Pécs readies the stage for a year of jazz that swings from intimate groove to full-throttle celebration. The Metronome Jazz Club (Metronóm Jazz Klub) series returns monthly in 2026 to the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter’s E78 concert hall, pulling in homegrown heroes and international players, acclaimed names and bold newcomers. It’s the city’s most reliable jazz habit: one Thursday a month, one room made for sound, and a crowd that knows when to lean in and when to erupt.
Where the beat lands
The address is Zsolnay Quarter (Zsolnay Negyed), E78—the cultural heart of Pécs with industrial-chic halls and a calendar that never sleeps. The Metronome Jazz Club plants its flag here each month. Dates are set, but organizers reserve the right to tweak schedules and lineups—because jazz lives on the edge and so do booking calendars. Look for the music, then follow the people. You’ll find it.
May: Boggie lights the fuse
May 14 opens with Boggie – Apoteózis, a record release that doubles as a statement of intent. Boggie’s voice is velvet-warm with a knowing edge, the kind that slides into a minor chord and glows. Apoteózis promises a sleek but pulsing blend of jazz sophistication and contemporary pop-soul instincts, arranged with that Budapest-school precision and a band that listens hard. Expect a tight set, spotlight moments for the rhythm section, and melodies that don’t let go when the lights come up.
June: János Egri turns 60, brings an all-star storm
June 18 belongs to János Egri 60. The legendary double bass and electric bass innovator marks a milestone birthday by fronting an all-star lineup stacked with standout voices in Hungarian jazz. Egri’s sound is athletic and lyrical—think walking lines that grin, grooves with backbone, and solos that arc like cathedral vaults. His influence stretches across generations, and this birthday bash is actually a summit: big interplay, fearless solos, and the kind of onstage generosity you only get from a master who’s heard it all and still wants more. It’s a celebration, yes, but also a master class.
July: Dezső Oláh Trio returns with Intermezzo
On July 16, the Dezső Oláh Trio (Oláh Dezső Trió) steps in with Intermezzo, a title that suggests a pause that’s anything but passive. Pianist-composer Oláh is known for braiding classical architecture with jazz momentum, giving his trio room to breathe and burn. The interplay is the thing: lucid lines from the piano, drums that paint in fast strokes, bass as a thinking partner. Expect original compositions that pivot from hush to headrush, and standards reimagined with crisp voicings and rhythmic sleight of hand. It’s modern, melodic, and quietly fearless.
August: Fusio Group – New Visions, new fire
August 13 lands with Fusio Group – New Visions, another album launch and a statement of forward motion. Featuring Erika Kertész (Kertész Erika), whose vocal color can go crystalline or smoky in a bar, this set folds fusion’s electric energy into contemporary textures—think angular riffs, syncopated heat, and harmonies that sting sweet. New Visions suggests fresh material that leans into risk: intricate meters, open-ended solos, and hooks sharp enough to stick. With Erika up front, lyric lines soar, then drop into grooves that beg for head-nod allegiance.
How to make a night of it
Zsolnay Quarter’s E78 sits a stroll from Pécs’s historic center, so pairing a concert with a stay is easy. The four-star Adele Boutique Hotel puts you in a 19th-century protected building where period elegance meets modern polish—ideal if you like your jazz followed by plush pillows. For a quiet hillside view and a touch of folk-art charm, Bagolyvár’s rooms and vineyard-inspired suites nod to famous Hungarian wines and open onto sweeping city panoramas; the attached restaurant leans Hungarian with old-school desserts worth the detour. Closer to the Cathedral, Barbakán Hotel offers two-, three-, and four-bed rooms plus a conference hall and garage—practical, central, and straightforward.
If you want villa-district calm just above downtown, look to family-run guesthouses in the Mecsek hills—forest trails and the Mandulás recreation area are minutes away, and guides can even lead group hikes toward the TV tower. Prefer sleek lines inside a heritage shell? Boutique Hotel Sopianae and other city-center stays mix listed façades with modern interiors, steps from Museum Street and the Early Christian World Heritage sites. There’s also a 12-bed hikers’ key-house tucked off the Blue Trail between Remete-rét and Orfű if you’re turning a jazz night into a nature weekend.
Eat, sip, repeat
Before showtime, fuel up. In the Rose Garden park, a street-food bistro and café blend laid-back greenery with quick bites. Sweet tooth alert: Angyali Kísértés Chocolaterie tempts with bonbons and home-style cakes. Big appetite? A beloved local tavern rolls out the hits—breaded, grilled, or stuffed meats; bass-slapping brassói aprópecsenye; fish; oven-baked specialties; risottos; pastas; flatbreads; and pizzas in many guises, plus soups, salads, and desserts.
Classic your mood? A downtown kitchen rooted in Hungarian tradition serves changing daily menus, from foamy morning coffee with sandwiches and homemade pogácsa to lunch that’s fast but thoughtful; they also handle standing receptions and catered events. Aranykacsa Restaurant (Aranykacsa Étterem) builds modern plates from local ingredients and pairs them with wine culture: tastings in the Vinárium, easy drinks and meals in the Tüke room, family or protocol dining in the Zsolnay room, and weddings, banquets, or birthdays upstairs in the Dakk Hall and garden. Beer heads get their fix at Big Bell’s microbrewery and beer garden, while Bohemia Beer Kitchen (Bohemia Sörkonyha) goes straight for Beer–Burger–BBQ in the center. Need weekday fuel on the run? Borostyán Fast Food (Borostyán Gyorsétterem) on Király Street serves Monday to Friday, 11:00–16:00.
Dates to pin
– May 14: Metronome Jazz Club – Boggie: Apoteózis (album release), Pécs
– June 18: Metronome Jazz Club – János Egri 60, Pécs
– July 16: Metronome Jazz Club – Dezső Oláh Trio: Intermezzo, Pécs
– August 13: Metronome Jazz Club – Fusio Group: New Visions (album release), feat. Erika Kertész, Pécs
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs—so check before you head out, then let the downbeat guide the night.
