Come celebrate together, light those Hanukkah candles, and warm up by the flames of goodness, purity, and hope! This eight-day Hanukkah festival recalls the Jews’ victory over the Syrian-Greek conquerors in 165 BCE, the purification and rededication of the Jerusalem Temple, and the miracle of the oil lasting eight days. Hanukkah itself means dedication, pointing to how the Maccabees rededicated the Jerusalem sanctuary after defeating the Hellenic invaders who had desecrated it with idols.
Star-Studded Program Guide
Now in its third year, Hanukafest 3.0 runs from December 14 to 21 across five Budapest venues, delivering a packed lineup of concerts, theater, free university lectures, masterclasses, talk shows, and community events. Join Kiss Tibi and Budapest Bár, Gálvölgyi János, Gryllus Dániel, Sebestyén Márta, Szalóki Ági, and Israeli playwright Hadar Galron, author of Mikve. Expect traditional treats like trendelach, donuts, and latkes to mark the joy of Jewish survival. From ages 0 to 120, everyone’s got a miracle waiting—dive into the eight days of magic with us!
Full Event Schedule
Kicks off Sunday, December 14, 4 PM to 7 PM: Hanukkah Kitchen Miracles with Deutsch-Fehérváry Mercédès and Rubin Eszter at Bethlen Square Synagogue.
Same day, 4 PM to 9:30 PM: Oil of Joy at Rumbach Synagogue, featuring a German band from Be’er Sheva, Israeli shofar artist Bar Tzemah, and more.
Monday, December 15, 6 PM: Winkler Nóra’s Big Family Talk Show with Gálvölgyi János and family at Goldmark Hall (also at Rumbach Synagogue).
Tuesday, December 16, 5 PM: Hanukkah Jewish Quarter Walk with Borgula András, starting at Dohány Street Synagogue. Afternoon from 3 PM spans Dohány Street Synagogue, Rumbach Synagogue, and Golem Theater.
Tuesday, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM: Sephardic Free University and Song Course led by Bognár Szilvia (Liszt Academy) and Peremiczky Szilvia (OR-ZSE) at Rumbach Synagogue Café.
Wednesday, December 17, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM: Another Sephardic session with Bognár Szilvia and Peremiczky Szilvia at Rumbach Café.
7 PM: Gryllus Dániel performs Weöres Sándor’s A teljesség felé (Towards Totality) at Rumbach Synagogue. Singers: Bognár Szilvia, Ferenczi György, Gryllus Dániel, Major Gábor, Sebestyén Márta, Sebő Ferenc, Szalóki Ági, Szirtes Edina Mókus. Instrumentalists: Balázs Gergely, Balogh Kálmán, Bolya Mátyás, Bizják Gábor, Borbély Mihály, Holló Miklós, Frankie Lato, Jávorka Ádám, Kovács Zoltán, Pálhegyi Máté. Arranged and conducted by Gryllus Samu.
10 AM to 1 PM: Israeli Theater Masterclass—Jewish Spirituality, or the Dybbuk’s Soul Theft—with director Roy Horovitz and writer Hadar Galron at Goldmark Hall.
Thursday, December 18, 5 PM and 8 PM (two shows): Hadar Galron’s A végső végső megoldás (The Final Final Solution)—a dark comedy you shouldn’t laugh at. Israeli theater in English with Hungarian subtitles, followed by Q&A with Horovitz and Galron at Goldmark Hall.
Friday, December 19, 7 PM: Youth Hanukkah and Shabbat Welcome led by Dickmann Dávid at Rumbach Synagogue.
Saturday, December 20, 8 PM: Light Before the Night warm-up at Goldmark Hall, organized by Club Sababa x All-in. Csengeri Danó, Himmler András, and Kádár Amir host Havdalah with Himmler, candle lighting, talks on Jewish youth abroad, films, KKL Kahoot quizzes, games, snacks, drinks, and DJ vibes from legendary Szarvas DJ Danó.
Sunday, December 21, 3 PM: Family HanuCarnival by Rumbi Tanház and partners at Bálint House.
7 PM (sold out): Budapest Bár Klezmer at Rumbach Synagogue with Kiss Tibi, Bíró Eszter, Fekete László, and the band.
Tickets online for most events—grab them fast for this dazzling Hanukkah explosion in Budapest!
