Get ready to loosen your belt, because the Csaba Sausage Festival (Csabai Kolbászfesztivál) is firing up the grills again in Békéscsaba for its 28th time from October 23rd to 26th, 2025. Over four days, the city becomes a sausage lover’s paradise as teams compete, bands play, and the smell of sizzling sausage (kolbász) fills the air on 44 Gyulai Road (Gyulai út 44).
Sausage Heaven: What to Expect
This isn’t just a food festival—it’s a lively celebration of Hungary’s beloved sausage traditions. From Thursday through Sunday, Békéscsaba transforms into a culinary playground, welcoming everyone passionate about meaty delights, cooking contests, and good times. Besides feasting on the country’s tastiest sausages, you’ll find sausage kneading contests, an authentic Hungarian pig slaughter, culinary lectures, concerts, and a lineup of other exciting events. Up for a challenge? Several contests are open to participants of all ages, from young children to seasoned sausage pros. Just register online for your chosen competition and reserve a table for your team.
Get Competitive: Contests Galore
The sausage battles here are serious business. Things kick off on October 9th at the Csaba Event Barn (Csabai Rendezvénypajta) with the International Dry Sausage Contest. The main action, though, unfolds starting October 23rd in the Sámuel Mokry (Mokry Sámuel) tent, where preschoolers and elementary students roll up their sleeves for the Youth Sausage Kneading Contest. On the 24th, high school and university students jump in for their shot at sausage glory.
For top-level sausage kneading, two major international contests take place on October 25th, hosted in both the Sámuel Mokry and Mihály Munkácsy (Munkácsy Mihály) tents. Sunday is family day, when generations go head-to-head in the Generational Sausage Kneading showdown starting at 10:00 am. Meanwhile, at 9:00 am on the same day, the area in front of the open-air stage becomes cabbage central for a Stuffed Cabbage Cooking Contest.
Every contest requires online registration, and since events are held at different times, make sure to double-check your bookings before joining in.
Tickets and Entry Details
Worried about getting in? Buying tickets is easy, all through the festival’s online system. After payment—by bank card or SZÉP card (OTP, MKB)—you’ll receive email vouchers, which you swap for entry wristbands at the gate. One catch: once bought, tickets can’t be changed or rebooked, so plan ahead. Kids under 6 get in free, and no one is turned away if they arrive before 2 pm on Thursday and stay.
Here’s the rundown on pre-sale ticket prices (conversion: 1,000 HUF ≈ 2.75 USD):
– Festival pass (all four days):
– From August 1: 14,500 HUF (≈ 40 USD)
– From September 1: 15,900 HUF (≈ 43.75 USD)
– From October 1: 17,000 HUF (≈ 46.75 USD)
– From October 12: 17,000 HUF (≈ 46.75 USD)
– From October 23: 18,000 HUF (≈ 49.50 USD)
– Daily tickets for each day (prices increase closer to the festival):
– Start at 7,250 HUF (≈ 20 USD) and rise to 9,000 HUF (≈ 25 USD) for last-minute purchase.
Want free entry? Arrive before 2 pm on Thursday and stay—the whole day is on the house for early birds.
Where to Stay: Sleep Off That Sausage
Békéscsaba gets packed, but the city’s hospitality is top-notch. Options range from guesthouses to elegant hotels, many within easy reach of the festival grounds. Popular stays include:
– A two-story guesthouse with four double rooms, air-conditioning, private bathrooms, and a shared kitchenette. Extra beds and parking (even garages) are available.
– Arcanum Hotel offers peace in a park-like setting, providing comfortable rooms, excellent food, spa relaxation, and a friendly staff.
– For luxury, a third-floor duplex apartment near the Csaba Center (Csaba Center) spans about 1,200 square feet, fully equipped for VIP-level guests.
– Fenyves Wellness Hotel*** sits on the city’s edge in a pine-shaded area beside the Living Water Canal (Élővíz-csatorna)—perfect for unwinding after your feast.
– Fiume Hotel combines old-world charm with city views right onto the main square.
– Meteor Guesthouse welcomes everyone (including accessible rooms), with WiFi, TV, a shared kitchen, and even an outdoor grill.
– Four-star wellness and conference hotels blend history and spa comfort steps from the city park, while Réti Guesthouse (Réti Panzió) specializes in peace and quiet.
Food Beyond Sausage
When you need a break from sausage (kolbász), festival partners offer everything from unique handmade burgers and loaded platters to creative cocktails, piping hot chocolate, nachos, and more. The festival bar scene keeps the fun going late into the night.
Handy Info
The festival runs non-stop from midnight on October 23rd to nearly 11 pm on October 26th. Organizers reserve the right to change programs and times—so check the schedule before making plans. If you have questions, staff are available Monday through Friday, 8 am–4 pm, by phone at +36 30 670 4481.
If you’re hungry for great food, competitions, live music, and huge helpings of Hungarian hospitality, Békéscsaba’s Csaba Sausage Festival 2025 (Csabai Kolbászfesztivál) is the place to be this October.
