Mohács erupts in masks, drums, and fire as Busójárás returns February 12–17, 2026, filling multiple venues with a record 2,200 costumed revelers and 70 busó groups. This legendary Šokac (Sokac) folk ritual bids winter goodbye, welcomes spring, wards off evil, and invokes fertility with bone-rattling noise, wild dances, and handmade masks carved from wood and horn.
Ancient Roots, Global Echoes
Busójárás belongs to the same family of rites found across cultures, akin to the carnivals of Rio de Janeiro and Venice and to traditions in parts of Africa. Its timing follows the first full moon after the spring equinox. In the past, the revelry ran from Carnival Sunday morning to Shrove Tuesday night, with children donning costumes on the final Thursday of the season.
The Legend and the Noise
Locals still tell the Ottoman-expulsion tale: island-dwelling Šokac (Sokac) ancestors, fed up with oppression, crossed the Danube at night in boats, disguised in fearsome masks and armed with homemade noisemakers, and drove invaders from Mohács. It’s a gripping story, though historians doubt its accuracy. Historically, the horn-blowing, rattle-clacking, bell-shaking, shouting busós went house to house offering blessings, casting playful “spells,” and receiving food and drink—rarely refused anywhere.
Folklore Takes the Streets
Expect bustling folk programs: traditional dance troupes, busó showcases, raucous táncház parties, and kid-friendly events, all staged by Mohács residents gearing up for their biggest annual celebration. Mark the dates: February 12–17, 2026. Venue: Mohács.
