The lakeside town of Balatonboglár (Balatonboglár) is gearing up for the 6th Boglart Festival, taking place at Babel Camp from August 27 to 30, 2025. What sets Boglart apart is its triple-threat blend—a world music festival, a folk music course, and a vibrant music industry forum, all rolled into one. This year, the festival is bigger than ever, welcoming an array of international acts alongside Hungarian heavyweights.
Music Without Borders—Literally
Boglart 2025 is bringing together global rhythms and soaring folk tunes. Attendees can look forward to dancing to the unique sounds of Croatia’s Veja, the Estonian-Belgian-Danish trio Alterne, and Germany’s Akleja, plus the West African beats of the Senegalese group Afrikora. Of course, festival hosts Góbé and PásztorHóra (Shepherd’s Dance) will be performing as well.
For the first time, the organizers are launching a dedicated showcase program, offering even more opportunities for bands to connect with industry insiders and fans alike.
No Stage Barrier, Just Pure Connection
Six years ago, the band Góbé came up with Boglart to break down the wall between stage and audience. Here, it’s not just about watching concerts—it’s about musicians and fans mingling and learning from each other. Boglart isn’t just a music festival; it’s also a hands-on folk music workshop and a small-scale but impactful music industry forum.
When daylight fades, two stages light up with back-to-back performances. Folk pub sessions fill the night air, evolving into wild táncház (dance house) parties that run right up to sunrise on the shores of Lake Balaton (Balaton).
Concerts and Folkdance Till Dawn
Days are devoted to musical exploration and workshops, while evenings promise a musical marathon. Concerts alternate on two stages into the night, but the true highlight is the táncház (dance house), which takes over after the shows. Every night offers a different dance experience, led by that evening’s headliners. The schedule is packed: Veja mixes Istrian folk with modern vibes; Akleja dives deep into Swedish musical heritage and features the rare nyckelharpa, alongside guitar and zither; Alterne blends dream folk inspired by northern sounds. Afrikora delivers energetic African grooves, while hosts Góbé and PásztorHóra (Shepherd’s Dance) bring their inventive local styles. The final lineup is still being finalized.
Can’t commit to the full festival? Evening concert tickets are sold separately, and festival passes are already available.
More Than a Festival: Learn, Play, Network
Want to get deeper into the music? The festival’s renowned courses let participants immerse themselves in folk singing, dancing, or traditional Hungarian instruments. Sessions are led by award-winning musicians like Máté Vizeli, Junior Prima winner László Szlama (a “Young Master of Folk Art”), as well as Virág Pirbus, András Bergics, Bálint Horváth, Afrodité Radisz, Zajnal Gábor Kovács, Bori Töreky, Ádám Bernáth, Krisztina Petro, and András Molnár.
Workshops cover violin, viola, Moldovan flute, koboz, tambura, folk vocals, and dance. Students from various classes often join forces for jam sessions, with the week wrapping up in a grand collaborative performance. Advance sign-up is required.
To round things out, music industry workshops teach participants how to succeed on the business side of music. This year’s showcase program aims to keep things personal, limiting the number of participants so artists and professionals can genuinely connect—delegates will be arriving from Germany, Estonia, Croatia, Serbia, and beyond.
If you’re ready for days filled with folk discovery, nights pulsing with global beats, and the kind of sunrise only Lake Balaton (Balaton) can deliver, Boglart is waiting. August 27–30, 2025—mark your calendar.
