Gyula is in full swing with a packed calendar that blends history, wellness, food, theater, and hands-on heritage. The town’s castle, the Castle Spa, and the storied Castle Theatre (Gyulai Várszínház) roll out standout events almost every month, while the homeland of pálinka and kolbász keeps appetites high. From spring to autumn, the Castle Theatre stages festivals, but even in winter the fortress hums with choice programs. And the Gyula Castle Spa (Gyulai Várfürdő) remains one of Hungary’s favorite healing spas.
Hands-on history at the castle
Gyula Castle (Gyulai Vár) runs guaranteed programs across multiple weekends: Jan 9–11, Jan 16–18, Jan 23–25, and Jan 30–Feb 1. Expect living-history demos including the Working Smithy Showcase, Sabre Fencing: Demonstration and Training, and Falconry Shows. Dive deeper with Prison Visits, Siege Walks, and the Armory Review, while candlelit castle tours turn stone corridors into a mood-lit time capsule. Special themed walk, Centuries of Sieges, arrives Jan 22.
Candlelight nights and spa escapes
Nothing says winter magic like Candlelit Castle Tours and A Castle by Candlelight nights, filling Jan 10, 17, 24, 31, and Feb 7 with flickering romance. Pair it with Night Wellness at the Gyula Castle Spa (Gyulai Várfürdő) on Jan 10, 17, 24, 31, and Feb 7. Warm pools, hush after dark, and steam that erases the week—no better way to do January.
Palace stories and hidden rooms
The Almásy Palace (Almásy-kastély) opens doors to Women’s Salon – Treasures of the Almásy Palace and Corset and Revolution on Jan 10–11. Flowers speak on Jan 17 with Talking Flowers – The Treasures of the Almásy Palace. Candlelit palace evenings glow on Jan 10, 17, 24, 31. For families, the Palace Tour with Dönci the Dachshund charms Jan 11, 18, 25, and Feb 1. The Ladics House adds Empress’s Cup on Jan 10–11—small, refined, and steeped in 19th-century taste.
Beer, bites, and bistro tunes
The Sörházi Beugró tour and tasting at Elixbeer Brewery is a steady favorite, running Jan 10, 13–17, 20–21, 22–24, 27–31, and beyond. On Jan 23, La Sposa Caffè plates The Chef’s Dinner—six courses of gastronomic theater—returning Mar 7. Romantika Bistro (Romantika Bisztró) brings Dinner Melodies with Tibi Sztojka on Jan 16, 23, 30. Street-level treats bloom at the Portéka Craft and Producers’ Market by the World Clock on Jan 17, 24, 31.
Walk the town, unlock its stories
Join the Downtown Wanderer sightseeing walk Jan 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30. Military history buffs get Honvéd Officers in the Castle Garden—Themed Walk on Jan 16 and 23. For a different angle, there’s a City Library book launch: Chestnut Street Tales at the János Mogyoróssy City Library (Mogyoróssy János Városi Könyvtár) on Jan 30.
Stage, stand-up, and star writers
Gyula Culture (Gyulakult) fires up the stage all winter. Sándor Badár’s solo stand-up hits Jan 15. The Castle Theatre (Várszínház) hosts László Krasznahorkai—conference and reading on Jan 22. András Somogyi brings Dumaszínház: Solo Evening – Borrowed Faces on Feb 9. Theater anchors include Mór Jókai: The Count of Fools by the Déryné Troupe on Feb 17 and Magda Szabó: Abigél on Feb 25. Big show: The Masters of Illusion in Gyula on Feb 27. Later, Claudia Liptai’s Clauságok lands Mar 5, while Danny Blue: The Secret is set for May 7.
Museum talks and ancient worlds
The Museum Free University series digs deep: Magic Tools and Techniques in the Roman World on Jan 28; Herod, Jesus, and the Holy City on Feb 25; March 15, 1848 on Mar 25; Were They Generals or Martyrs? on Apr 29; and From Corsets to Bob Cuts on May 27. History, religion, revolution, fashion—one thread: ideas that still burn.
Festivals ahead: flowers, pálinka, agility, zumba
Circle the dates: Gyula Flowers Festival 2026 on May 9–10; the famed Gyula Pálinka Festival on May 22–24; Medivid Agility and Para-Agility Festival on Apr 24–26; and 4th Zumba Festival Gyula on Aug 21–23. Plus, Somewhere in America (Valahol Amerika) / Bon Bon 30 musical hits Feb 8; Unfinished Threads (Elvarratlan szálak) with Dr. Kitti Almási on Feb 12; and the Dachshund Meetup 2026 at the Almásy Palace (Almásy-kastély) Visitor Center on Mar 21.
Organizers reserve the right to change times and programs.
