Every other year, Budapest (Budapest) transforms into a vibrant celebration of rural life as OMÉK, the National Agriculture and Food Industry Exhibition and Fair (Országos Mezőgazdasági és Élelmiszeripari Kiállítás és Vásár), returns for its 82nd edition. Running from September 18 to 21, 2025, at the HUNGEXPO Budapest Congress and Exhibition Center (HUNGEXPO Budapesti Kongresszusi és Kiállítási Központ), OMÉK invites both city dwellers and visitors from across Hungary to immerse themselves in the world of agriculture, food, and rural traditions.
An Unmissable Gathering for Industry and Public Alike
As the biggest event of its kind in Hungary, OMÉK draws everyone—from farmers and food industry professionals to families and food enthusiasts. With nearly 150 years of history, the exhibition showcases the full spectrum of Hungarian agriculture and food production. Professional visitors come for networking and to scout new business opportunities, while the general public enjoys a weekend packed with family- and kid-friendly entertainment, workshops, and tasting sessions.
A special highlight for 2025 is the renewed focus on the challenging yet vital work of Hungarian farmers and the crucial role they play in the food industry.
Business Meets Tradition at the Hungarian Food Summit
OMÉK isn’t just fun and games: it’s where business gets done. The Hungarian Food Summit returns—a major international matchmaking event linking 80–100 Hungarian food exporters with about 200 international buyers. The last summit was a huge success, making OMÉK a key annual date for anyone wanting to tap into Hungary’s food export potential.
The Ultimate Family Fair: Food, Crafts, and Culture
Weekends during OMÉK are designed for everyone, with a dizzying array of programs on offer. Expect live cooking demonstrations, hands-on gardening workshops, a sprawling farmers’ market—the largest in Central Europe—and a dedicated Hungarikum (Hungarikum) stand celebrating Hungary’s unique national treasures.
Kids can enjoy concerts, crafts, and educational shows, while food lovers sample artisan products and get inspired by local producers. The entire fair offers an up-close look at farming and food innovation, from smallholder operations to cutting-edge food processing.
Digitalization and Modernization: The Future of Farming
One of the hottest trends in agriculture today is digitalization, and OMÉK 2025 puts this front and center. On opening day, the Ministry of Agriculture (Agrárminisztérium) hosts the “Smart Technology, Green Future – Modernization Solutions for Agriculture” conference. This event explores the latest trends in agri-digitalization, sustainability, and innovation, examining how new technology is shaping both Hungarian and European farming.
Experts and practitioners offer talks and roundtable discussions filled with real-world examples—from field crops and livestock to horticulture and generational renewal in farming. There’s a strong emphasis on making innovation accessible, giving farmers the opportunity to apply new ideas to everything from yield improvements to ecological sustainability.
Pavilions: Where to Find What at OMÉK
The layout at HUNGEXPO feels like a city within a city, with each pavilion offering something unique:
- Pavilion A: Professional organizations, food industry players, agri-tech exhibitors, company booths, agricultural machinery displays, and the Hungarian Food Business Program.
- Pavilion B: Animal shows displaying Hungary’s livestock.
- Pavilion C: Conference Center with expert forums, presentations, and professional days (September 18–19).
- Pavilion D: Stalls for artisan producers and small farms, a stage for concerts and workshops, and “MentesFest” (“MentesFeszt”) celebrating free-from food innovation.
- Pavilion E: A walk through the Carpathian Basin’s (Kárpát-medence) regional crafts, flavors, and traditions, plus Hungarikum (Hungarikum) displays with stage performances featuring folk dance, music, and even fashion shows.
- Passage Area: Street food heaven—food trucks, pop-up kitchens, and craft drink stalls linking all pavilions.
Daily Programs: From Edutainment to Kids’ Concerts
Each day, Pavilion D’s stage comes alive with a line-up that mixes learning and fun. Hear from leading food scientists, university experts, and green activists on topics like home seed swapping, Mediterranean herbs, food security, and garden biodiversity. Kids get plenty of excitement too, with children’s bands, puppet theater, and interactive workshops filling the schedule.
Some highlights include cooking with TV star Marcsi Borbás (Borbás Marcsi), gardening masterclasses on sustainability, roundtable discussions about bread and bio-grains, and musical performances representing the whole spectrum of Hungarian culture, from folk to Disney singalongs.
Important Visitor Info: Tickets, Health, and More
Tickets are budget-friendly: standard daily tickets are just 1,000 HUF (about $2.80), while family passes (two adults plus children under 18) cost 2,000 HUF (about $5.60). Kids under 6 enter free.
For animal health reasons, OMÉK asks visitors to leave pets at home to protect the livestock on display—new rules this year due to the increased risk of infectious diseases. Entry is through HUNGEXPO Gates I and III.
Whether you want to discover what’s next in agri-tech, sample the best Hungarian food, or simply give your kids a magical taste of the countryside in the city, OMÉK 2025 is the can’t-miss event for every Budapest family and food lover.
