The OMÉK—National Agricultural and Food Exhibition and Fair (Országos Mezőgazdasági és Élelmiszeripari Kiállítás és Vásár)—returns for its 82nd edition this year, transforming Budapest’s HUNGEXPO Congress and Exhibition Center into the country’s liveliest and most flavorful agricultural festival from September 18 to 21, 2025. This unique event, nearly 150 years old, gathers the full spectrum of Hungary’s agricultural and food industry, offering a vibrant, hands-on celebration for both professionals and the general public. Farmers and producers from across the nation, city dwellers curious about rural life, families, and business leaders alike will all find something to enjoy at this sprawling showcase. In 2025, the spotlight is squarely on the hardworking farmers who keep Hungary’s fields green and tables full.
Where Farms, Food, and Future Collide
OMÉK serves up the best of both worlds—imagine cutting-edge industry networking and a weekend-long rural fair. For professionals, it’s the definitive meeting place for everyone from farmers and exporters to business buyers and food innovators. Major deals are known to start here, especially at the highly anticipated Hungarian Food Summit (Magyar Élelmiszeripari Csúcstalálkozó), a major international business matchmaking event. This year’s summit expects 80–100 Hungarian food exporters and as many as 200 international food buyers searching for the next big hit, following the previous summit’s runaway success.
But when the weekend arrives, the event transforms into a full-blown country carnival for tens of thousands of visitors. Expect family-friendly fun and learning, hands-on workshops, culinary demonstrations, and Central Europe’s largest market of artisanal producers. Every age group can peek behind the barn doors to discover modern Hungarian farming, food production, and the latest agri-trends.
Digital Farming Comes Alive
There’s no ignoring the digital revolution in agriculture, and OMÉK 2025 brings the conversation to life. On opening day, Hungary’s Ministry of Agriculture (Agrárminisztérium) hosts a headline conference: “Smart Technology, Green Future – Modernization Solutions for Agriculture.” The aim? To provide an immersive overview of digitalization trends in farming, showing how innovation is shaping everything from crop management to generational knowledge transfer, with a focus on both local and pan-European developments.
From practical solutions to panel debates, the focus is on weaving digital tools and fresh thinking into Hungarian agriculture—for a more sustainable, efficient, and competitive industry. Attendees can exchange real-world best practices for crop growing, animal husbandry, horticulture, and more. The challenging issue of passing knowledge between generations is also addressed, with hopes that smart technology can encourage new faces to enter the farming profession.
Five Halls of Discovery
It all happens in five giant pavilions and a bustling street food passage:
A Pavilion: Meet the power players—industry associations, leading agri-tech brands, food producers, and trading giants. Watch machinery demonstrations, browse the stands of 80–100 food exporters, and attend the Hungarian Food Summit’s B2B meetings with international buyers.
B Pavilion: An animal lover’s paradise with livestock displays and breed showcases.
C Pavilion: The knowledge zone. From September 18–19, dive into forums, professional lectures, and conferences on everything from sustainability to export opportunities.
D Pavilion: The heart of the event—artisan food, craft sellers, and family farms. Enjoy on-stage entertainment like puppet shows, educational talks, and children’s concerts. The “FreeFest” (MentesFeszt) section celebrates allergen-free foods, while national park product displays and regional exhibitions highlight Hungary’s extraordinary local flavors and agricultural diversity.
E Pavilion: A sensory journey into the Carpathian Basin (Kárpát-medence)—its culinary secrets, ancient crafts, and rich folk traditions. Expect live music, dance groups, and a showcase of “Hungarikum” treasures, from Tokaj Aszú (Tokaji aszú) wine and acacia honey to Gyula sausage (Gyulai kolbász), Halas lace (Halasi csipke), Busó masks (Busó álarcok), and the famous Cifraszűr coat. Stage programs blend folk dance, expert lectures, runway shows, and musical acts for a true taste of heritage.
Passage – Gastro Street (Gasztro utca): Satisfy every craving with open-air eats, food trucks, drinks, and grill houses, all along a central avenue linking the action across pavilions.
Daily Highlights: Talks, Music, Food, and Fun
Each day brings a packed schedule of programs, especially on the lively D Stage:
– September 18: Top tips on seed saving, garden biodiversity, Mediterranean herbs at home, and why trust matters in food communities. Debates about medicinal plants, and a live set by Smart Band (Smart együttes).
– September 19: Nutrition myths busted, new food technologies, sustainable gardening, composting tricks, and music from Alma (Alma együttes) and Lajta Folk Dance Group (Lajta Néptáncegyüttes).
– September 20: Folk music from Buborék (Buborék együttes) and Zabszalma (Zabszalma együttes), a bold folk-meets-fashion performance, Disney classics by Veca Janicsák (Janicsák Veca) and Hagamaki, and high-energy dance shows.
– September 21: Gardening fun with Marcsi Borbás (Borbás Marcsi), kids’ concerts, Tibor & the Igricek (Tibor és az Igricek), and a roundtable on organic bread and cereals.
Tickets and Visitor Info
A day ticket costs about USD 2.70, while families (two adults plus children under 18) can enter for USD 5.40. Children under 6 enter free! Entry gates are at HUNGEXPO I and III.
For the animals’ wellbeing, visitors are kindly asked to leave pets at home this year to help prevent the spread of infectious animal diseases—an essential safeguard for animal exhibitors and the future of farming.
OMÉK 2025—where the heart of Hungarian agriculture beats for four unforgettable days!
