Keszthely is packing the 2026 calendar with a lively mix of festivals, theater, concerts, guided nature trips, film screenings, museum workshops, foodie pop-ups, sports, and plenty of hands-on fun across multiple venues in the 8360 area. From boat cruises on Balaton to backstage chats with actors and a citywide Children’s Day, the week of May 4–10 kicks off a season of steady action—and it barely lets up through June.
On the water and around town
All week, Keszthely boat cruises glide across Lake Balaton, while an outdoor city sightseeing adventure game turns landmarks into a playful hunt. It’s offered in two versions—“Szórakoztató szabadtéri városnéző kalandjáték csupa izgalommal” and “Játék a szabadban”—both designed to get you exploring and solving along the way.
Talks, theater, and post-show encounters
May 5, 6 p.m., Balaton Theater (Balaton Színház), Simándy Hall: Kedd-Velem hosts Farkas “Sajt” Gergő for a free, candid conversation about the person behind the profession. Host: Zoltán Csányi.
May 6 turns into a double bill with LOUPE Theater Company (LOUPE Színházi Társulás). First, a free audience meetup after the show—moderated by film and theater director Károly Ujj Mészáros—with cast members Dóra Sztarenki, Eszter Földes, Dorka Gryllus, Katalin Takács, Alíz Szatmári, and Dániel Brezovszky. Then at 7 p.m., Nathan Ellis’s Too Sharp (Túl éles), translated and directed by János Antal Horváth, runs for 120 minutes without intermission. Tickets at 7,500–9,000 HUF (about $20.50–$24.60) are sold out—no surprise, as it’s the Spring Pass’s third entry. The play follows Anna, a 31-year-old doctor whose life is swallowed by a health care system allergic to private life. It threads five women’s stories through a cracking system, with contributions from dramaturg Réka Ágnes Tóth, set designer Anna Fekete, costume designer Nina Kaszás, music by Virág “Zazie” Farkas, choreography by Márton Csuzi, and visuals assistant Janka Nagy.
Art, anniversaries, and craft
May 7, 4 p.m., Simándy Hall: a free Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Club lecture by art historian–senior curator Laura Kardos marking 555 years since Albrecht Dürer’s birth.
May 8, 5 p.m., Kacsóh Hall: opening of the free Straw Weaving Exhibition from the “A Szakkör” program, on view through June 4. It showcases community-made pieces rooted in centuries-old folk techniques. Opening remarks by Renáta Dervalics (National Institute of Culture, Zala County, Keszthely–Zalaszentgrót coordinator) and Bálint Osvald (director, Goldmark Károly Cultural Center). Music by Sheila Judit Varjassi from Életfa Primary and Art School.
Legendary hits, mythical Balaton
May 9, 7 p.m., Balaton Theater (Balaton Színház), Main Hall: Gyöngyhajú lány – OMEGA musical lands with ExperiDance on stage and Léna Kóbor in the lead. Tickets: 12,900–14,900 HUF ($35.30–$40.75). Writer–director Zsolt Pozsgai and music director Zsolt Gömöry send Kriszta’s coming-of-age heartbreak spiraling into the lake’s timeless legends, guided at night by Trombitás Frédi. Expect 22 Re-Production dancers, five musical-theater vocalists, and 21 Omega anthems—think Trombitás Frédi, Régi csibészek, Ezüst eső, Petróleumlámpa, Ha én szél lehetnék, and Gyöngyhajú lány—framed by more than 50 m² of LED wall visuals. The show, crowned Best Musical Dance Performance in 2016, honors Omega founders János “Mecky” Kóbor, László Benkő, and Tamás Mihály. Lead performers include Máté Szabó, László Sánta, Nikolett Füredi, Réka Koós, Gabriella Varga, Nelly Fésűs, Ádám Lux, Sándor Tóth, László Janik, and Viktória Magyar; choreography by Dávid Benkő, Veronika Benkő-Morvai, and Albert Hernicz.
Nature calls: Kis-Balaton guided trips
Throughout May and June, the Kis-Balaton Visitor Center dispatches guided tours to Diás Island, the István Fekete Memorial Site, and the Matula Hut, using your own vehicle, golf cart, or canoe. Blocks run May 5–10, 12–17, 19–24, 26–31, and June 2–7, 9–14, 16–21, 23–28—an easy way to fold wetlands, literature, and light adventure into a day.
Global journeys and gentle minds
May 11, 6 p.m., Simándy Hall: the free World Traveler Club screens a photo-rich trip from Oceania through Asia and Africa to South America with presenter Roland Markó, spotlighting daily lives and traditions as much as scenery.
May 13, 5 p.m., Básti Hall: Psziché Műhely hosts consultant psychologist and animal-assisted therapist Nóra Angyal-Szilvás for a free talk on how companion animals support mental health from infancy to old age.
Family magic and kitchen tales
May 13, 10 a.m., Simándy Hall: Batyu Theater (Batyu Színház) brings Witch’s Kitchen (Boszorkánykonyha), a 40–45 minute object-puppet show (3,000 HUF, about $8.20) where pots tell stories and spoons chatter. Classic pieces include Zsigmond Móricz’s Iciri-piciri, the folk tales The Bear and the Cat and Stone Soup, and Elek Benedek’s The Salt. Performers: Nelli Kontha and Krisztina Borbély; music by Péter Csák; puppets by Csilla Vizi; props by Nicolette Aranyos; directed by Nelli Kontha.
Mind games, retro waves, and comedy
May 14, 7 p.m., Main Hall: The Secret – An Evening with Danny Blue (A Titok). Tickets: 8,990–14,990 HUF ($24.60–$41.00). Expect mind-reading vibes and the occasional jaw drop. Audience reactions promise chills and a memory that sticks.
May 21, 6 p.m., Main Hall: “Hogyan tudnék…” offers a time-travel playlist of ’80s–2000s hits by the ZsigmondLala Musical Studio’s amateur group. Tickets: 4,500 HUF (about $12.30). Runtime: 2 hours 20 minutes with one intermission. Ages 10+ recommended.
May 28, 7 p.m., Main Hall: I Messed That Up! (Ezt benéztem!)—Musimbe Dávid Dennis’s new solo comedy night, hosted by Orsolya Sipos. Tickets: 6,990–7,890 HUF ($19.10–$21.55). Themes: Hollywood dreams, family surprises, and UFO skepticism gone sideways.
Vintage cinema songs and a very big kids’ day
May 30, 6 p.m., Main Hall: Love Is No Shame – Songs from Old Films (A szerelem nem szégyen – Régi filmek dalai), by Rátonyi Róbert Theater (Rátonyi Róbert Színház). Tickets: 8,900 HUF ($24.30). A chamber show with live music revisiting 1930s–40s Hungarian film hits—charleston, shimmy, foxtrot, swing—by Eisemann, Márkus, Ábrahám, De Fries, and Fényes. Starring Edit Vörös, Sándor Domoszlai, Tamás Heller, László Gonda, and the Palermo band.
May 31, Lake Balaton lakefront: City Children’s Day runs 10 a.m.–6 p.m. with rescue-service game stations and demos at multiple beach points. Stage from 2 p.m.: Tüsi the Clown; Maminbaba babywearing Latin fitness; dance groups from Goldmark Károly Cultural Center; the ÜSTökös Family Company’s The Old Fisherman and His Ambitious Wife; and a 5–6 p.m. interactive concert by HandaBanda. Side events include a kids’ obstacle course (2–6 p.m.) and flashing patrol car showcases (4–6 p.m.).
June keeps rolling
June 1–7: cruises and more rounds of the outdoor adventure game. June 3: Lilla Orbay Quintet at Balaton Theater (tickets 4,000 HUF, about $10.90). June 5–7: Keszthely City Day fills Main Square (Fő tér) with concerts, craft workshops, dance houses, and official ceremonies—full program coming soon. June weekends continue with boat excursions. June 22–26: Summer Break Dance Camp at GKMK Great Hall (ages 5–10; minimum 10, maximum 15 kids), led by Zsuzsanna Dézsenyi; fee 19,000 HUF (about $51.90). June 25: Áron Tálas Trio at Balaton Theater (4,000 HUF, about $10.90). And June 29 kicks off a Summer Break – Folk Tale Camp.
