The DAAD Gathering returns to Dád Puszta (Dádpuszta) on June 17–22, 2026, reviving the legendary Ozora trance festival site with six days of electronic music, art, and hands-on experiences. Think kilns and wells, switches and transformers, instruments and speakers, and all those beautifully rusted dancing feet. The program mixes Hungarian and international electronic live acts with exhibitions, workshops, and cultural shows—an immersive, communal celebration powered by sound and craft in the heart of rural Hungary.
Dates, Place, Vibe
From Wednesday, June 17 to Monday, June 22, the DAAD Gathering anchors itself in Dád Puszta (Dádpuszta), near Igar, turning the countryside into a kinetic playground of trance, techno, and visual culture. Expect a site steeped in festival history and built for exploration: art installations you can touch, stages that hum until sunrise, and plenty of spaces to slow down, learn, and connect.
What’s On
The musical backbone leans electronic—live sets and DJ performances flowing between ambient sunrise soundscapes and peak-hour pulse. Beyond the stages, the Gathering is very hands-on: maker-style workshops, craft demos, and exhibitions that splice tradition with new tech. Cultural programs dive into local heritage and community—the sort of programming that makes nights feel bigger and days linger longer.
Accommodations Nearby
You’ve got options across the region—from youth hostels and country inns to castles, wineries, and smart-house hideaways—so you can tailor the weekend to your speed.
– Youth hostels in a true countryside setting offer riding, sports fields, a pool, hikes, and bike routes—low-key, social, and practical for groups.
– Wein & Speiz Inn, on the edge of Cellar Village (Pincefalu) near the Györköny Cellar Hill (Györköny Pincehegy), blends modern comfort with village coziness. They craft wines across two press houses linked by a cellar—whites like Irsai Olivér and Cserszegi Fűszeres, reds heavy on Kékfrankos, plus a Kékfrankos rosé. Expect tastings and wine dinners for groups, lodging for up to 43 guests, and event hosting from 10 to 110 people—ideal if your festival crew loves a good cellar story.
– Fried Castle Hotel in Simontornya, wrapped in vineyards and a French-style park, serves calm and quality across several acres. It’s a stately base for anyone chasing culinary detours and wine-focused downtime a short drive from the action.
– An apartment-style stay offers four apartments and three additional rooms, each with TV, phone, Wi‑Fi, and a minibar. Fitness gear, table tennis, and a pool are free for guests—perfect for a late-afternoon reset after long nights.
– A panoramic estate overlooking the Mezofold Plain (Mezőföld), with views to the eastern Bakony Mountains and the Velence Hills, sets the scene for rural peace with a premium twist: modern, custom-built smart houses in classic press-house style, cozy rural interiors, and wellness services. There’s a grill terrace for bogrács (kettle cooking), an oven for rustic baking, and space for intimate celebrations—weddings, engagements, or family events—up to 40 guests, tent included.
– Kabóka Equestrian Ranch (Kabóka Lovastanya) sits about 9.3 miles from Lake Balaton and roughly an hour’s drive from Budapest, spread over nearly 200 hectares of forest, meadows, and ponds. With a five-horses rating, it pairs a modern inn and riding hall with a covered pool, sports fields, and serious tranquility. New apartment houses add comfort if you’re traveling with friends and need space to unwind between days at the festival.
– For a true nature reset, Gyulaj Zrt.’s rebuilt Little Dád (Kisdád) log cabin and anglers’ lodge welcome both fishers and anyone seeking quiet. Set in a postcard-perfect landscape, it brings a refreshed community space and lodging right to the water’s edge.
– Close to the picturesque village of Little Székely (Kisszékely), a hunting lodge with its own fishing lake offers another pocket of calm. Spring restocking focuses on carp—the local favorite—so you can count on rewarding casts if you pack a rod.
Eat, Drink, Repeat
Food-and-drink options pop up across the area, from rustic grills to wine-forward dinners. At the panoramic estate, you’ll find grill terraces ready for open-fire cooking and oven bakes—easy, social, and made for slow afternoons. The Wein & Speiz kitchens lean into Swabian traditions, a family inheritance turned hospitality core, and their cellar program makes post-festival evenings feel like they were built to sip and stay.
How to Plan It
Lock in your dates—June 17–22—and pick your base. If you want the countryside in full color, book near Igar or Dád Puszta (Dádpuszta). Wine lovers should aim for Györköny’s Cellar Hill (Pincehegy); wellness and quiet point to Simontornya or the panoramic estate; riders and families will love Kabóka; anglers and forest walkers should look to Little Dád (Kisdád) or Little Székely (Kisszékely). Then map your days: music and workshops by day, dance and art installations by night, with time carved out for a vineyard detour, a swim, or a sunrise coffee under the trees.
Why It Matters
DAAD Gathering is more than a lineup: it’s a living, breathing celebration of rural craft, sound culture, and community. Dád Puszta (Dádpuszta) holds the magic—fields that remember, art that invites touch, nights that swell with bass and laughter. Bring good shoes, an open schedule, and a taste for discovery. The switches are flipping, the transformers humming, and the dance floors are ready.
