Budapest Congress Center rolls into 2025–2026 with a packed calendar of concerts, shows, and festive spectacles. Heads-up: there’s no on-site ticket office. All tickets are sold exclusively online via official ticketing platforms.
Holiday Soul With Tóth Vera
December 22, 2025, Monday, 19:00 – Tóth Vera returns to the Budapest Congress Center with a soaring Christmas grand concert, her first appearance at the venue since 2017. Backed by the Tóth Vera Band and a lush string section, she blends music, theater, film, and psychology into a single, immersive evening. The show, titled Ünnep: Lélek hangjai (Holiday: Voices of the Soul), intertwines her own work with intimate Christmas classics, threaded through reflective thoughts that nudge the audience toward the season’s deeper meaning. Expect a heart-stirring production that aims to resonate far beyond the ears. Join her at 19:00 and drift into the realm of winter wonders together.
The Nutcracker Dances Back to Budapest
December 23, 2025, Tuesday, 20:00 – Christmas without The Nutcracker? Not happening. Tchaikovsky’s classic lands just in time for the holidays, courtesy of the Ukrainian Classical Ballet. This acclaimed company fuses traditional ballet with modern sensibility and distinctive expression, earning praise worldwide after more than 800 performances in 20 countries. Their Nutcracker enchanted nearly 50,000 spectators across Europe last year, and now Budapest gets the magic again. With fresh staging, contemporary projections, and striking visuals, Clara and her Nutcracker’s dreamlike journey returns in sparkling new attire. A standout of Advent and a family-ready spectacle that keeps winning hearts across generations.
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio With Star Soloists
December 26, 2025, Friday, 19:45 – The Budapest Festival Orchestra sets the stage for a major holiday event with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, performing cantatas 1, 2, 3, and 6 from BWV 248. The lineup is stellar: tenor Julian Prégardien as the Evangelist delivers crystalline articulation; angel-voiced soprano Julia Lezhneva brings her much-praised agility; mezzo Olivia Vermeulen offers a bell-clear timbre that seems to stop time; and bass-baritone Hanno Müller-Brachmann anchors the low end with supple warmth. The illustrious Collegium Vocale Ghent, founded by Philippe Herreweghe, supplies the choral splendor. Iván Fischer conducts.
Don’t be fooled by the title: while it’s called an oratorio, this masterpiece functions as a cycle of six cantatas written for specific feast days from December 25 to January 6. Composed in Leipzig in 1734–1735, the work weaves scripture and poetry to trace Christ’s birth, the proclamation of the good news, the shepherds’ adoration, the circumcision and naming, and the homage of the Magi. The four cantatas on this program traverse brilliant contrasts: the first bursts with trumpets and timpani to proclaim Christ’s birth; the second shifts to a pastoral sound world with oboes and oboe da caccia, uniquely beginning with an instrumental sinfonia instead of a festive chorus; the third greets the manger with jubilant chorus and fanfare-like scoring; the sixth, once performed as a standalone cantata, brings the Magi and Herod into focus, closing in grand, ode-like style. Threaded through are secco recitatives for the Evangelist, radiant string-supported angelic announcements, and chorales of hallmark Bach beauty. Many arias are original, while some choral numbers draw from earlier secular cantatas and the lost St. Mark Passion—recast here to celebrate the joy of redemption. The tonal plan centers around D major, with the opening chorale’s melody returning to frame the finale.
Karoly Nyári’s 18th Jubilee Christmas Concert (Nyári Károly)
December 27, 2025, Saturday, 19:30 – Pianist-singer Karoly Nyári marks the 18th edition of his beloved Christmas concert, once again at the Congress Center, with extra surprises in store. Expect appearances from returning star guests of years past, including Aliz Nyári and Edit Nyári, plus surprise names. Alongside solo numbers, iconic duets and the most tender carols share space with the artist’s career-defining hits, all wrapped in his trademark elegance. The Budapest Jazz Symphonic Orchestra—founded by Nyári—collaborates, unveiling unique arrangements. Striking visuals amp up the drama for a memorable night. Celebrate together with loved ones at this warmly traditional yet freshly staged festive showcase.
Film Music Spectacular
December 29, 2025, Monday, 19:00 – A film music concert closes out the year’s final days with sweeping themes and cinematic punch. More details to come, but expect a blockbuster atmosphere at concert-hall scale.
“Music & Wine” with the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra (100 Tagú Cigányzenekar)
December 30, 2025, Tuesday, 19:00 – The season-ending gala of the 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra pours virtuoso Gypsy music and beloved classics into a two-part program, adding folk gems in special orchestrations stamped with the ensemble’s unmistakable sound. Keeping tradition alive, the concert features favorite melodies by Franz Lehár and Imre Kálmán, with star soloists from the Operetta Theatre. The finale—complete with fireworks—reaches its climax under chief primás József Lendvay “Csócsi” with The Nightingale (Pacsirta) and the Radetzky March.
Guests are welcomed with a drink from 18:30. Those wanting a culinary ride can book a four-course wine dinner (VIP, I, II categories) or a cold supper platter (IV category) with wines alongside the music. The four-course menu includes: foie gras torchon with candied orange chutney, Mangalica ham, brioche; rich guinea fowl consommé; bacon-wrapped Mangalica tenderloin with gratin potatoes, grilled vegetables, porcini sauce; and a pumpkin seed choux with raspberry, plus bakery bread and salted butter; white, red, rosé, mineral water, coffee. Vegetarian options available on request. The cold platter features foie gras torchon with brioche; one slice of Mangalica ham with orange chutney; one slice of salmon gravlax with frisée and wasabi foam; goat cheese tart with confit tomato and microgreens; eggplant tartare; salad; bread and butter; wines, water, coffee. Executive Chef: Ákos Kosztán (Novotel Budapest City & Budapest Congress Center).
New Year’s Eve Stand-Up: Péter Janklovics and Dávid Dennis Musimbe
December 31, 2025, Wednesday, 16:00 – Dumaszínház presents Péter Janklovics’s solo show A bér kötelez – Az élet máshogy van. He probes whether wealth and happiness walk hand in hand or barely nod in the hallway. Answers not guaranteed; sharp questions are. Dynamic pricing applies.
Also on December 31 – Ezt benéztem! by Dávid Dennis Musimbe, hosted by László Lovász and Orsi Sipos, keeps the laughs rolling into midnight.
