Looking for a sport you actually want to play, or curious about trying something unique and off the beaten path? Maybe you’d love to meet Olympic, World, and European champions up close and score a photo or autograph. Or perhaps it’s music that calls to you – but the world of concerts and instruments has always felt a bit out of reach. If you want to explore, experiment, and get hands-on experience with sports and instruments while meeting the experts, the Budapest Giant Sport and Music Selection Event (Nagy Sportágválasztó) is where you need to be this September!
Coming of Age: 18 Years of the Biggest Sports Fair
On September 12-13, 2025, the Merkapt Sports Center (Merkapt Sportközpont) in Budapest will host Hungary’s largest interactive sport and music experience. Born as a small event for 300 people in 2007, the “Giant Sport Selection” (Nagy Sportágválasztó) is now officially an adult – 18 years old! This two-day festival brings together over 100 sports, more than 25 musical instruments, and attracts 20,000 visitors.
The mission is simple: spread the joy of sport and music not just in theory, but through live, hands-on experiences. Kids, families, and individuals can actually try out every sport — from soccer to swimming, fencing to water polo, but also new offerings like ballet, weightlifting, breakdancing, triple jump, and obstacle course racing (OCR). And there’s a good chance that discovering a new passion here could be life-changing — several current sporting stars found their path at this very event.
Free Entry, Registration Required
Admission for both days is free, but requires registration — either ahead of time online, or right at the door. Friday morning is ideal for school and kindergarten groups (coming with teachers), while from Friday afternoon and all Saturday, families and individual visitors can join in the fun.
On top of sports and musical adventures, you’ll get to meet Olympic, World, and European champions like Dr. Gergely Kiss, Áron Szilágyi, Gréta Gurisatti, Ádám Varga, Máté Koch, Ajna Késely, Márk Opavszky, László Cseh, Márton Kövér, Nándor Németh, Zsombor Tamási, Andrea Molnár, Zoltán Kósz, Izabella Ujvári, Gergely Balogh, Botond Mester, Bence Fodor, and Ferenc Novák. Expect selfies and autographs galore — a perfect motivational boost for any rising talent.
Try an Instrument, Join the Jam
The “Giant Instrument Selection” (Nagy Hangszerválasztó) invites visitors of all ages to get up close with popular and lesser-known instruments. Skilled teachers demonstrate the stories, workings, and distinct sounds of everything from strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass), winds (flute, recorder, clarinet, saxophone), brass (trumpet, horn, trombone), percussion (drums, hand and rattle drums, triangle, xylophone, handpan), plucked instruments (guitar, bass), as well as piano and cimbalom. Want more? The “Music Grove” (Zeneliget) area will also feature folk and modern dance performances.
Sports for Every Taste — Including the Unusual
The event doesn’t just celebrate Hungary’s favorite and most successful sports. There’s always something new bubbling up! Discover novel, family-friendly sporting trends like:
– **Spikeball**: A fast-paced, round-net game played by hitting a ball off a trampoline-like net — think ping pong in a circle! Fun, active, and perfect for all ages.
– **Teqball**: A Hungarian invention — imagine soccer meets ping pong on a curved table, building both skills and coordination.
– **Parkour**: More structured than ever; now kids and adults can take part in supervised jumping, climbing, and vaulting workshops.
– **Nature Fitness**: Hiking combined with light exercises — squats by tree trunks, climbing branches, or sprinting up hills, making fitness a family adventure.
Movement Should Be a Joy, Not a Chore
The philosophy here is all about moving together — not just as another task on your list, but as real quality family time. Try a madcap living room dance, a shared after-dinner stroll, or a quick challenge to see who can balance on one leg the longest! The point isn’t to be perfect, but to make movement part of daily life, just like brushing your teeth.
Don’t worry about being super organized or needing special equipment. Five minutes of morning stretches, impromptu dances between chores, or skipping the elevator for the stairs all add up. What matters most is that it happens regularly — joy and togetherness are worth more than performance.
Discover the Future: Not Just for Kids!
It’s not just youngsters who’ll find inspiration in September. Toyota is bringing its latest electrified models, showcasing the driving experience of tomorrow with cutting-edge tech and sleek design. Take advantage of special show deals — including 0% APR and savings of up to $5,500 — at the Merkapt Sports Center (Merkapt Sportközpont).
Plus, the “Active Hungary” (Aktív Magyarország) program is back among the exhibitors, further supporting a national movement toward healthier, more active lifestyles.
Dive in, step up, and discover the pure fun of moving, playing, and making music — because at Budapest’s Giant Sport and Music Selection (Nagy Sportágválasztó), the only thing you stand to lose is your boredom!
