Budapest is about to turn into a giant playground of movement and music. On May 29–30, 2026, the Merkapt Sports Center in Kőbánya (1106 Budapest, Maglódi út 12/A) throws open its gates for the Budapest Big Sports Tryout and Big Instrument Tryout (Budapesti Nagy Sportágválasztó és Nagy Hangszerválasztó), a two-day, hands-on festival where you can try more than 100 sports and 25 instruments. It’s free to enter, but registration is required. Friday focuses on pre-registered kindergarten and school groups; Saturday welcomes everyone from 9:00 to 17:00.
One place, 100+ sports
This is not a sit-and-watch kind of event. You’re invited to jump in, sweat, and discover what fits you. With expert coaches guiding you across the venues, you can test-drive mainstream favorites and niche disciplines side by side. The lineup ranges from soccer, swimming, water polo, handball, fencing, and kayaking-canoeing to ballet, weightlifting, breakdancing, and OCR obstacle racing. Expect open training sessions, demo shows, and plenty of space to move. Whether you’re choosing a sport for the kids or rekindling your own fitness spark, the setup is built to help you find your match in a safe, encouraging environment.
Sport festival vibe, family-ready
Over the years, the Budapest edition has grown into one of Hungary’s biggest free sports festivals, and it wears that energy proudly. It’s a family magnet: kids can hop from station to station, try a bunch of sports in playful formats, and get real feedback from qualified trainers. Parents get the clarity that only comes from watching their children light up at a new discovery. If you’re in the middle of choosing a sport, this is the most efficient crash course in town—one weekend, one venue, a hundred doors to open.
Meet champions, collect moments
A regular highlight: Olympic, world, and European champions often join the event. They mingle, inspire, pose for photos, sign autographs, and chat with visitors. For kids, meeting an idol in person can be the spark that turns curiosity into commitment. For adults, it’s a good reminder that elite performance starts with a first try—sometimes at a festival just like this.
Music in the mix: 25 instruments to try
The sister event, Big Instrument Tryout (Nagy Hangszerválasztó), brings the sound. Here, music teachers introduce visitors to 25 different instruments and help them test the basics on the spot. It’s built for discovery: classical strings like violin, viola, cello, and double bass; woodwinds like flute, recorder, clarinet, and saxophone; brass like trumpet, horn, and trombone; percussion from drum kit and hand drums to triangle and xylophone; plus guitar, bass guitar, piano, and the distinctly Central European cimbalom. In the Music Grove (Zeneliget) area, performances and interactive sessions weave in modern styles and folk dance, so you can hear and feel how instruments live on stage before you try them yourself.
For kids, teens, parents—everyone
The event is deliberately broad so each age group can find something to love. Kids and teens get a playful start, schools and kindergartens can turn the day into an active field trip, and families can spend an entire Saturday rotating through stations without running out of novelty. Sports fans hungry for new challenges can sample unfamiliar disciplines. Visitors curious about music can discover what fits their hands, breath, and ear. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure weekend where trying counts more than winning.
How it works: simple and hands-on
– Dates and time: May 29–30, 2026, 9:00–17:00 each day
– Location: Merkapt Sports Center, 1106 Budapest, Maglódi út 12/A
– Entry: Free, but registration is required
– Friday: Primarily for pre-registered school and kindergarten groups
– Saturday: Open to the general public
The format is designed for participation. Coaches run the sports sessions; music teachers lead the instrument tryouts. You rotate freely, explore at your pace, and build quick, meaningful first impressions. If you want a taste of everything, arrive early and plan a route. If you prefer depth, pick a few stations and settle in for longer guided drills or jam time.
What you’ll see and try
– Sports: soccer, swimming, water polo, handball, fencing, kayaking-canoeing, ballet, weightlifting, breakdancing, OCR obstacle racing, plus dozens more across strength, endurance, agility, and coordination. Expect demos and open practices at many stations.
– Music: violin, viola, cello, double bass; flute, recorder, clarinet, saxophone; trumpet, horn, trombone; drum kit, hand drums, triangle, xylophone; guitar, bass guitar; piano, cimbalom. Educators will help you hold, blow, bow, strike, and strum properly from minute one.
– Extras: encounters with elite athletes for photos, autographs, and short conversations; the Music Grove (Zeneliget) stage with modern and folk dance infusions that bring the instrument world to life.
Who should go
– Kids and teens choosing a sport
– Families looking for an active weekend in Budapest
– Kindergarten and school groups exploring movement through play
– Sports lovers eager to try new disciplines
– Visitors open to music who want an instrument close-up
The goal is simple: help children and adults alike find a sport or instrument that brings joy—and maybe sticks for life. With more than 100 sports and 25 instruments in one place, chances are high you’ll walk out with a new favorite.
Quick recap
– When: May 29–30, 2026, 9:00–17:00
– Where: Merkapt Sports Center, 1106 Budapest, Maglódi út 12/A
– What: try 100+ sports, 25 instruments; demos, open training sessions, music programs
– For: kids, families, sports and music enthusiasts
– Entry: free with registration
Mark the dates, register, lace up—or tune up—and spend a day discovering what moves you.
