Zalaegerszeg is rolling out a full slate of culture, food, festivals, and open-air fun across the city and its green, hilly surroundings. With the Alps within reach and the Őrség’s wild beauty on its doorstep, the region promises easy day trips and nature escapes for families, couples, and groups of friends. The calendar is stacked through winter and into spring, and yes, there’s a brand-new spectacle that turns history into pure glow.
Hungary’s First Light Village
Hungary’s first Light Village takes over the Göcseji Village Museum in Zalaegerszeg for multiple runs: December 15–21, December 22–23, December 26–30, January 1–11, January 12–18, January 19–25, and January 26–February 1. Under the night sky, the open-air museum transforms into a dazzling light exhibition where figures of people, crafts, animals, and traditional houses appear as luminous sculptures. Illuminated gates and tunnels lead visitors back in time in a completely new way, fusing history, imagination, and light art for kids and adults alike. Tickets range from about 7.70 USD to 33.20 USD.
Films, Theater, and Laughs
On December 22, the musical A padlás (The Attic) lands at Art Mozi, Zalaegerszeg, with tickets priced around 21.20 USD.
December 30 brings stand-up heavyweight Kovács András Péter with his solo show Idővel, supported by opener Fehér Boldizsár. The gig is part of Dumaszínház and takes place at the Zalakerámia Sport- és Rendezvénycsarnok. Tickets are about 24.90 USD.
On January 23, Art Mozi’s Ady Hall hosts the cheeky, music-laced comedy Meztelen igazság (Naked Truth, 18+), with tickets between roughly 19.80 USD and 20.80 USD.
On March 13, Bánfalvy Stúdió brings Ray Cooney’s farce A miniszter félrelép (Out of Order) to Art Mozi’s Ady Hall, with tickets from about 18.20 USD to 26.10 USD.
Concerts by Candlelight and Retro Nights
Kick off the new year on January 10 with the Pótszilveszteri Retro Party, the first blowout of 2026, spinning the biggest Hungarian and international hits of the ’80s and ’90s. Location: Zalaegerszeg. Get your dancing shoes ready.
On January 20, it’s ABBA SHOW at Art Cinema Zalaegerszeg, a full-throttle tribute night for fans of glitter and pitch-perfect pop. Tickets cost about 36.90 USD.
February 27 dims the lights for VIVALDI – A NÉGY ÉVSZAK: GYERTYAFÉNYES KONCERT (Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – Candlelight Concert) at Art Cinema Zalaegerszeg. Expect strings, atmosphere, and a winter-into-spring mood. Tickets range from roughly 34.20 USD to 39.50 USD.
Operetta, Folk, and Spring Festivals
On February 6 at Zalaegerszeg Art Mozi – Teremtükör, enjoy Zerkovitz–Topolcsányi: Orfeum hercegnő (Princess of the Orpheum), a classic operetta-flavored evening with tickets from about 12.90 USD to 18.20 USD.
On February 17, head to the Keresztury Dezső Municipal Cultural Center (Keresztury Dezső Városi Művelődési Központ) for Húzzad csak, kivilágos virradatig! (Keep Playing Till Daybreak!), a folk-centered show with tickets around 14.00 USD.
Beer fans, circle May 8–10 for the Beer Festival (Sörfesztivál), when taps flow and music lifts the mood across Zalaegerszeg. Later in May, the Pankkutya Festival (Pankkutya Fesztivál) runs May 28–30, another citywide bash to close spring on a high note.
Plan the Trip
The Light Village remains the seasonal headliner, inviting repeat visits across late December and January when the nights are long and the museum’s village streets shimmer. Build your weekend with a comedy night, a candlelit concert, or a retro dance party, then spend a day exploring the region’s trails and villages. Note: Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, so always check the latest before you go.
