Tata’s castle courtyard turns into a clay-lover’s playground on May 30–31, 2026, as the International Master Potters’ Meeting and Conference lands alongside the bustling Craft Cavalcade (Kézműves Kavalkád). The goal: celebrate and pass on local, regional, and national pottery traditions, spotlight folk culture, and deliver two days of rich, family-friendly entertainment focused on folklore, music, dance, and hands-on craft.
Where and when
Venue: Castle Courtyard (Várudvar), 2890 Tata, and the garden of Esterházy Castle (Esterházy-kastély). Dates: Saturday–Sunday, May 30–31, 2026. Organizers reserve the right to change the schedule.
Why it matters
This long-running gathering is a major rendezvous for makers and fans of the ceramic arts. Beyond preserving techniques and heritage, it’s designed as a lively cultural escape with demos, interviews, storytelling, dance houses, and concerts—plus a sprawling potters’ fair and exhibition on both days.
Saturday highlights – May 30
10:00 – Professional conference opens.
Speakers: Ahmet Taşomurcu, Master Potter and UNESCO Living Human Treasure (Menemen, Türkiye); Mónika Kövesdi, art historian, Kuny Domokos Museum.
All day – Potters’ market and exhibition.
11:00 – Ceremonial opening with greetings from the Mayor of Tata and Dr. Eszter Csonka-Takács, head of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center of the Hungarian Open-Air Museum and chair of Hungary’s National Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage.
11:40–12:10 – Zither performance by the zither workshop of the Tatai Kenderke Folk Dance Association.
11:20–13:30 – Apprentices’ Duel competition, under the patronage of the Komárom-Esztergom County Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
13:30 – Live master demo by Ahmet Taşomurcu.
From 14:30 – Masters’ Contest; pro interviews with potters and ceramic artists, produced for the HCCI Enterprise Development Program with support from the Ministry for National Economy.
15:00 – Storytelling by Petra Piroska Kelemen.
16:00–17:00 – Pötörke Folk Arts Association & friends: folk dance, live folk music, dance house with Kincső Band.
Sunday highlights – May 31
10:00 – Potters’ market and exhibition continue. Book spotlight: Zsuzsa Csuporné Angyal presents the refreshed The Book of Potters (Fazekasok könyve).
From 10:30 – Clay play and wheel-throwing for kids and adults; Pötörke Folk Arts Association & friends on stage.
11:20–11:50 – Által-ér Elementary Art School and Art Vocational Secondary School: Rokka talent group performance.
13:00 – Gyémánt Gospel Choir in concert.
14:30 – Storytelling by Petra Piroska Kelemen.
16:30 – Results: Masters’ Contest and Apprentices’ Duel.
17:00 – Raffle drawing. Grand Prize: porcelain wall clock with a Tata scene by Anetta T. Molnár; additional prizes from exhibiting master potters.
18:00 – Official closing.
