New Year Concerts 2026: Budapest, Szeged, Miskolc

Ring in 2026 with a series of New Year concerts across Hungary — from family-friendly matinees to grand evening oratorios, Broadway-flavored symphonic galas, and a dazzling Chinese New Year showcase. Expect luminous halls, live orchestras, and classic masterpieces that start the year with hope, energy, and a touch of wonder, with online ticketing available for multiple venues and dates.

Budapest: Haydn’s The Creation for Young Audiences

January 1, Thursday, 4:00 PM — Müpa Budapest (Művészetek Palotája). How does the world rise from chaos? Can music paint light’s very first glow? What happens in the score when birds arrive or the sea roars? Haydn’s The Creation brims with musical sleights of hand, and conductor Ádám Fischer picks the most vivid for Müpa’s traditional New Year afternoon concert tailored to students. Excerpts are performed in Hungarian by soprano Rita Rácz, tenor Zoltán Megyesi, and bass István Kovács, with the same orchestra and chorus as the evening’s main performance. Short, engaging, and focused entirely on listening rather than visuals, it’s designed to fire the imagination and begin the year in a quieter, special way — a strong pick for families. Performing forces include the Arnold Schoenberg Choir (artistic director Erwin Ortner) and the Danish Chamber Orchestra. Recommended age: 12–16.

Budapest: Haydn’s The Creation — New Year Gala

January 1, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Müpa Budapest (Művészetek Palotája). Monumental, humane, and irresistibly pictorial, Haydn’s oratorio The Creation dazzles not only with the Enlightenment’s harmonious philosophy of life, but with its panoramic musical universe. Six days unfold in sound — heaven, earth, sun, moon, stars, plants, animals, humankind — with Haydn’s humor and virtuoso tone painting on full display. As always, Ádám Fischer conducts Müpa’s New Year concert in 2026. He’s joined by the Danish Chamber Orchestra, bonded to Fischer by a long artistic friendship, and Vienna’s Arnold Schoenberg Choir, famed from Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s productions. The trio of soloists: soprano Nikola Hillebrand, tenor Mauro Peter, and bass Andreas Bauer Kanabas.

Szeged: America 250 — New Year Concert

January 5, Monday, 7:00 PM — National Theatre of Szeged (Szegedi Nemzeti Színház), 6720 Szeged, Vaszy Viktor tér 1. After a long pause, the Szeged Symphony Orchestra returns to the National Theatre for a New Year concert that also salutes the 250th anniversary of American independence. On the program: beloved American composers and hits — Bernstein (West Side Story), Gershwin (An American in Paris), Copland, plus other popular American favorites. Guest performers include Kata Csorba, Szilveszter Szélpál, Ádám Fülöp, Panna Fülöp-Farkas, and Anita Hajdu. Conductor: Gergely Dubóczky.

Miskolc: The City’s Social Event of the Season

January 9, Friday, 7:00 PM; January 10, Saturday, 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM — Miskolc National Theatre (Miskolci Nemzeti Színház), 3525 Miskolc, Déryné u. 1. The Miskolc Symphony’s New Year concerts are a cherished tradition — arguably the city’s standout social gathering to start the year. Think sweeping waltzes, high-spirited polkas, sultry Latin rhythms, and unforgettable operetta selections alongside classical gems. The setting: the inimitable atmosphere of the Miskolc National Theatre. Soloists are soprano Brigitta Simon and tenor Levente Szőke; dancers from the Miskolc-Revital Dance Sport Association add visual flair. Conductor: György Mészáros. Meet friends and acquaintances at this can’t-miss celebration of the New Year.

Budapest: Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra — Surprise Program

January 11, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Müpa Budapest (Művészetek Palotája), 1095 Budapest, Ferencváros, Komor Marcell utca 1. The Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra’s traditional New Year concert returns to Müpa with a surprise program that keeps audiences guessing. Conductor: Gábor Hollerung. Note: an additional New Year encore concert is scheduled the same day at 11:30 AM.

Szigetszentmiklós: Duna Symphony’s Festive Gala

January 11, Sunday, 5:00 PM — Ádám Jenő Primary School and AMI (Ádám Jenő Általános Iskola és AMI), 2310 Szigetszentmiklós. Celebrate the New Year with the 65-year-old Duna Symphony Orchestra in a joyful gala. The ensemble has a long track record of New Year events and visits the city now for the fourth time. Bring on the resolutions — and the live symphonic sparkle. Conductor: Gábor Horváth, the Duna Symphony’s principal conductor.

Szombathely: Oratorio New Year Concert

January 11, Sunday, 7:00 PM — Savaria Symphony Orchestra, 9700 Szombathely. An oratorio-focused New Year evening with the city’s resident orchestra. Further program details are available locally.

Budapest: György Solti New Year Gala (Solti György)

January 14, Wednesday, 6:00 PM — MOM Cultural Center (MOM Kulturális Központ), 1124 Budapest, Hegyvidék, Csörsz u. 18. The first half showcases students, faculty artists, and large ensembles from the György Solti Music School (Solti György) — Guitar Orchestra, Flute Orchestra, Clarinet-Saxophone Ensemble, String Orchestra, and Brass Ensemble — conducted by István Győri, Milán Bolla, and Ferenc Bodon. The second half, titled Tempo di Verbunkos, traces folk dance tunes in classical dress from Rózsavölgyi to Bartók, performed by the Hegyvidék György Solti Orchestra (Solti György) with members of the János Bihari Folk Dance Ensemble (Bihari János). Also featured: the school’s Girls’ Choir (conductor Emese Zulauf) and a women’s chorus formed by the solfège and piano faculty. Conductor: Zoltán Bolyky.

Budapest: Luminare String Quartet — New Year Klassz-Pop

January 16 — 1131 Budapest, 13th District, József Attila tér 4. Luminare String Quartet: New Year KLASSZ-POP on 16 Strings blends classical and pop aesthetics for four players and sixteen strings. Tickets range from $15.20 to $17.90. (Prices converted from 5,500–6,500 HUF.)

Budapest: Grand Chinese New Year Concert

February 27, Friday, 7:30 PM — Müpa Budapest (Művészetek Palotája), 1095 Budapest, Ferencváros, Komor Marcell utca 1. The Lunar Year of the Horse begins on February 17, 2026, and Müpa once again hosts the touring spectacular that has played worldwide since 1998. The concert spotlights the richness of more than three millennia of Chinese musical tradition — from folk melodies and opera arrangements to striking percussion showcases and adventurous fusion works, all on distinctive traditional instruments. The evening builds a bridge between East and West, offering an experience that’s both exotic and warmly familiar, telling China’s multifaceted story through music.

Organizers reserve the right to change programs and times.

2025, adminboss