Ever felt like you haven’t found the perfect sport for yourself, or wanted to try activities that are off the beaten path? Maybe you’re drawn to music, captivated by the sound of an instrument at a concert, but haven’t known how to begin. If you’re ready for hands-on discovery, the Budapest Great Sport Selection & Instrument Selection Festival (Budapesti Nagy Sportágválasztó és Nagy Hangszerválasztó) is your golden ticket.
A Grown-Up Anniversary Bash: 18 Years of Choices
From September 12 to 13, 2025, between 9 AM and 5 PM, Budapest transforms into a playground for sports and music lovers of all ages at 12/A Maglódi Street (Maglódi út 12/A), Merkapt Sports Center (Merkapt Sportközpont). The event, which began as a small gathering with 10-15 sports and just 300 visitors in 2007, now celebrates its 18th “birthday” as Hungary’s largest interactive recruitment fair for sports and music. Over 20,000 people will attend, exploring more than 100 sports, 25 instruments, and meeting champions ranging from Olympians to world and European gold medalists.
Try Everything—For Free!
Entry is completely free, but you’ll need to register online or on-site. On Friday, preschool and school groups visit with teachers, and from 1 PM onwards, everyone is welcome. Saturday is family day, open to all from start to finish. Interactivity is the standard: you can try out sports with expert coaches and play instruments with music teachers. Live sports demonstrations, open workouts, and live concerts energize the event stages on both days.
Look forward to Hungary’s most popular sports—from soccer and swimming to handball, fencing, and kayaking—as well as newer trends like ballet, weightlifting, breakdancing, triple games, and OCR (Obstacle Course Racing). Past festivals have shown that trying something new here can ignite lifelong passions or even start sporting careers.
Meet the Champions and Dive into Music
Hungary’s top athletes appear in person, ready for selfies and autographs. Some of this year’s stars include Dr. Gergely Kiss (Kiss Gergely), Áron Szilágyi (Szilágyi Áron), Gréta Gurisatti (Gurisatti Gréta), Ádám Varga (Varga Ádám), Máté Koch (Koch Máté), Ajna Késely (Késely Ajna), Márk Opavszky (Opavszky Márk), László Cseh (Cseh László), and many more.
Children and adults alike can discover the magic of classical and modern instruments. Hands-on and up close, you’ll find string instruments like violin, viola, cello, and double bass; woodwinds from flute to saxophone; brass like trumpet and trombone; percussion (drum kits, tambourines, xylophone, handpan); plucked instruments (electric and bass guitar); plus piano and cimbalom. There’s even a Zen Grove for both modern and folk dance.
New Sports, Fresh Fun
You might think the sports world is crowded, but there are always fresh trends. Many new games are playful and community-focused—and often family-friendly.
– **Spikeball**: Imagine round-table ping-pong on a mini trampoline. Played in pairs or fours, it’s fast, fun, and improves coordination and teamwork. You’ll see it more and more in parks and schoolyards.
– **Teqball**: A Hungarian invention that combines elements of table tennis and soccer on a curved table. It builds soccer skills and balance, and is appearing everywhere.
– **Parkour**: No longer just a street acrobatic, parkour classes for children help them leap, vault, and climb with confidence—boosting agility and self-belief.
– **Hiking and Nature Fitness**: Hiking is more than just a stroll now. Incorporate squats with logs, “staircases” up hills, or tree climbing for an energetic family adventure—no equipment needed except a spirit of curiosity.
Joy in Movement—Together
Trying new sports as a family isn’t just about fitness. The Kinder Joy of Moving program, a partner of the event, encourages seeing sports as joyous and liberating experiences for children and their families. Make sport about happiness and shared moments, not just achievement.
Don’t treat exercise as a chore, but as a shared adventure: try brief morning stretches, impromptu dance breaks, stairs instead of elevators, or a silly “how long can you stand on one leg” game in the living room. Establishing realistic, regular habits—especially ones that fit your family’s rhythm—helps make movement an everyday part of life.
Tech & Future on Display
It’s not just for kids—adults can get a glimpse of the future with Toyota’s electrified vehicles, showcased alongside the festival. Modern technology and smart design come together with exclusive offers, adding another reason for the whole family to visit.
See You There!
When sport is fun, easy, and part of family life, the benefits go far beyond stronger muscles. Explore, laugh, try new things, and maybe, just maybe, discover your next big passion. See you at Budapest’s remarkable Great Sport & Instrument Selection Festival (Budapesti Nagy Sportágválasztó és Nagy Hangszerválasztó) in September!
