Szombathely’s AGORA — true to its Greek roots as a public square — turns Hungary’s oldest city into a year-round playground for culture in 2026. At 9700 Szombathely, Március 15. tér 5, the lineup ranges from theater, concerts, and dance to family shows, festivals, travel talks, and workshops, mixing free and ticketed events for all ages.
French Farce Kicks Off May
May 4, Monday, 19:00 – Add kölcsön a feleséged, a two-act French comedy at Szombathely AGORA, follows a minister nearing the pinnacle of his career — he expects to be tapped to form a new cabinet and become prime minister. Then his MP friend Bouladon makes a blackmail-tinged request: borrow the minister’s wife for a weeklong trip to Cape Verde, or explosive secrets go public. Bribes fly, a sex-hungry stand-in is floated, and the chaos builds toward the big question: does anyone make it to the islands, and does the promotion survive? Cast: Szőke Zoltán (Minister Bertrand Guéraud), Várkonyi András (secretary Raoul Thiaut), Cseke Katinka (press officer Agathe Mareuil), Tóth Zsuzsi (Pauline Guéraud), Zsiga László (MP Antoine Bouladon), Pethő Kincső (journalist Nathalie Klein).
Egypt, From Nile Floods to Pyramids
May 7, 16:30 – VÍZTORONY hosts Egyiptom a Nílus ajándéka, a free, registration-only travel lecture by Pék Tibor. From Herodotus’s “Egypt is the gift of the Nile” to the devastating fifth flood, it explores beliefs (Ra’s solar barque, the scarab’s immortality), deities of sky, earth, water, sun — and crocodiles. Khufu’s Great Pyramid, the lone standing wonder, is framed as a “cosmic machine” with thought-provoking orientation and measures. Route highlights: Cairo (Kairó), Giza (Gíza), Saqqara (Szakkara), Memphis (Memphisz), Zafarana, Hurghada (Vörös-tenger/Hurghada), Luxor (Luxor), Thebes (Théba), Medinet Habu (Medinet Habu), Dendera (Dendera), Abydos (Abydosz), Esna (Eszna), Edfu (Edfu), Kom Ombo (Kom Ombo), Abu Simbel (Abú Szimbel), Aswan (Asszuán), Karnak (Karnak). “Man fears time, and time fears the pyramids.”
Make Your Own Natural Beauty
May 9, 09:00 – AGORA-MSH runs a Natural Cosmetics Workshop led by Galambos Bernadett. Learn to craft flower- and herb-scented soaps, nourishing creams, and eco cleaners while exploring the power of scents and ingredients. For adults and ages 12+. Fee: $31.50. The session leans into creativity and a conscious, natural lifestyle.
Stage for Young Talent
May 12, 10:00 – AGORA-MSH hosts the AGORA Children’s and Youth Arts Festival, gathering pupils, kindergartners, and amateur groups from Szombathely, its district, and Vas County for performing arts showcases.
World Travelers: Tanzania Safari
May 12, 17:00 – AGORA-Savaria Filmszínház welcomes traveler Dala Bernadett for a Tanzanian journey where wild nature meets the sea. Zanzibar’s white-sand, spice-scented shores meet Mikumi National Park’s elephants, lions, and giraffes. Fee: $2.74.
Kodály 60 Gala
May 14, 17:00 – AGORA-MSH celebrates the 60th anniversary of Zoltán Kodály’s visit and the founding of the Kodály Choir with a gala by Paragvári Street Elementary School’s Music Department and AGORA Savaria Nonprofit Ltd. Current and former students and teachers perform. Free, no registration.
A dzsungel könyve (The Jungle Book)
May 17, Sunday, 17:00 – The beloved Hungarian musical based on Rudyard Kipling reimagines the jungle as a mirror of society, where animals embody honesty within strict natural laws. Mowgli battles human cynicism and returns to humanity through love in a searing finale. Music swings from moving to hilariously parodic. Cast led by Németh Ádám/Guba Ákos (Maugli), Kiss Ábel (young Maugli), Keresztesi László (Akela), Pap Lívia (Bagira), Molnár Ervin/Jónás Szabolcs (Balú), Szelle Dávid (Ká), Zayzon Csaba (Sir Kán). Directed by Vándorfi László with design by Kovács Yvette Alida, choreography by Krámer György and Bóbis László.
May Club: Team Slam
May 20, 18:00 – AGORA-MSH fires up a slam poetry contest: 3 minutes on a set theme, live scores, and a mashup of literature, pop, theater, rap, and stand-up. Tickets: $2.74; St. Martin discount: $2.47.
Hadházi László: The Brain of the World
May 30, Saturday, 17:30 and 20:00 – A Dumaszínház night with Hadházi László, hosted by Lovász László. From cryptic messages to the eternal truth: nobody is born foolish — it takes work, even if briefly. Dynamic pricing applies.
Memorial Day for Hungarian Heroes
May 31, 10:00 – Március 15. tér honors patriots who fought for Hungary’s freedom and survival. Flag-raising with honors, festive program and speech, wreath-laying.
Cooney’s Classic Chaos
June 4, Thursday, 19:00 – Ray Cooney: Páratlan páros. Two wives, one taxi driver: Mary in Wimbledon and Barbara in Richmond both call the police when John Smith is late. A mishap, a wrong address, and a double life implode into door-slamming farce. Cast includes Száraz Dénes (John), Kiss Ramóna/Bugár Anna (Mary), Mezei Léda (Barbara), Beleznay Endre (Stanley). Directed by Horváth Csaba, with set/costume by Győri Gabriella.
Autumn Highlights
October 3, Saturday, 19:00 – A PADLÁS (The Attic), the “half-tale, half-musical” by Gábor Presser (Presser Gábor), Dusán Sztevanovity (Sztevanovity Dusán), and Péter Horváth (Horváth Péter), blends time travel, spirits, police, and petty human dramas with songs that became instant standards. Direction by Vándorfi László; design by Kovács Yvette Alida; choreography by Krámer György.
October 11, Sunday, 11:00 – A szépség és a szörnyeteg (Beauty and the Beast), a one-act, 55-minute musical fairy tale for ages 5–12, with US-made masks, theatrical costumes, vivid projections, and a classical score. Narrator: Kertész Péter; Belle: Vincze Renáta; staged and choreographed by Vass Sándor Gergely. “Remember, inner beauty shines brighter than any surface.”
October 11, Sunday, 19:00 – Szécsi Pál Memorial Concert. Róbert Gergely marks the icon’s 80th with fresh arrangements and cherished hits like Csak egy tánc volt, Violák, Két összeillő ember, Karolina, woven with memories, clips, and backstage lore.
October 26, Monday, 19:00 – Zorán Tour 2026. Evergreen essentials meet rarities and band showcases in a concert built on emotional depth and artisanal sound.
Late-Year Curtain Calls
November 15, Sunday, 11:00 – Aladdin és a csodalámpa (Aladdin and the Magic Lamp), a one-part family play: Aladdin, Jasmine, a power-hungry vizier, a greedy fortune-teller, and the twin forces of the Lamp and Ring Spirits steer love to victory.
November 15, Sunday, 19:00 – Szemenszedett igazság, avagy hazudni tudni kell! A two-part Pesti Művész Színház comedy: Michel’s web of lies spirals when his lover Alice is also his best friend’s wife. Cast: Egyházi Géza (Michel), Fogarassy Bernadett (Alice), Várfi Sándor (Paul), Nyertes Zsuzsa (Laurence). Directed by Márton András.
November 21, Saturday, 17:00 – A dzsungel könyve returns in the Roxszínház production, a coming-of-age tale about belonging and solitude, childhood and adolescence. Tickets refundable only for cancellations or date changes; transferable; program and cast subject to change.
December 5, Saturday, 19:00 – Attila Kökény & Viktor Rakonczai: Újra látlak…
December 30, Wednesday, 19:00 – Ray Cooney: Kölcsönlakás, by Bánfalvy Stúdió.
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
