Balatonfüred gears up for a packed 2026 with festivals, concerts, cultural events, foodie happenings, and family fun lighting up the shores of Lake Balaton. From March 23 to late summer, multiple venues across 8230 Balatonfüred host movie screenings, boat cruises, talks, plays, and massive regattas. Weekly cinema lineups, boat excursions, and sightseeing sails keep things lively—check specifics below for dates, times, prices, and spots like the Congress Center, Jewish House of Excellence, Reformed Church, and more. Grab tickets early for these lakefront must-dos!
March Highlights
Kick off with cinema schedules from March 23-29 and March 30-April 5. On March 25 at 5:30 p.m., Zoltán Tömpe launches his book at the Jewish House of Excellence. March 27 brings Annamária Tari’s talk “Charged to Empty: Digital Hedonism and Analog Depression” at the Congress Center—free for upper elementary and high school students, $19 for others. Chat with Dóra Szinetár on March 28, plus the first boat arrival. That evening at 5 p.m., the Ferencsik János Wind Orchestra rocks the Congress Center with popular tunes from marches to film scores and pop hits—$6 entry, tickets at the music school or door. Organ concert on March 29 at 5 p.m. in the Reformed Church: Csaba Albert, a student at the Amsterdam Conservatory, plays Baroque and Romantic masters for free. Boat trips run March 28-29.
April Adventures
Cinema screenings April 6-12 and 13-19. Community Seder at the Jewish House of Excellence on April 1 welcomes all curious about history and food, no faith required. On April 2, the comedy Boeing-Boeing (Leszállás Párizsban) at the Congress Center, the world’s most-performed farce per Guinness—$23 to $31. Boat trips April 3-6, sails April 7-10 and 13-17. Rabbi-led synagogue tour, city walk, and Jewish House visit on April 4. Film club on April 7 at Balaton Cinema: Annika Iltis’s Barkley Marathons. Linguist Réka Szabó speaks on “Jókai and the Language of the Reform Era” on April 8 at 6 p.m. in Arács Community House—free. Dixie and Latin show on April 10 at 7 p.m. in Balaton Leisure Center. Boat trips April 11-12. Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 16. Guided hikes “From Tree to Forest” and Füredi Wheel Adventure both on April 18—$11 each. Boat trips April 18-19. Anima Musicae chamber orchestra presents “Violin Whims” on April 20 at 7 p.m. in Congress Center Plenary Hall: Vasks’ Lonely Angel, Arensky’s chamber symphony, Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso—$19 to $24. “Life to the Years” Festival April 20-23, sails to April 24, cinema to April 26. Ultrabalaton April 23-26. 35th Jókai Days April 24-25 with bean soup cooking contest on April 25 in Koloska Valley. Balatonfüred Wine Competition on April 26. Boat trips April 25-26.
May Mayhem
Sails April 27-30, May 1-3, 4-10, 11-17, 18-24, and 25-31; cinema matching those dates plus May 4-10, 11-17, 18-24, and 25-31. 4th Balatonfondo and local history/Jókai Museum May Day picnic on May 1. Comedy Light Morals (Könnyű erkölcsök) on May 2 at 7 p.m. at Congress Center—$12. “Living Excellences” series on May 2 at 6 p.m. at Jewish House of Excellence: chat with pastor/writer Sándor Gabnai on calling, local life, and daily challenges. Film club on May 5: Sergei Parajanov’s The Color of the Pomegranate (A gránátalma színe). Balatonfüred Concours d’Elegance vintage car beauty contest May 15-17. Sail launch and season opener regatta on May 16. Tour de Hongrie peloton rolls through on May 17 around 2:26 p.m. on Route 71, past Tesco roundabout to Fürdő Street then Balatonszőlős. Balaton Fish and Wine Festival May 22-25. Children’s Weekend May 30-June 1.
June Jamboree
Sails June 1-5, 8-12, 15-18, 22-25, and 29-July 2; cinema June 1-7, 8-14, 15-21, 22-28, and 29-July 5; boat trips June 6-7, 13-14, 19-21, and 26-28. Comedy Poor Rich (Szegény gazdagok) on June 7 at Congress Center—$21 to $22. Book-Wine-Jazz Festival June 11-14. Hungarian Film Festival June 18-20. International Guitar Festival June 20-27. Rabbi tour on June 27. Rákász Gergely plays Mozart on July 1 at Evangelical Church—$16.
July Heatwave
Boat trips July 3-5, 6-12, 13-19, 20-26, and 27-Aug 2; cinema July 6-12, 13-19, 20-26, and 27-Aug 2. Allianz Bay Swim and SUP Challenge on July 11. Dumafüred comedy fest July 17-26—$20 to $27. Rabbi tour on July 18. Anna Festival July 21-26. White Ribbon—Izsák Szabolcs memorial race and 201st Anna Ball on July 25. 58th Raiffeisen Blue Ribbon Grand Prix July 30-Aug 1.
August Anchor
Cinema and boat trips Aug 3-9. Hungarian Sailing Federation event Aug 6-9 wraps the summer sail season in style.
