Budapest’s spring is about to go technicolor. From March 19 to 22, 2026, the Hungarian Orchid Society brings back its hugely popular Orchid and Bromeliad Exhibition (Orchidea és Bromélia Kiállítás) at Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park (1146 Budapest, District 14 – Zugló, Városliget, Vajdahunyadvár). Expect lavish displays, rare species, expert tips, and an overflowing market where you can actually take the beauty home.
What’s on Display
It’s a plant lover’s dream: orchids, bromeliads, tillandsias, tropicals, bougainvilleas, exotic and Mediterranean plants, plus succulents, rock-garden plants, and flower bulbs in wide variety. Local collectors, exhibitors, and traders anchor the lineup, so you won’t just admire the blooms—you can buy them. The exhibition is set on the first floor; the bustling marketplace fills the ground floor with a rich, hands-on shopping experience.
Opening and Daily Flow
As tradition has it, the show opens with the president of the Hungarian Orchid Society and a guest of honor launching the festivities at Vajdahunyad Castle. Doors are open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, March 19–22. The upstairs exhibition stays accessible all four days, while the ground-floor vendor area runs in parallel—a perfect loop for browsing, learning, and buying.
Expert Days: Friday and Saturday
Friday and Saturday lean into know-how. Find practical repotting advice, actionable tips, fresh ideas, and talks across multiple topics. A standout floral design demonstration adds drama and technique, giving you skills to elevate your own arrangements at home.
Brazil Takes the Spotlight
Each edition highlights a different country’s orchid world, artfully staged inside the castle. This spring’s guest nation is Brazil—one of the planet’s richest orchid hotspots, home to more than 2,500 species, with many more likely hidden in unexplored wilderness. Brazil hosts 202 native genera, 23 of them endemic, and ranks second globally in endemic orchid count with 1,540 species. The Atlantic Forest leads its phytogeographical regions with 1,398 species, followed by the Amazon with 784 and the Cerrado with 656. Expect favorites like Cattleya (including species formerly classified as Sophronitis and Laelia), plus Epidendrum, Maxillaria, Miltonia, Oncidium, Phragmipedium, Stanhopea, and more. Fittingly, Brazil’s national flower is an orchid: Cattleya purpurata (formerly Laelia purpurata).
Tickets and Practicalities
Thursday–Friday pricing:
– Adult: $8.40 per person
– Senior and child (6–18): $6.40 per person
– Family: $19.30 for 2 adults and 1–3 children
– Group (15+; advance booking only): $6.40 per person
Saturday–Sunday pricing:
– Adult: $9.80 per person
– Senior and child (6–18): $7.80 per person
– Family: $22.10 for 2 adults and 1–3 children
– Group (15+; advance booking only): $7.80 per person
Group registrations are required via the provided email after January 12, 2026. Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
Why Go
Whether you’re a beginner, hobbyist, or seasoned collector, you’ll find inspiration, fresh knowledge, and new plants to grow. It’s a lush escape right in Budapest’s City Park—hands-on, photogenic, and unmistakably spring.
