Hajdúszoboszló is throwing the autumn party of the season from September 18 to 20, 2026, and it’s free. Set in St. Stephen Park (Szent István Park), the Wine and Gastro Festival lines up a feast of flavors, a wide spread of Hungarian regional dishes, top wines from the country’s storied wine regions, and a packed entertainment program that swings from daytime cultural performances to live concerts and a nighttime DJ party. All generations are covered, from family daytime wanderers to late-night groove chasers, right in the heart of Hungary’s famous spa town.
Where and when
The three-day festival runs Friday to Sunday, September 18–20, 2026, at St. Stephen Park (Szent István Park), 4200 Hajdúszoboszló. Entry is free. Expect a showcase of towns and local specialties, meaning plenty of regional character on the plate and in the glass, plus stages buzzing with music and dance.
The taste of Hungary in one park
Food stalls at the festival promise a culinary road trip through Hungary: rustic and reimagined dishes, artisanal bites, and sweets to match your wine flight. Wineries pour across the spectrum—from light, crisp whites to full-bodied reds and elegant sparklers—representing the best of Hungary’s wine regions. Whether you’re here to geek out about terroir or just to sip something lovely under the trees, there’s a pour waiting for you.
All-day culture, after-dark beats
Stages light up across the weekend with musical and dance productions. Daytime leans cultural—folk, contemporary, and local showcases—while evenings shift to concerts and an outdoor DJ party that pulls the whole park into dance mode. The idea is simple: no awkward gaps, no “what now?” Just steady discovery, food, and music from morning to late.
Plan your base: where to stay
Festivalgoers are spoiled for sleep options in the spa district and city center. Hotel Barátság*** anchors the hotel promenade, and as the tallest building in town, it serves sweeping views along with serious wellness. Its own spa zone lines up medicinal and alternating-temperature pools, hot tubs, saunas, an infrared sauna, and a steam bath—a real reset between tastings and shows. The hotel’s big play is the one-stop combo: lodging, wellness, and event spaces at one address, for pure downtime or business-on-the-side trips.
If you prefer an apartment vibe, you’re in luck. Multiple holiday houses sit a short walk from the beach and spa complex: four upstairs apartments—two for two, one for four, one for five—open year-round, about a five-minute stroll from the water. New-build apartments on Kölcsey and Major Streets sit 100 to 200 meters from the main beach entrance, with restaurants, a market, and grocery stores steps away. Another apartment house opened in June 2009 in the quiet resort center, 200 meters from the beach and 150 meters from the bus station—handy if you’re rolling in by coach.
Looking for extra hush? Several guesthouses tuck into the garden suburb of the resort zone, prized by guests who want true quiet. From there, the famed Spa (Gyógyfürdő) and Béke Baths (Béke) are just a few minutes on foot. One guesthouse sits on a dead-end street with zero through traffic, free courtyard parking, and a shared breakfast kitchen. Many spots in town are only a few minutes’ walk from the medical spa complex.
For something central yet practical, a popular pension near the airport places you 100 meters from the beach, 400 meters from the Aquapark and the new Extreme Slide Park, with Árpád Pool and the Hungarospa therapy building as neighbors—ideal if you’re lining up treatments alongside tastings.
Families can spread out at a 107-room, kid-friendly hotel in the resort zone with its own medical and wellness area. Room types span classic twins and triples, 2+2 family apartments, family rooms with bunks, and suites that turn up the comfort. Expect TVs, minibars, phones, and safes, with many rooms air-conditioned and balcony-equipped; all come with private bathrooms.
Eat, sip, repeat
Between festival bites, Hajdúszoboszló’s dining scene keeps you well-fed. The U-Pub Bar doubles as an all-in-one funhouse: escape room, bowling, billiards, darts, air hockey, and foosball alongside a broad, wallet-friendly drink list. A classic csárda, Kemencés Csárda, reimagines Great Plain (Alföld) roadside inn traditions for today—menu and interiors both nod to heritage, with a modern twist. A romantic restaurant complex near the spa shows off a 150-seat covered terrace and an 80-seat panoramic terrace upstairs, perfect for long summer dinners.
Major Panzió and its apartments sit in a calm pocket of the spa zone, an eight-minute walk to the winter entrance and just two minutes to the summer entrance. The revamped Mirage restaurant courts families, friends, and business diners with an exclusive interior, a charismatic pálinka wall, seasonal menus, and guest-first service. Another stylish spot blends an atmospheric restaurant and patisserie with a wide drink list and 13 distinct rooms—from business-travel snug to family-friendly—with both bathtub and shower options available across types.
Nr. 8 is a go-to in the spa district for day-or-night sessions, classic and creative grills, plus a can’t-miss seasonal terrace setup running April through late November. Its nearly 80-seat pavilion counts among the city’s largest, pouring cocktails and soul-warmers for strolling visitors. Craving something sweet? A café just a minute from the Hungarospa entrance plates savory and sweet crêpes, craft ice creams, and riffs on lemonades, coffee, and cocktails.
How to do it right
– Arrive early for tastings; headline pours run out fast.
– Split time between the cultural stage and the evening DJ party—both sides tell the festival’s story.
– Book accommodation close to the spa if wellness time is a priority; many properties put you within a 5–10 minute walk.
– Mix the festival food court with a sit-down meal at a local csárda or terrace restaurant to sample the full Hajdúszoboszló spread.
Three days. One park. A country’s worth of flavor and music. See you in St. Stephen Park (Szent István Park).
