Keszthely is gearing up for an action-packed 2026 with festivals, exhibitions, concerts, theater shows, film screenings, museum activities, foodie events, sports, and tons of guaranteed and optional leisure fun. From March 23 to 29 and beyond, multiple spots across 8360 Keszthely and nearby areas like Vonyarcvashegy promise something for everyone by Lake Balaton.
100% Vonyarcvashegy Gala â March 27
Kick off with Vonyarcvashegy’s cultural and art gala on March 27. Exhibition opening at 5 p.m. in Balaton Theater’s upstairs corridor, BĂĄsti Room, and theater hall. Vonyarcvashegy municipality, Balaton Art Creators Community, local culture house circles like Csillag Eszter Ceramics Group, and individual artists showcase their work. Opened by Farkas IldikĂł, NMI Zala County director, and Mayor Pali RĂłbert. Vonyarcvashegy primary school choir and Festetics György Music School wind instrument students perform. At 6 p.m. in the theater hall, a two-act theater gala immerses the audience in emotion. Performers include Vonyarcvashegy Chamber Choir, Zalai Balaton-part Concert Wind Band, Vonyarcvashegy NyitnikĂ©k Kindergarten, Eötvös KĂĄroly Primary School dancers and 5th graders, soloists MiklĂłs RozĂĄlia, NĂ©meth Lili, Ferenczy-Nagy BĂĄtor, Babos DĂłra, Babos Lajos, Piller BalĂĄzs, TĂłth PĂ©ter, SĂĄgi BĂ©la, plus Imre SĂĄndor Love Theater and SzĂnMƱHely Vonyarcvashegy. Keszthely ties in too.
Marica grĂłfnĆ (Countess Maritza) Operetta â March 28
RĂĄtonyi RĂłbert Theater presents the operetta Marica grĂłfnĆ on March 28 at 6 p.m. in Balaton Theater hall. Tickets: $32. Count TaszilĂł, an impoverished nobleman, takes a job as farm manager on an estate near Cluj. He hides his family’s financial ruin from his sister to protect her dowry. The owner, Marica, bored with fortune hunters, invents a fiancĂ©, Baron ZsupĂĄn KĂĄlmĂĄn. TaszilĂł and his friend KĂ©smĂĄrky Pista overhear. A gypsy predicts she will fall for a nobleman. She stays with aunt Lotti and Liza. Stars: Vörös Edit as Marica, Domoszlai SĂĄndor as TaszilĂł, Kiss ZoltĂĄn or KovĂĄcs SzilĂĄrd as ZsupĂĄn, Haraszti Elvira as Liza, HalĂĄsz Aranka as Lotti, Gyurity IstvĂĄn or BardĂłczy Attila as Dragomir, RĂĄtonyi Hajni or KalmĂĄr Magda or Udvarias Katalin as CecĂlia, Kokas LĂĄszlĂł or MolnĂĄr Erik as Kudelka, MolnĂĄr Erik or Bor Viktor as AlfrĂ©d, Rikker MĂĄria or Denk ViktĂłria as Manja.
Outdoor Adventure Games â March 23-29 & 30-April 5
Dive into “JĂĄtĂ©k a szabadban,” a thrilling adventure game exploring Keszthely’s top sights. Runs March 23-29 and March 30-April 5.
Rokonok (Relatives) Play â March 31
Hevesi SĂĄndor VĂĄrszĂnhĂĄz stages Rokonok, a two-act play of social criticism, on March 31 at 7 p.m. Season tickets $59 or $70 for 4 shows; singles $18 or $20. Fourth in Festetics subscription. This key work of Hungarian literature goes beyond mere pamphleteering to explore the pitfalls of power and the depths of the soulâhidden loves, marriage games, family blackmail on the path to self-assertion and ruin. Young KopjĂĄss IstvĂĄn becomes ZsarĂĄtnok prosecutor against corrupt rivals. He is idealistic, with empty pockets but his head full of world-saving plans. But power brings old and new “relatives.” Twisty plot and character depth make it rich fun.
Pierrot Ă©s Prigozsin â April 1
Free 110-minute show from KettĆspont SzĂnhĂĄz’s national “manhunt” tour on April 1 at 7 p.m. Philosophers and clowns seek humans, supported by KĂ©tfarkĂș KutyapĂĄrt’s fund and venues. Pierrot and Prigozsin push art limits to touch souls, missing a third for meaning. Inspired by François Truffaut’s Jules Ă©s Jim (Jules and Jim), written/directed by Formanek Csaba using Ăcs TamĂĄs ideas. Stars Ăcs TamĂĄs as Pierrot, Formanek Csaba as Prigozsin. Ages 14+.
Little Singers Japanese Kids’ Choir â April 2
Free concert April 2 at 5 p.m. in Balaton Theater. Hyogo-based choir formed in 1990, with 90 kids aged 4-21 in child/junior/senior groups. Repertoire ranges from Renaissance composers like Palestrina and Lasso to modern works, Japanese composers Michio Mamiya and Rou Ogura, and folk songs. Toured Korea and the US in the early ’90s, Europe since ’96, hosted foreigners. 30-year bond with Keszthely’s Ăletfa School. Won three straight national gold medals. Pure sound, top-tier.
Keszthely Boat Tours & Kis-Balaton Hikes
Keszthely sightseeing boat tours (sĂ©tahajĂłzĂĄs) March 29, April 3-5. Guided Kis-Balaton Visitor Center tours April 2-12 to DiĂĄs-sziget Fekete IstvĂĄn memorial and Matula hutâby car, golf cart, or canoe.
Sold Out: A szĂnhĂĄzcsinĂĄlĂł (The Theater Maker) â April 10
Orlai ProdukciĂł’s Thomas Bernhard play, all tickets gone. April 10 at 7 p.m., Balaton Theater. Second in Spring Subscription. Nemzet SzĂnĂ©sze Bruscon (Alföldi RĂłbert) arrives with troupe, chaos ensues pre-show. Bernhard’s rants on Austria/modern life via obsessive heroes. Like a painful stand-up. Cast: Alföldi RĂłbert, Buza TĂmea, LĂĄszlĂł Lili, NĂ©meth Ăron Valentin, Ficzere BĂ©la. Adapted BĂrĂł Bence, set KĂĄlmĂĄn Eszter, costumes Juristovszky Sosa, poster CsĂĄfordi LĂĄszlĂł, assist SkrabĂĄn Judit, director PelsĆczy RĂ©ka.
English Speakers Club â April 6 & Monthly
Casual chat group every first Monday 6-8 p.m. at GKMK NĂ©pmesepont (Kossuth Lajos 28, Keszthely). All welcome, any level/nationality, native English speakers too. No fluency neededâmany just listen first. Prep a topic to speak up.
