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 BĂĄr, GĂĄlvölgyi JĂĄnos, Gryllus DĂĄniel, SebestyĂ©n MĂĄrta, SzalĂłki Ăgi, 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 waitingâdive 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-Fehérvåry MercédÚs 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 NĂłra’s Big Family Talk Show with GĂĄlvölgyi JĂĄnos and family at Goldmark Hall (also at Rumbach Synagogue).
Tuesday, December 16, 5 PM: Hanukkah Jewish Quarter Walk with Borgula AndrĂĄs, starting at DohĂĄny Street Synagogue. Afternoon from 3 PM spans DohĂĄny Street Synagogue, Rumbach Synagogue, and Golem Theater.
Tuesday, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM: Sephardic Free University and Song Course led by Bognår 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 Bognår Szilvia and Peremiczky Szilvia at Rumbach Café.
7 PM: Gryllus DĂĄniel performs Weöres SĂĄndor’s A teljessĂ©g felĂ© (Towards Totality) at Rumbach Synagogue. Singers: BognĂĄr Szilvia, Ferenczi György, Gryllus DĂĄniel, Major GĂĄbor, SebestyĂ©n MĂĄrta, SebĆ Ferenc, SzalĂłki Ăgi, Szirtes Edina MĂłkus. Instrumentalists: BalĂĄzs Gergely, Balogh KĂĄlmĂĄn, Bolya MĂĄtyĂĄs, BizjĂĄk GĂĄbor, BorbĂ©ly MihĂĄly, HollĂł MiklĂłs, Frankie Lato, JĂĄvorka ĂdĂĄm, KovĂĄcs ZoltĂĄn, PĂĄlhegyi MĂĄtĂ©. Arranged and conducted by Gryllus Samu.
10 AM to 1 PM: Israeli Theater MasterclassâJewish Spirituality, or the Dybbuk’s Soul Theftâwith director Roy Horovitz and writer Hadar Galron at Goldmark Hall.
Thursday, December 18, 5 PM and 8 PM (two shows): Hadar Galron’s A vĂ©gsĆ vĂ©gsĆ megoldĂĄs (The Final Final Solution)âa 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 DĂĄvid 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 DanĂł, Himmler AndrĂĄs, and KĂĄdĂĄr 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 DanĂł.
Sunday, December 21, 3 PM: Family HanuCarnival by Rumbi TanhĂĄz and partners at BĂĄlint House.
7 PM (sold out): Budapest BĂĄr Klezmer at Rumbach Synagogue with Kiss Tibi, BĂrĂł Eszter, Fekete LĂĄszlĂł, and the band.
Tickets online for most eventsâgrab them fast for this dazzling Hanukkah explosion in Budapest!
