Dumaszínház rolls into Szekszárd in 2026 with stand-up nights at the Babits Mihály Cultural Center, promising sharp jokes, familiar faces, and that unmistakable Hungarian humor. The year kicks off on Wednesday, January 21, at 7100 Szekszárd, Szent István Square (Szent István tér) 10, where the city’s main cultural hub turns into a comedy hotspot. Headlining: A VILÁG ESZE (The Brain of the World) — Hadházi László’s solo show, with László Lovász as host. A veteran of razor-edged observational comedy, Hadházi steps in as a “scientific senior researcher,” a title he gleefully bends for laughs. Expect riffs on everyday logic, science-flavored mischief, and the absurdities of normal life. Szekszárd knows how to pair a punchline with a good glass — and everything around the venue backs that up.
Where to Stay: From City Chic to Roadside Easy
If you’re planning to make a night of it, Hotel Merops**** sits right in downtown Szekszárd, a stone’s throw from the Mészáros wine house (Mészáros Pince) and just minutes on foot from the city center. It leans into the calm rhythm of small-town life and the Szekszárd wine region’s mood, offering a stylish interior, attentive staff, and tailor-made services for both chill-seekers and active explorers. It’s built for unwinding without skimping on details.
For a cozier setup, eight rooms and two apartments await travelers at Nádasdi House (Nádasdi Ház), home to the Main Street Bistro. Locals and visitors swear by its wide selection and refined plates, and you can layer on wine tastings across town and nearby. Down in the cellar, you can stage the full Szekszárd experience — birthdays, friendly dinners, company events — with an unforgettable atmosphere and serious hospitality.
Rolling in by car? Sió Motel sits at the northern gateway of Szekszárd along Route 6, right between the Szekszárd and Tolna wine regions, close to the Gemenc Forest and on the edge of Sárköz, spread over 6.18 acres. It’s a no-fuss base to hit the vines and still make curtain time.
Hotel Zodiaco*** is the only three-star hotel in and around Szekszárd, and wears it well: modern lines, sleek comfort, and a service philosophy built on satisfaction. They keep the upgrades coming year after year so business stopovers and weekend escapes both land softly.
Wine Country, Live
Szekszárd’s winery scene fills the calendar on its own, with the Attila Estate planted over 34.6 acres in the Baranya Valley. The lineup: kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), kadarka, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, and zweigelt — classic local soul with international poise. If you’re eating your way through it, Bodri pairs their bottles with chef Norbert Makk’s menu, built around the richness of Hungarian cuisine, refreshed and modernized without losing heart.
Bodri Winery doubles as a full-on tourism center on 247 acres at the southern edge of Szekszárd, tucked into a postcard-perfect valley. The grand cellar spans 19,375 square feet under twelve domes, with a 3,229-square-foot aging cellar open for tours. Their 15,070-square-foot rosé plant turns out quality at scale, while 61 guests can stay in carefully designed rooms. There’s an underground, thermal-water Roman bath with domes, a jacuzzi, and a sauna to finish the day. Optimus Restaurant, their on-site table, serves a modern spin on Hungarian classics.
Cellars With Character
Borfaragó Pince in the heart of the Upper Town (“felsőváros”) pours handcrafted wines in a former carpentry and woodcarving workshop, staged among folk woodcarving pieces. It’s easy to reach but discreet — ideal for a tucked-away gathering with friends or colleagues.
On Várdomb Hill, the estate puts kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) front and center — the versatile workhorse and blending backbone — while giving love to rajnai rizling (Riesling), cserszegi fűszeres, kadarka, kékoportó (Portugieser), merlot, cabernet franc, and syrah. In the Porkoláb Valley, a craft winery farms its own vines and keeps production pure: no cultured yeasts, malolactic starters, enzymes, fining agents, colorants, flavor or acid tweaks — no filtration, sterilization, oxygen dosing, or heat. Every bottle is, well, bottled the old-school way.
Tradition Meets Experiment
Another cellar works mainly with Szekszárd varieties but keeps the palette wide, experimenting with new blends and crafting rosés from nearly every red grape on hand. Those rosés have scored at major international contests, and the reds hold their line, leaning into local signatures like kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) and kadarka while layering in world varieties — merlot, cabernet, pinot noir — for balance.
If you want a reset, head into the vines and unplug — the view, the quiet, the wine, done.
The Eszterbauer family, with Swabian and Serbian roots, runs a tradition-steeped family winery in Szekszárd. In their show cellar and representative wine house, tastings are led by family members. They host groups of 8 to 50, serving anything from simple wine bites to multi-course dinners. Their webshop carries a slate of award-winners for home delivery.
A family estate farming 16.3 acres across four Szekszárd zones focuses on syrah, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) — reliable fruit for character-driven bottles.
Plan Ahead
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs — so check back before you go. But if there’s a better pairing than stand-up laughter and a city built on great wine, Szekszárd hasn’t found it yet.
