Budapest’s Liszt Academy of Music lines up a packed 2026 with major symphonic nights, chamber gems, jazz spotlights, student milestones, and festivals that take over its legendary Grand Hall (Nagyterem) and intimate Solti György Chamber Hall. Consistently ranked among the world’s top 50 performing arts universities, the Academy pairs world-class music with a jaw-dropping Art Nouveau setting—and sells tickets online all year long.
January: Grand openings and anniversaries
The year kicks off on January 4 at 7:30 PM with Gergely Bogányi’s Birthday Gala in the Grand Hall. The Erdődy Chamber Orchestra follows on January 8 at 7 PM in the Solti Hall, then the Transparent Sound New Music Festival (Átlátszó Hang) opens January 9 at 7 PM with Préludes – Chopin & Lazkano. On January 15 at 7:30 PM, Final Chord (Záróakkord) closes the Conservatory concert series in the Grand Hall, before the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra refracts Parallel Universes (Párhuzamos univerzumok) in their Dohnányi subscription (2025–26/4) on January 20 at 7:30 PM. Danubia Orchestra brings The Immortal Beloved – Beethoven’s love story (A halhatatlan kedves) – to the Grand Hall on January 21 at 7:30 PM, followed by a Franciscan charity concert on January 22 at 7 PM featuring the FRATRES Franciscan Choir & Orchestra and the Saint Angela School choirs. Cello DLA final recitals from Eszter Agárdi (January 24, 7 PM) and László Baranyay’s 80th jubilee concert (January 30, 7 PM) round out the month in the Solti.
February: From Cziffra Festival to Kurtág100
February 1 opens with Day of Talent (A tehetség napja) at 10 AM, then Salamon Kamp leads the Academy Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 PM. Chamber flow arrives February 3 at 6 PM with Current – Contrasts (Áramlat – Kontrasztok), and jazz lands February 6 at 7 PM with the Dániel Szabó Quintet. Cellist Flóra Matuska’s DLA finale plays February 7 at 7 PM; on February 8 there’s a Sunday Afternoon Classic at 4 PM with Fanni Mákszem and Ildikó Rozsonits, and GRANDIOSO 2025/26. 4./III. in the Grand Hall at 7:30 PM. The Cziffra Festival hits full stride: Champions League #jazz (Bajnokok ligája #jazz, February 11, 7:30 PM) and Rhapsody Essence (Rapszódia-esszencia, February 13, 7:30 PM). The Motus Quartet’s 4×4 rising-strings focus is on February 12 at 7 PM, and Dittersdorf, Haydn, Mozart, Vanhal shine on February 14 at 7 PM.
Liszt Academy for Kids (Liszt-kukacok Akadémiája) returns February 15 at 11 AM with Dreaming Artist (Álmodozó művész) – a Symphonie fantastique-themed adventure for ages 10–15. Cellist Ditta Rohmann takes the Solti on February 19 at 7 PM, and László Fassang dives into Bach on piano and organ February 21 at 7:30 PM. Budafok Dohnányi’s Understandable Music 2025–26/3: Meeting of Worlds (Megérthető zene 2025–26/3: Világok találkozása) plays February 22 at 11 AM, then Cziffra’s Champions League #classic (Bajnokok ligája #classic) at 7:30 PM. Masanori Sugano joins Balázs Fülei and the Budapest Strings on February 23 at 7:30 PM. Kurtág100 anchors late February: February 25 brings Kikuchi–Hakii–Madaras with the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and February 28 features Banse–Husmann–Keller–Groot.
March: Icons, films, and Russian portraits
March opens with Pleading – Contrasts (Kérlelés – Kontrasztok) on March 3 at 6 PM, then Make Space for Sounds: Beethoven (Teret a hangoknak: Beethoven, March 5, 7 PM). Jazz: New Fossils on March 6 at 7 PM. Binder 70 celebrates a titan on March 7. Danubia’s HOLLYWOOD! lights up March 9 at 7:30 PM. Endre Hegedűs plays an orchestral piano evening with the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra on March 10, conducted by Gábor Werner. The Terembura Group presents Here and Now (Itt és most) March 13 at 7 PM. Chamber stars András Keller, Miklós Perényi, and Mihály Berecz appear March 17 at 7:30 PM. On March 18: Szilvia Bognár and Klára Csernók deliver folk-rooted acoustic authenticity at 7 PM, while János Czifra leads the Academy Symphony and Alma Mater Choir at 7:30 PM. Bach and Handel share March 19 at 7 PM, and In Tune with Each Other (Egymásra hangolva) returns March 20 at 7 PM. Dénes Várjon’s Legendary Concerts (Legendás koncertek) arrives March 21 at 7:30 PM; the Russian Music Festival spotlights Kabalevsky and Rimsky-Korsakov on March 22 at 7:30 PM. The Korossy Quartet begins Bartók Quartets/1 on March 25 at 7 PM; PORTRAITS OZF 2026 (PORTRÉK OZF 2026) plays March 26 at 7 PM; the Chaos String Quartet continues the 4×4 focus March 27 at 7 PM. Danubia performs Bach/Britten/Janáček/Prokofiev on March 28 at 7:30 PM. For kids: Waltzing Princess (Keringőző hercegnő) on March 29 at 11 AM; then Ars Septem’s Tales from the Nursery (Mesék a gyerekszobából) at 4 PM.
April: Orchestras, questions, percussion
April 7 at 6 PM brings Message – Contrasts (Üzenet – Kontrasztok), then pianists Dávid Báll and András Kemenes at Arm’s Length on April 15 at 7 PM. Gergely Ménesi conducts the Academy Symphony on April 16 at 7:30 PM; Dóra Kokas and Izabella Simon follow April 17 at 7 PM. Comic Baroque opera arrives April 18 at 7 PM with Dittersdorf: The Pretended Madman for Love (Il finto pazzo per amore). More Understandable Music: Meeting of Worlds on April 19 at 11 AM, while Éva Kóbor, Nella Balog, and Sebestyén Pellet perform at 4 PM. GRANDIOSO 4./IV. wraps April 19 at 7:30 PM. April 21 at 7 PM says: Ask the Composer! (Kérdezd a zeneszerzőt!). World Percussion Group shakes the Solti on April 22 at 7 PM. Quartet Integra appears April 23 at 7 PM; Danubia stages Legends League – The Piano Duel (Legendák Ligája – A zongorapárbaj) at 7:30 PM. János Balázs continues Legendary Concerts on April 24 at 7:30 PM. On April 25 at 7 PM, Júlia Karosi and ensemble bridge Monteverdi – Past & Present. Liszt Academy for Kids returns April 26 at 11 AM with The Grazing Shepherd (Legeltető juhász); that evening, Cavalli, Krieger, Legrenzi, and Rosenmüller glow at 7 PM. László Sándor’s Offertorium Musicum lands April 28 at 7 PM, and the Academy Wind Orchestra plays April 29 at 7:30 PM. A powerhouse chamber night caps the month April 30 at 7:30 PM with János Mátyás Stark, Gergely Devich, and Fülöp Ránki.
May: Folk pulse, birthdays, and giants
May 5 at 6 PM: Touch – chamber series (Érintés). On May 6 at 7 PM, dive into the temperament of The Trout Quintet with Balázs Fülei. Dance House Day (Táncház Napja) ignites May 9 at 7:30 PM. The Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra explores The Father of Film Music on May 10 at 11 AM. Tamás Szarka’s choral conducting DLA finale takes the Grand Hall May 12 at 7 PM. Kurtág’s birthday inspires chamber music May 13 at 7 PM. Organ in the spotlight: Dóra Pétery and Trio Passacaglia on May 16 at 7:30 PM. The Korossy Quartet returns with Bartók Quartets/2 on May 17 at 7 PM. The Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra asks What Are Hungarians Like? (Milyenek a magyarok?) on May 20 at 7:30 PM. Danubia combines Wagner/Bernstein/Borodin on May 21 at 7:30 PM. A peak: the Cziffra Festival presents Leonidas Kavakos and Enrico Pace in duo on May 25 at 7:30 PM. Kids wrap the month with Sunday Witch (Vasárnapi Boszorka) on May 31 at 11 AM.
June: Star pianos and master workshops
June 1 at 7:30 PM brings the Lucas & Arthur Jussen Piano Percussion Project. Timeless classics rule June 3 at 7 PM with Timeless Melodies, Eternal Masters (Időtlen dallamok, örök mesterek). On June 16 at 7:30 PM, chamber all-stars collide: Baráti, Guzzo, Várdai, Magyar, Simon, and Várjon in Masters’ Workshop (Mesterek műhelye). Student symphonic energy roars back June 17 at 7:30 PM with Tutti – Conservatory Concerts (Konzis koncertek).
Autumn highlights: Keys and color
After summer, October 8 at 7 PM explores Brahms on Graph Paper? (Brahms négyzetrácsos papíron?) with Balázs Fülei’s musical journeys. October 10 offers a double: Misi Boros at 11 AM and Alexandra Dovgan’s piano recital at 7:30 PM. November 11 at 7 PM paints Colors on the Palette (Színek a palettán) with Poulenc, Debussy, and Saint-Saëns. The year closes December 20 at 7:30 PM with a Christmas concert featuring Andrea Vigh and friends.
Tickets are available online throughout 2026.
