Head to Budapest in 2025 if you’re looking for an unbeatable open-air festival experience right in the city’s green heart. The Margaret Island Open-Air Stage (Margitszigeti Szabadtéri Színpad) is gearing up for another epic season, featuring exclusive shows and world-class acts. Whether you’re into musical theatre, orchestras, glitzy dance shows, or even circus spectaculars, there’s something for everyone at the country’s most vibrant, long-running festival. With more than seventy different events scheduled from May to September, the festival fills the island (and your calendar) with local and international stars, stunning visuals and sound, and a family-friendly atmosphere.
Festival Highlights: A Season of Spectacle
Here’s a taste of what’s coming up during the main August-September run:
August 1 & 2: “Shrek, The Musical” (Shrek, a musical) brings fairy tale madness to the stage.
August 7: “Danube Symphony – Frank Wildhorn & Friends Musical Gala” (Duna Szimfónia – Frank Wildhorn és barátai musicalgála) offers up Broadway hits with dazzling orchestration.
August 9: The 100 Member Gypsy Orchestra celebrates its mind-blowing 40th anniversary with a huge concert.
August 14: Dance fever peaks at “Forever Dance with the Stars” ballroom show.
August 19: “Leander Symphonic Kills” concert brings the Hungarian symphonic metal band’s signature intensity.
August 23: “Alice in Wonderland Reloaded” (Alice Csodaországban – Reloaded): a jaw-dropping circus show.
August 27: International party with Chico and the Gypsies.
August 30: “Evita” musical, as timeless as ever.
September 2: Budapest Bár concert, fusing old-school swing with contemporary sounds.
September 5: “Psycho” film music concert: Hitchcock’s classic, spine-chilling score performed live.
And that’s just a taste—there are sixteen highlight nights across the summer!
Where to Stay: Something for Everyone
Don’t worry about accommodation—Margaret Island (Margitsziget) and the surrounding city districts offer plenty of options, from luxury hotels with Danube views to budget hostels for festival-goers on the move.
Just a few minutes from Budapest’s bustling commercial, entertainment, shopping, and dining center, you’ll find the Adina Apartment Hotel—perfect for both comfort and convenience. Another top pick is Bell Hostel, located right in the city center—five private rooms, thirteen beds in all, plus two apartments—ideal for exhibitors and festival guests who want style without the fuss.
If you’re interested in sightseeing and nightlife, City Hotel Ring is located just 820 feet from Nyugati (Western) train station, with Parliament an easy half-mile walk away. Party venues and the lush recreational spaces of Margaret Island are less than half a mile from your doorstep.
The four-star hotels lining the Pest side of the Danube offer spectacular views of Buda’s rolling hills, the river, or Margaret Island itself. Suites come with all the amenities: private bathroom, individually controlled air conditioning, satellite TV, minibar, free Wi-Fi, and even furnished balconies in some rooms. There’s no shortage of places to relax or be entertained after a day at the festival.
Boutique options are plentiful. You can literally sleep on the Danube at the Fortuna Hotel & Restaurant Ship, offering city views from a moored vessel right by Saint Stephen’s Park (Szent István park). Hotels with panoramic views, gym facilities, conference rooms, and rooftop bars cater to business travelers, music fans, and city explorers alike.
For budget travelers or backpackers, Hotel Goliat (Hotel Góliát), near Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere) and City Park (Városliget), is ideal. With forty-five four-bed rooms and up to 180 rooms in the summer, it caters to students and young adventurers. Don’t miss hostels designed by the famous architect Miklós Ybl, set in peaceful, leafy surroundings but still just minutes from the city action.
Food & Drink: Budapest’s Global Menu
Festival foodies will love the nearby eateries serving everything from Mediterranean feasts to Asian street food, pizza, kebabs, and classic Hungarian comfort dishes. On Saint Stephen Boulevard (Szent István körút), Antalya Kebab sizzles with Middle Eastern flavors; Angelino Pizzeria takes pizza to obsessive new heights with fresh, handmade ingredients and standout desserts.
Babka Budapest offers a vibrant culinary meeting spot in Újlipótváros, blending the flavors of the eastern Mediterranean—think Jewish, Arab, Turkish—alongside Hungarian favorites. Babka Deli next door is a popular day café and community hub. For Turkish breakfast and charcoal-grilled meats, check out the city’s many Turkish restaurants, rolling out fresh simit and pastries all day.
Or, for the full festival afterglow, step aboard the Vogue Boat Restaurant, moored downtown for two decades, with menus in English, Hungarian, German, and Russian. Hosting everything from company parties to lazy brunches, you’re guaranteed unbeatable Danube views, whatever you’re celebrating.
If jazz is your thing, Budapest Jazz Club is the city’s living room for lovers of smooth sounds—a stylish space combining premium acoustics, a cozy café, and top-notch bistro fare.
Just One Fine Print
Dates and programs may change—organizers reserve the right to adjust schedules. But no matter when you come, expect something memorable on stage, in your glass, and at your table. Summer in Budapest rarely disappoints, especially when it’s island time.
