Balatonfüred on Lake Balaton buzzes with non-stop action from March 23 (Monday) through late June 2026. Festivals, concerts, cultural talks, food festivals, family days, boat trips, movie screenings, and more fill the calendar at various venues including the Congress Center, churches, cafés, and lakeside spots. Whether you’re into jazz, literature, vintage cars, or hiking, this lakeside town has something for everyone. Boat excursions and cinema schedules run frequently, alongside unique one-off events. Many are free or low-cost, with tickets starting at $6. Dive into the full schedule below.
March 23-29 Kickoff
The week starts with ongoing cinema programs in Balatonfüred from March 23-29 and into March 30-April 5. On March 27, catch Tari Annamária’s talk “Üresre töltve – A digitális hedonizmus és az analóg depresszió” (Charged to Empty – Digital Hedonism and Analog Depression) at the Congress Center—free for upper elementary and high school students, $19 adult ticket. Same day at 5 p.m., join the book club at Bergmann Pastry Shop for Valérie Perrin’s Másodvirágzás (Changing Water). It’s a monthly meetup with cakes, drinks, and book discussions—perfect for book lovers wanting to make new friends in a cozy spot. March 28 brings the Ferencsik János Wind Orchestra concert at 5 p.m. in the Congress Center ($6 tickets available at the music school or at the door), featuring popular marches, film scores, and light classics. Also that day: “Első Hajó” Inn event with a chat featuring Szinetár Dóra, and boat tours March 28-29. Wrap up the week on March 29 with organist Albert Csaba’s free concert at the Reformed Church—baroque and romantic masters.
April Adventures
April 1 hosts a Community Seder at Zsidó Kiválóságok Háza (House of Jewish Excellence), open to everyone interested in history and cuisine—no faith required. April 2 features the joint exhibit opening by painter Németh Árpád and sculptor Sejber Mihály at Arácsi Community House, plus World Autism Awareness Day in Balatonfüred-Vászoly: a free event (registration required) starting at 8 a.m. at BYC Club (Zákonyi Ferenc u. 2) with Orion Űrnemzedék (Orion Space Generation) interactive sessions, sailing demos until noon, then a picnic, bread baking, forest hike with ESMT sensory therapy led by Vissza a vadonba (Back to the Wild) experts, and games at Fürjes Udvarház. Easter family craft activities at Arácsi Népház 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Boat tours April 3-6. April 4: rabbi-led synagogue tour, city walk, and Zsidó Kiválóságok Háza visit. Cinema April 6-12. April 7 Film Club at Balaton Cinema: Annika Iltis’s Barkley Marathons. Boat tours April 7-10. April 8 at 6 p.m., linguist Dr. Szabó Réka on “Jókai és reformkor nyelvezete” (Jókai and Reform Era Language) at Arácsi Népház—free. April 9 at 5 p.m., “Örökség” discussion with Kossuth and József Attila Prize-winning poet Mezey Katalin, hosted by Praznovszky Mihály at Szőcs Géza Literary Salon. April 10 at 7 p.m., Dixie and Latin show at Balaton Leisure Center. Poetry Day matinee “Kárpát-medencébe fújt gondolatok” (Thoughts Blown into the Carpathian Basin) April 11 at Szőcs Géza Salon. Boat tours April 11-12. Boat tours April 13-17, cinema April 13-19. Holocaust Remembrance Day April 16. April 18: Füredi KERÉKkaland and Túrajó séták “Fától az erdőig” (From Tree to Forest) hikes, both $11. Boat tours April 18-19.
Mid-April to May Thrills
April 20 at 7 p.m., Anima Musicae “Hegedűs szeszélyek” (Violin Caprices) at Congress Center Plenary Hall ($19-$25): Péteris Vasks’s Lonely Angel, Arensky chamber symphony, Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. “Életet az Éveknek” Festival April 20-23, boat tours April 20-24, cinema April 20-26. UltraBalaton April 23-26, 35th Jókai Napok April 24-25, Jókai bean soup contest April 25 in Koloska Valley. Boat tours April 25-26, Balatonfüred Wine Competition April 26. Boat tours April 27-30, cinema April 27-May 3. May 1: 4th Balatonfondo bike event, Local History and Jókai Museum May Day picnic. Boat tours May 1-3. May 2 at 7 p.m., comedy “Könnyű erkölcsök” (Light Morals) at Congress Center ($12). At 6 p.m., “Velünk élő kiválóságaink” series with Lutheran pastor and writer Gabnai Sándor at Zsidó Kiválóságok Háza on vocation, local life, and daily challenges. Boat tours and cinema May 4-10. Film Club May 5: Sergei Parajanov’s A gránátalma színe (The Color of the Pomegranate). Boat tours and cinema May 11-17. Concours d’Elegance vintage car beauty contest May 15-17, Vitorlabontó (Sail Launch) Ceremony and season-opening regatta May 16. Tour de Hongrie peloton rolls through May 17 around 2:26 p.m. on Hwy 71, past the Tesco roundabout to Fürdő St., then to Balatonszőlős.
May-June Fest Frenzy
Cinema and boat tours May 18-24. Balatoni Hal- és Borünnep (Balaton Fish and Wine Festival) May 22-25. Boat tours and cinema May 25-31. Children’s Weekend May 30-June 1. Boat tours June 1-5, cinema June 1-7. Boat tours June 6-7. “Szegény gazdagok” (The Poor Rich) at Congress Center June 7 ($21-$22). Boat tours June 8-12, cinema June 8-14. Könyv-Bor-Jazz Fesztivál (Book-Wine-Jazz Festival) June 11-14. Boat tours June 13-14, boat tours June 15-18, cinema June 15-21. Magyar Mozgókép Fesztivál (Hungarian Motion Picture Festival) June 18-20. Boat tours June 19-21. Balatonfüred International Guitar Festival June 20-27. Boat tours June 22-25, cinema June 22-28. Boat tours June 26-28. Rabbi-led tour June 27.
Mark your calendars—Balatonfüred’s 2026 promises lakeside magic!
