Ajka’s 2026 cultural calendar is packed and personable: exhibitions, concerts, theater, film screenings, museum sessions, the Ajka Crystal Spa (Ajkai Kristályfürdő), sports, plus a long list of guaranteed and optional leisure programs. The city and its surroundings are worth exploring too, with hiking and walking routes both inside and beyond the city limits.
March: Health, History, Humor
March 11 kicks off with In Pursuit of the Secrets of the Blue Zones – The Secrets of a Strong Immune System, a talk promising practical wellness insights. On the same day, Ajka “85 – Triumph of the Modern City, Our Everyday Life in the Panel Oasis” opens, running March 11–15. Think of a time capsule to the 1980s: housing-estate days, familiar streets, old shop windows, that specific mood. The exhibition blends archival photos and personal stories with a sit-in park installation and film screenings. It’s a place to rest, chat, and snap a nostalgic selfie. Every picture stirs a memory, and every memory sparks a new story. Nostalgia. Urban history. Shared experience. Come relive Ajka in the ’80s together.
March 12 brings Robin Hawdon’s comedy Szeretőből egy is sok (Even One Lover Is Too Many), primed for farce-fueled laughter. On March 14, the book launch Soma és Döme rejtelmes utazásai (The Mysterious Journeys of Soma and Döme) offers fresh literary adventure. March 15 is solemn: a commemoration honoring the 178th anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence.
March 17 pours into a wine tasting (Borkóstoló) guided by Gergő Kundermann, a session for curious palates. The Ajka “85” exhibition returns March 18–22 for those who missed the first run—or those wanting a second plunge into panel-era charm.
March 19 doubles up: the Gondosóra Show – a talk, and Lehetek őszinte? (Can I Be Honest?) – comedian Péter Elek’s solo night, with tickets from $15.30 to $15.60. On March 20, psychologist Noémi Orvos-Tóth dissects How Do We Break Inherited Family Patterns? at the Nagy László City Library and Leisure Center.
March 25 hums with The Big Encounter (Nagy találkozás) – a concert by Andrea Szulák, while Ajka “85” again spans March 25–29. March 26 adds a handcrafted flair with the Easter Artisan Fair.
April: Family Beats, Drama, and More Nostalgia
The ’80s thread continues April 1–5 with another Ajka “85” week. On April 2, Brandnyúl Mini Disco spins a family-friendly party. Ticket: $8.40, available online at jegy.hu or in person at the Information Center. Free for kids up to age 2 if they sit on a lap.
Ajka “85” returns April 8–12. On April 15, the stage turns gritty with Anthony Neilson’s The Last Fight (Az utolsó menet). That same week, April 15–19, you can once more step into the 1980s installation—and its film corner—for memory-making and conversations.
On April 22, Tibor Bödőcs headlines with his solo show From Here We’re Just Rolling (Innen már csak gurulunk), with guest Edu Tóth. April 24 brings Play at the Castle (Játék a kastélyban) to the Pannon Castle Theatre (Pannon Várszínház) stage at the City Library and Leisure Center; tickets are $21.10. On April 27, psychologist Kitti Almási speaks on Loose Ends, an evening delving into the unresolved threads of life. April 28 stages Abigél – the musical, with tickets from $11.90 to $13.00. On April 29, We Musical Souls… (Mi muzsikus lelkek…) corrals the biggest operetta and musical hits into one sweeping theater night—music, text, momentum.
May: Walks, Laughs, Life Talks
May 1 steps outdoors with Great Hike Walks – Boys from the Mine (Túrajó Séták – Fiúk a bányából), starting from the King Charles IV (IV. Károly király) chapel parking lot. Tickets range from $8.00 to $16.20. On May 9, Drop-Dead Wedding Night (Hullajó nászéjszaka) by the HeArt Company (HeArt Társulat) delivers a rollicking comedy.
May 21 continues the Crumbs of Knowledge (Tudásmorzsák) series: Serious topics, clearly explained – Our Everyday Hassles, a talk by protocol expert Ibolya Görög. May 22 is Peti Radics’s solo show at the Nagy László City Cultural Center and Library; tickets are $15.40. On May 30, Naked Truth (Meztelen igazság), a musical comedy at the same venue, lands at $23.90.
October: Generations in Focus
Mark October 7 for another Crumbs of Knowledge entry: Serious topics, clearly explained – Generational Differences, a talk by Krisztián Steigervald, known for decoding the habits, conflicts, and bridges between age cohorts.
Recurring Highlight: Ajka “85” Exhibition
Ajka’s living room of memories keeps anchoring the season with multiple runs: March 11–15, March 18–22, March 25–29, April 1–5, April 8–12, and April 15–19. It’s part gallery, part documentary cinema, part urban park you can sit in. Snap a selfie under the ’80s glow, swap stories, and rediscover the city’s panel-age pulse through photos and personal recollections. Nostalgia, city history, shared experience—show up and stitch new tales onto old frames.
Note: Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
