Looking for a sport you’d actually enjoy, or wishing you could get closer to the music you love? The 2025 Budapest Grand Sport and Instrument Choice Event (Budapesti Nagy Sport- és Hangszer Választó) might be just what you need. Whether you’re interested in something mainstream or eager to try an offbeat activity, ready to meet Hungary’s Olympic champions, or even longing to hold a real concert instrument, this event brings it all together.
Celebrating 18 Years of Sports and Music
On September 12-13, the Merkapt Sport Center (Merkapt Sportközpont) will transform into a lively playground and concert venue. Originally launched in 2007 with just a handful of options and 300 visitors, the event now boasts over 100 sports, 25 instruments, and welcomes more than 20,000 attendees in two days. The mission? To get as many people moving or making music as possible—not just talking about it, but actually trying it out, feeling the excitement, and getting a real taste of new experiences.
How It Works: Free, But Register!
Doors are open both days from 9 AM to 5 PM, and admission is completely free with a simple registration online or in person. Friday morning is reserved for school and kindergarten groups (with teachers), but by Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, families and individual visitors can join in. Expect Hungary’s most popular sports—soccer, swimming, water polo, handball, fencing, kayaking—to be represented, but you’ll also find newer experiences: ballet, weightlifting, breakdancing, triple games, and OCR (Obstacle Course Racing).
Meet Champions, Try Everything
Every year, Olympic, world, and European champions take part, happy to meet fans, sign autographs, and inspire a new generation. This year, stars 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 will all be in attendance.
Specialized coaches and instructors are available for every sport and instrument, so you can get real tips—maybe even discover hidden talents. On stage, you’ll see impressive sports demonstrations, open training sessions, and energizing concerts both days.
Hands-On with Instruments
Not sure about picking up a racket but imagine yourself in an orchestra? The Grand Instrument Try-Out (Nagy Hangszer Választó) brings strings like violin, viola, cello, and double bass; woodwinds like flute, recorder, clarinet, and saxophone (tenor, alto, baritone); brass including trumpet, horn, and trombone; drums of all sizes, handpans, bass and acoustic guitars, piano, and even the hammered dulcimer (cimbalom). Skilled music teachers share the background, quirks, and techniques, making this a unique gateway for all ages to explore music—plus, in the so-called Music Grove (Zeneliget), you can pick up dance moves too, from folk to modern.
New Sports to Explore
Think the world of sports is set in stone? Not at all—new activities appear all the time, often as energetic, family-friendly hybrids:
– Spikeball is a bouncy, circular net game that’s like ping pong meets trampoline; great for both kids and adults, it builds reflexes and teamwork.
– Teqball (Teqball), a Hungarian invention, fuses soccer and table tennis on a curved table—concentration, ball control, and balance all get a workout.
– Parkour is no longer just for daredevils; it’s become structured, with classes teaching kids to vault benches and railings creatively, boosting fitness and confidence.
– “Naturefitness” (Természetfitness) combines hiking with exercises like squats by logs or climbing trees—a true group adventure that just needs a love of fresh air.
Trying something new as a family is encouraged here: not to perfect your skills, but to play together, have fun, and make activity an enjoyable part of everyday life.
Movement for Everyone: Kinder Joy of Moving
This festival isn’t about turning your child into a future Olympic gold medalist. It’s about sparking joy, moving together, and creating habits that stick—like five minutes of morning stretching, silly living room dance-offs, or choosing stairs over elevators. The Kinder Joy of Moving program supports this philosophy worldwide: movement as joy, for kids and parents alike, with no pressure and plenty of fun.
You don’t need equipment or a strict schedule—just a willingness to move. And if movement becomes a daily habit, it’ll naturally fit into your family’s routine. Here are a few simple ideas: balance contests at home, light yoga before bed, playful races on the way home from school. It’s not about perfection, but about consistency.
Bonus Experiences: Cars and Active Living
While you’re there, check out some of tomorrow’s tech—Toyota’s electric cars will be on display, featuring cutting-edge design and innovations. Among the event partners, you’ll find Active Hungary (Aktív Magyarország), sharing even more ways to stay active at any age.
Bring the Whole Family!
The Budapest Grand Sport and Instrument Choice (Budapesti Nagy Sport- és Hangszer Választó) is family-friendly, hands-on, and completely free. It’s not just about exercise—it’s a festival of possibilities, with fun for everyone, whether you’re aiming for the next Olympic Games or simply seeking a happier, more active life.
