The Wine and Gastro Festival lights up Hajdúszoboszló from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, 2026, turning Szent István Park into a free, open-air playground of flavors, music, and late-night dancing. It’s billed as the biggest fall food festival in town, where Hungary’s standout wine regions pour their best, local kitchens fire up comfort classics and creative bites, and the stages never go quiet until the DJ party wraps each night. Entry costs nothing—just show up hungry and curious, and bring your dancing shoes.
Where to Be and When
All roads lead to 4200 Hajdúszoboszló, Szent István Park, the leafy downtown hub that fills with tasting tents, pop-up kitchens, and a main stage for concerts, cultural shows, and lively dance performances. Across three days—September 18, 19, and 20—the program rolls from afternoon to late evening, with family-friendly acts, hands-on cultural snippets, and a daily DJ party to end on a high. Organizers reserve the right to tweak times and lineups, so keep an eye on their Facebook updates or give the listed phone contacts a ring for the latest. Information and questions are welcome; the team is easy to reach and eager to help.
Why It’s a Must
This is the festival that pairs top Hungarian terroirs with a down-to-earth street-food vibe. One stall might be pouring crisp whites and fruity rosés; the next, deep reds ready for grilled meats or zesty cheese platters. The food range is wide—traditional comfort dishes, picnic-friendly bites, and indulgent desserts—so expect to graze. Onstage, you’ll catch live bands and dance ensembles before DJs take over after dusk. It’s designed to be an all-ages crowd-pleaser: daytime shows for families, sundown concerts for date night, and after-hours beats for night owls.
Staying the Weekend
If you’re making a mini-break of it, you’re spoiled for choice around the park and the storied spa district. Hotel Barátság*** rises above the hotel promenade with panoramic views and a full wellness wing: therapy and alternating-temperature pools, hot tubs, saunas, an infrared sauna, and a steam bath. It’s a one-stop setup—rooms, spa, and event spaces—suited to lazy mornings or business meetups that end in the jacuzzi.
A cluster of apartments and guesthouses sits just minutes from the thermal baths and the beach. Look for upper-floor flats with separate entrances—two-person, four-person, and five-person options—roughly a five-minute, 400-yard stroll from the strand. Others sit even closer: newly built apartments on Kölcsey (Kölcsey utca) and Major (Major utca) streets are just 100 to 200 yards from the gate, with restaurants, a market, and grocery stores on hand.
Prefer pin-drop quiet? Garden-district guesthouses offer calm in cul-de-sacs, with free yard parking and shared breakfast kitchens. Many stays are an easy walk to the famed Spa (Gyógyfürdő) and Béke Baths (Béke Fürdő), and a few spots perch just 150 yards from the bus station—perfect if you’re arriving by coach. Families can also aim for larger hotels in the resort zone, where 107-room properties serve everyone from couples to clans, with classic doubles and triples, 2+2 family apartments, family rooms with bunk beds, and suites. Expect TVs, minibars, phones, safes, and plenty of balconies; a share of rooms are air-conditioned.
Eats, Drinks, and After Hours
Festival food is just the start. Around town, U-Pub Bar keeps energy high with a big drinks list at friendly prices and a unique mix of activities under one roof: an escape room, bowling, billiards, darts, air hockey, and foosball. If you’re leaning traditional, Kemencés Csárda reimagines the old roadside csárda spirit—heritage dishes, updated for today, in a warm, rustic space. For a polished sit-down near the spa, a popular complex offers a 150-seat covered terrace and an 80-seat panoramic terrace upstairs—romance-ready at sunset.
Mirage Restaurant has had a sleek refresh, complete with a cozy pálinka wall, a seasonal menu, and service that sticks the landing. Craving the grill? Nr.8 in the bath district is built for lingering on its summer-and-winter terrace; the 80-seat filagoria is a local favorite for cocktails and warming sips. Sweet tooth alert: just a minute from the Hungarospa Spa (Hungarospa Gyógyfürdő) entrance, a pancake spot plates both savory and sweet palacsinta, with artisanal ice cream, standout lemonades, cocktails, and specialty coffees.
Between Sips: The Spa Factor
Hajdúszoboszló is famous across Europe for its therapeutic waters—taken both in baths and, in some cases, as a prescribed drinking cure. The Spa (Gyógyfürdő), Árpád Pool (Árpád Uszoda), and the Hungarospa therapy facilities sit close together, so you can book treatments, dip into thermal pools, and still make your tasting slot before the next act hits the stage. The Aquapark and the newer Extreme Slide Park sit 400 yards from some pensions; the beach is often just 100 yards from your door. It’s the kind of town where everything lines up: wellness by day, wine and music by night.
Plan Smart, Go Easy
Because the festival is free and tied to a prime September weekend, accommodations fill fast. Reserve early, check restaurant tables ahead if you want a terrace at golden hour, and follow the official Facebook page for program drops and any last-minute time shifts. Then relax—Szent István Park will take care of the rest, glass in hand and band onstage.
