adhered to in the small town of Mohács during the last week before the Lent starts. Some argue that Busójárás takes its roots from the 16th century when villagers tried to drive away the Turkish army using scary masks and costumes, but today it is more about scaring winter and welcoming spring.

The celebration lasts for about a week and finishes with a huge bonfire, where a man-made of straw is burned. During the festivities, villagers dress up as fearsome monsters—Busós—and wander the streets making noise with cowbells and wooden noisemakers. Their assistants, dressed children,—Janke—follow Busós everywhere. Busójárás is the period of dance, music, spiced wine, and no rules. So, you have almost no chance to stay a passive spectator, you have to participate!

An annual festival held in an estate in the town of Ozora, this is one of the most famous festivals in Hungary that attracts a lot of tourists every year because of how one-of-a-kind it is, Ozora Festival. Being one of the largest psychedelic trance festivals in the world, it has an annual turnout of over 60,000 people, and if often compared to Tomorrowland, a leading music festival that is held in Europe every year.

Artists like Ace Ventura, Earthlings, Braincell, Tristan and other leading trance artists. If you enjoy the genre and find yourself in Hungary during the months of July and August, do not miss out on this once in a lifetime experience.The ultimate intention of Ozora Festival is to connect people from all around the world, and this year’s theme reflected that.

It was to be inspired by the symbolism of BRIDGES. Music is obviously the steadiest bridge of all, connecting us on the most fluid level of consciousness, and without limitation, but visual and visionary arts play an integral role in the psychedelic experience too.

Location: Ozora, Hungary

Dates: 1 Aug, 2022 – 7 Aug, 2022

Summerfest International Folklore is a festival that was established in the year 1987 and is a small festival conducted to celebrate the different forms of talent from across the world, and participants from various countries come to this festival to show off their talents and crafts. The festival is held during the second half of the year and goes on simultaneously in different parts of the country at the same time.

At the end of the festivals, the closing ceremony involves a boat parade along with singing and dancing participants to celebrate the end of another successful festival. Some of the forms of art performances include dancing, singing, theatre arts, as well as other forms of arts and crafts.

Location: Ráckeve, Tököl and Százhalombatta, Hungary
Dates: 12th Aug – 22nd Aug 2022

The first Sziget Festival was held in 1993. It is one of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe and one of the most famous festivals in Hungary. It is held annually in August in Budapest. The festival has around 1000 performances each year. The program includes music, theatre, street theatre, circus, puppets and also has installations, exhibitions and gastronomy.

Sziget attracts almost 400,000 people each year to an island in the Danube to join the fabulous atmosphere of this multicultural event. Sziget is many festivals in one: each venue proposes a series of programs, “individual festivals” are offered to the audience, to the lovers of mainstream music, world music, hard rock, metal, alternative styles, blues and jazz. Visitors can enjoy a number of prosaic, dance and motion theatre performances all through the festival. The location is also a site of art exhibitions, literary events, classical music concerts and much more.

Location: Budapest, Hungary

Dates: 10th Aug – 15th August 2022

The Budapest Festival of Folk Arts is undoubtedly the one of the most famous festivals in Hungary. This event, that takes place in Budapest, gathers craftsmen from all corners of Hungary and brings hundreds of years of Hungarian art together in one place. While attending the festival, you can choose to simply observe or be an active participant. Certainly, the latter brings more fun, though! Around 800 booths demonstrate how to make decorative items or useful household objects. You can also make woodcarvings, basketwork, pottery, gingerbread, lace, or candles for yourself.

If you don't have the time or desire for DIY activities, you can simply browse for souvenirs. Don't forget to try some local festival delicacies, such as "kürtőskalács" and "töki pompous". Apart from these performances, there are also numerous workshops for arts and crafts conducted at the festival and a number of food stalls selling tasty snacks, and the local favorite palinka to drink. This is a great opportunity to learn about the folk arts of native Hungarians and definitely an event that’s not to be missed!

Location: Budapest, Hungary
Dates: 18 August 2022 – 21 August 2022

Spend almost a whole month with Badacsony Wine Weeks organized around wine and gastronomy between 18 July 2013 and 3 August 2014. Lake Balaton is famous for its wine and every year, a festival spread across a period of two weeks is conducted to celebrate the different flavors of the wine and also to celebrate the local talent.

Wine-lovers are awaited to the event with the renown wines of Badacsony. Various performers and musical artists playing a wide variety of genres will help to make the evenings enjoyable for all. The festival of Badacsony's wines and winemakers await everyone with cultural and proffessional programmes, demonstrations, folklore and light music shows, and handicraft workshops. The celebrations include multiple wine tastings, educational tours of how the vineyards work, cultural song and dance performances, and other exciting activities.

Location: Badacsony, Lake Balaton, Hungary

Dates: Dates to be announced. Usually takes place in the month of July

At Lake Balaton the Tis held every year in Tihany, the landscape is beautiful and everyone can pick their own lavender ... Lavender has played an important and prominent role in the history of Tihany, and today it has a remarkable tradition of cultivating and processing lavender. These traditions are raised each year at the Levendula Festival. The highlight of the festival is lavender harvesting, during which anyone can try this job.

It is a magical time when the scent of the flower fills the air and the green fields are suddenly filled with a beautiful shade of purple all around. A part of the celebrations includes a flower show and a fold art event celebration as well. Visitors can find here authentic souvenirs, including pottery, basketry, and homemade lavender products, including soaps, flagrances and more.

Location: Tihany, Lake Balaton, Hungary

Dates: June. Dates to be announced.