A full year of classical and pop concerts, open-air music programs, festivals, and foodie gatherings is rolling into Szekszárd in 2026. Visitors can expect a packed calendar: live shows across multiple venues, an all-arts festival atmosphere, and outdoor music events set against the city’s wine-country charm. Beyond the stages, Szekszárd lines up a spread of guaranteed and optional leisure programs for anyone keen to explore, taste, and unwind.
Key Dates and Tickets
June 13, 2026, kicks things off with an Apostol concert in Szekszárd, a crowd-pleaser that spans generations. Tickets range from about $29 to $36. Later, on September 7, acclaimed pianists Endre Hegedűs and Katalin Hegedűs perform in Szekszárd, with seats at roughly $10 each. November brings two more highlights: on the 6th, Gergely Rákász presents his Mozart program in Szekszárd at about $15 a ticket, followed by a Film Music Concert on November 24. It’s an easy four-hit lineup—variety, virtuosity, nostalgia, and cinematic glow.
Where to Stay
Hotel Merops**** is a wine hotel in downtown Szekszárd, steps from the Mészáros wine house and just a short walk from the city center. Think quiet small-town vibes, the feel of a storied wine region, and a polished guest experience with personal, wide-ranging services. The interiors are distinctive, the staff is on point, and the aim is simple: let you switch off, whether you crave tranquility or active downtime.
The property greets travelers with eight rooms and two apartments, while also curating culinary programs in and around town. At Nádasdi House, the Main Street Bistro impresses locals and visitors with a broad menu and refined flavors. Wine tastings are organized regularly. Down in the cellar, events tap into pure Szekszárd mood—birthdays, friendly dinners, or corporate gatherings—all crafted to be unforgettable.
Sió Motel sits at Szekszárd’s northern gateway along Route 6, between the Szekszárd and Tolna wine regions, close to the Gemenc Forest and Sárköz, spread over 6.18 acres. Hotel Zodiaco***, the area’s only three-star property, blends modern and elegant design with a guest-first philosophy, rolling out fresh upgrades year after year to make business trips and weekend escapes smoother and more comfortable.
Wine, Food, and Cellars
Attila Birtok anchors in the Baranya Valley with 34.6 acres of vineyards, working with Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), Kadarka, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zweigelt. Over at Bodri Winery (Bodri Pincészet), a 247-acre estate doubles as a tourism hub at Szekszárd’s southern edge, nestled in a picture-perfect valley. It houses a working winery, events center, restaurant, show kitchen, and guesthouses. The 19,375-square-foot grand cellar is vaulted under twelve domes, complemented by a 3,229-square-foot aging cellar open for tours. A 15,069-square-foot rosé facility turns out larger volumes without cutting quality. With 61 guest beds, a thermal-water underground domed Roman bath, jacuzzi, and sauna, rest and restoration come baked in. Optimus Restaurant (Optimus Étterem) puts a modern twist on the richness of Hungarian cuisine, keeping the comfort and depth front and center.
At Main Street Bistro, chef Norbert Makk builds dishes in tight harmony with Bodri wines, pushing a refreshed, modern Hungarian lineup while keeping the focus on local flavor. Meanwhile, Borfaragó Cellar (Borfaragó Pince) welcomes guests in the heart of the Upper Town, inside a former carpentry and woodcarving workshop, pairing artisan wines with folk woodcarving gems. It’s discreet, easy to reach, and perfect for friends or colleagues who want privacy without hassle.
Up on Várdomb Hill, the estate center champions Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) for its range, quality, and dependability—bottled solo or as the backbone of blends. Other grapes get star treatment too: Riesling, Cserszegi Fűszeres, Kadarka, Portugieser, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah.
There’s also a pure craft winery working mostly in the Porkoláb Valley, using only estate-grown grapes and sidestepping common industrial additives and processes. No commercial yeasts, malolactic starters, enzymes, fining agents, colorants, flavor/aroma/acidity tweaks, filtering, sterilization, oxygen dosing, or heat treatment—just bottled authenticity.
Another cellar keeps a wide stable of local and traditional varieties, obsessed with experimentation and new blends. Nearly every red grape in-house becomes a rosé too, a strategy that’s paid off with international awards. Their reds are just as proud, leaning on homegrown heroes like Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) and Kadarka, rounded out by world favorites—Merlot, Cabernet, and Pinot Noir—while holding onto the region’s signature taste.
For something different, unplug on the vineyard hill: lean back and let the wines do the work.
Eszterbauer is a family winery with Swabian and Serbian roots, steeped in deep tradition. In their showcase wine house and open-view cellar, tastings are led by family members. Groups of 8 to 50 can tuck into wine and food, from simple bites to multi-course feasts—and their webshop is stacked with award-winners. Another family estate farms 16.3 acres across four Szekszárd sites with Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch) at its core.
Good to Know
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
