Budapest’s Museum of the National Assembly (Országgyűlési Múzeum) is packing the calendar with hands-on democracy, free guided tours, and a steady stream of youth-focused programs. Alongside four permanent exhibitions and rotating shows, the museum runs a research workshop and is building a substantial digital database to complement its classic collection of physical objects and documentation. The audience in focus: students, with tailored museum education sessions aligned to different age groups, and an open invitation to explore Hungary’s lawmaking past and present up close.
Demokráciajáték: Step Into a Lawmaker’s Shoes
On December 11, 2025, the museum hosts Demokráciajáték, a full-day interactive event where high school students become members of parliament for a day. It’s immersive and structured like the real thing: participants simulate a committee meeting, a plenary session, and a party caucus, test the House of Magnates Chamber voting system, and wrap up by holding a press conference. This is not a sit-and-listen day—advance prep and active engagement are essential. The payoff is big: students sharpen communication and argumentation skills, learn to collaborate in groups, and practice what they’ve prepared under live-fire conditions. During the school year, the program runs once a month, with four high school groups of 20 students each taking part simultaneously. Venue: Budapest.
Youth Day in Parliament: Have Your Say
December 12, 2025, is the fourteenth edition of You Have a Say! Youth Day in Parliament (Van beleszólásod! Parlamenti Ifjúsági Nap), a flagship Youth Day inside Parliament designed to show teenagers that their voices matter in decisions about their lives—and to nudge them toward active participation in community issues. The day brings together 300 students who spend time talking with Hungarian and European Union parliamentarians, forming teams to debate and present their views during a workshop focused on Hungary’s new, in-progress National Youth Strategy. There’s more: guided exploration of the Parliament Building (Országház) and briefings on EU youth opportunities, Erasmus+, and the European Solidarity Corps. High school classes and groups from grades 11–13 can apply. Application deadline: October 27, 2025, midnight. Venue: Budapest.
“A Thousand Years of Hungarian Legislation” Free Saturday Tours
Starting December 13, 2025, and running deep into spring 2026, the museum offers free 45-minute guided visits to its evolving exhibition A Thousand Years of Hungarian Legislation (A magyar törvényhozás ezer éve). Tours depart every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. from the Parliament Visitor Centre. Registration is required and must be completed by 10:00 a.m. on the day before the tour via email. Each session accommodates up to 30 people, who join on presentation of the confirmation email. Venue: Budapest.
Mark your calendar for these Saturdays:
– December 13, 20, 27, 2025
– January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2026
– February 7, 14, 21, 28, 2026
– March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2026
What to Expect Inside
The museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions distill centuries of Hungarian parliamentary history into crisp, accessible stories. The A Thousand Years of Hungarian Legislation display keeps evolving, so regulars will spot new angles and artifacts over time. The broader program includes thematic walks, exhibitions, and the Space-Music (Tér-Zene) free concert series, which turns the space into a cultural soundstage. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the team is balancing traditional collecting with an ambitious digital database project and running an active research workshop—so what you see on the floor flows from ongoing scholarship and preservation.
Built for Students, Open to Everyone
The museum’s education program is purpose-built for young audiences. Museum pedagogy sessions are tailored by age group, so a class of 16-year-olds and a cohort of kids from primary school won’t get the same content or approach. The school-focused experiences—especially Demokráciajáték—encourage debate, teamwork, and public speaking, making them ideal as project-based learning modules that culminate in live simulations and press briefings. For teachers, the monthly cadence during the academic year helps with planning; for students, the rhythm makes the halls of power feel less distant and more navigable.
How to Join
– Demokráciajáték: Runs monthly during the school year in Budapest; four groups of 20 students participate at a time. Schools should prepare in advance to make the most of the simulations and press conference.
– Youth Day in Parliament (Dec 12, 2025): Open to high school classes/groups in grades 11–13, for 300 students total. Application deadline is October 27, 2025, at midnight. Activities include workshops on the new National Youth Strategy, conversations with MPs and MEPs, a guided walk through Parliament, and information on EU youth programs like Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps.
– Free Saturday Tours of A Thousand Years of Hungarian Legislation: Every Saturday at 10:00 a.m., December 13, 2025, through March 28, 2026. Register by 10:00 a.m. the day before via email; maximum 30 participants per tour, entry with confirmation email. Tours depart from the Parliament Visitor Centre in Budapest.
Why Go Now
The lineup blends civic education, culture, and live experience in one place, with a clear eye on empowering the next generation. Whether you’re a student set to grill an MEP, a teacher planning your class’s big project, or a weekend history lover curious about how laws have been shaped over a millennium, the Museum of the National Assembly’s (Országgyűlési Múzeum) winter-to-spring stretch is set up to make memory, music, and debate feel immediate. Bring your curiosity, register early, and step inside the country’s legislative story where it actually unfolds.
