The Big Sport and Instrument Tryout returns to Budapest on May 29–30, 2026, taking over the Merkapt Sports Center (Merkapt Sportközpont) in Kőbánya. Across two days, visitors can jump into more than 100 sports and get hands-on with 25 musical instruments, all under the guidance of qualified coaches and instructors. It’s free to enter with registration, and it’s designed for everyone from curious kids to active families to anyone itching to discover a new passion in sport or music.
Where, when, how
The venue is the Merkapt Sports Center (Merkapt Sportközpont), 1106 Budapest, Maglódi út 12/A, in the city’s 10th district. Doors open Friday and Saturday, May 29–30, from 9:00 to 17:00. Entry is free, but advance registration is required. Friday primarily welcomes pre-registered kindergarten and school groups, while Saturday throws the gates wide open to the general public—families, individuals, and walk-in explorers who registered in advance.
Jump in, don’t just watch
This isn’t a spectator event. The whole point is to try everything. Coaches are on hand across the sports zones to guide absolute beginners and budding talents through taster sessions, drills, and open training. Over in the music area, instructors help visitors hold, pluck, blow, bow, and beat their way through a lineup of instruments spanning classical, folk, and modern sounds. Think of it as a giant, friendly test drive for both body and ear.
Meet champions, get inspired
Expect to bump into Olympic, world, and European champions wandering the grounds, joining demos, or pausing for photos and autographs. For many kids, a quick chat with a gold medalist can be the spark that makes a new sport click. The athlete meet-and-greets add a jolt of real-life inspiration to the tryout buzz.
Why families love it
The program is one of Budapest’s most popular family activities for a reason: it condenses a year’s worth of trial classes into a single weekend. Kids can sample countless sports in a playful, low-pressure way, while parents get a clear picture of what actually suits their child. With trained coaches at every station, families can make smarter choices about sports clubs and after-school activities—and enjoy a full day of active fun together.
100+ sports to sample
From mainstream to niche, the spread is huge. Visitors will find:
– Football
– Swimming and water polo
– Handball
– Fencing
– Kayak-canoe
– Ballet
– Weightlifting
– Breakdance
– OCR obstacle racing
Each sport area serves up live demonstrations and open sessions, so you can watch, learn, then lace up and join in. Don’t be surprised if you leave with a new obsession you didn’t see coming.
25 instruments within arm’s reach
The Big Instrument Tryout runs alongside the sports program and invites visitors to truly play:
– Strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass
– Woodwinds: flute, recorder, clarinet, saxophone
– Brass: trumpet, French horn, trombone
– Percussion: drum kit, hand drums, triangle, xylophone
– Plucked: guitar, bass guitar
– Keyboard and chordal: piano, cimbalom
Instructors guide first notes, basic technique, and sound exploration. In the Zeneliget zone, musical showcases blend with modern and folk dance, turning passive listening into full-body rhythm.
Perfect for schools and groups
Kindergarten and school groups are especially encouraged to attend on Friday, with a layout and schedule that make rotating through stations smooth and time-efficient. It’s a playful, structured way to introduce students to diverse movement skills, teamwork, and the joy of music. Teachers can fold the experience back into PE and arts curricula with real-world context.
Who should go
– Kids and teens choosing a sport
– Families seeking an active, all-ages weekend in Budapest
– Kindergarten and school groups learning through play
– Sport lovers chasing new movement styles
– Music-curious visitors eager to meet instruments up close
If you want to find the activity that sticks—whether it’s a sprint start, a fencing lunge, a clean and jerk, or the first clean note on a clarinet—this is where you’ll feel it.
Good to know
– Dates: May 29–30, 2026
– Hours: 9:00–17:00
– Location: Merkapt Sports Center (Merkapt Sportközpont), 1106 Budapest, Maglódi út 12/A
– Entry: Free with registration
– Programs: Try 100+ sports; instrument demos and tryouts; sports showcases; music programs
The big takeaway
Budapest’s Big Sport and Instrument Tryout turns choosing into doing. Over two days, you can chase a ball, slice a foil, paddle hard, breakdance on the mat, or step behind a drum kit and feel the beat land. With expert coaches, approachable music instructors, and star athletes dropping by, it’s a rare chance to test, compare, and discover what moves you—then take that momentum into summer and beyond.
