Szombathely stays lively in every season with a kaleidoscope of culture. Under the Feel Szombathely! banner, nearly every weekend brings easygoing fun across music, food, art, and even sport. The city’s signature crowd-puller is the Savaria Historical Carnival, while the Savaria International Dance Competition has thrilled audiences for over four decades. Jazz lovers swear by the Lamantin Jazz Festival, and every autumn the nationally famous St. Martin’s Day Fair anchors the season with markets and festivities.
December Highlights
December 19–20: Film Music Christmas by the Savaria Symphony Orchestra in the Bartók Hall sets a cinematic tone. December 21 packs two community moments: Christmas Fun at the Szombathely Market and a Flea Market at the Market Hall. December 22 brings Songbound Christmas at AGORA – Cultural and Sports House, tickets from about $20 to $35. The Weöres Sándor Theatre runs shows December 15–22 and again December 29–31, tickets roughly $5 to $36. On December 29, Michael Cooney’s Nicsak, ki lakik itt?! (Funny Money) arrives via Bánfalvy Studio at AGORA, $16 to $24. New Year’s Eve offers a citywide New Year’s bash and Quarantine at the Grand Hotel on the Weöres Sándor Theatre stage.
January: Ballet, Stand-Up, Symphony
The theatre returns January 3–8. On January 8, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker comes to Aréna Savaria, $29 to $47. January 11: Post-New Year with comedian Péter Aranyosi at AGORA, $22 to $27. January 16 features VII. Gábor Hollerung – Sarah Defries with the Savaria Symphony at Bartók Hall, $18. January 22: Scientific Stand-Up with Péter Oszkó on investments at Dumaszínház, AGORA Savaria Cinema, $14 to $17. January 25: American Comedy – Swing Musical by Veres 1 Theatre. January 28: I Unlove You, István Dombóvári’s solo night, host István Bellus, $28. Theatre performances run January 16–24 and 26–31.
February to March: Love Songs, Tenors, Legends
February 6: VIII. Gergely Vajda – Péter Bársony with the symphony, $18. February 12: Peter Srámek’s Valentine’s concert at AGORA, $36 to $40. February 27: IX. Péter Halász – Abigél Králik, $18. March 6: TENORS – For Women’s Hearts at the MMIK Folk Art College, $28. March 13: X. Gergely Vajda – József Balog, $18. March 20: Bródy 80 at AGORA, $39 to $44. March 27: XI. Mátyás Antal – Ditta Rohmann with the orchestra.
April to June: Theatre, Family Hits, Finales
April 2: XII. Máté Hámori – Pál Mácsai, $18. April 17: XIII. Gergely Vajda – Rozália Szabó, $18. April 18 doubles up at AGORA: Same Time, Next Year, $19 to $24, and Peter Pan, $11 to $14. May 8: XIV. János Kovács – Levente Puskás, $18. May 17: László Dés – Péter Geszti – Pál Békés: A dzsungel könyve (The Jungle Book), $20 to $22. May 29: XV. Gergely Vajda – György Lakatos, $18. June 11: XVI. Gergely Vajda – Gábor Varga, $18.
Always On
Between the headline acts, expect regular flea markets, packed theatre calendars, and that Szombathely feel: approachable, festive, and up for a good time year-round.
