From October 23 to 26, 2025, Békéscsaba (Békéscsaba) explodes with flavor and excitement during the 28th Csaba Sausage Festival (Csabai Kolbászfesztivál). For four days, this lively Hungarian city becomes the epicenter for sausage lovers, culinary daredevils, and seekers of festivity. Expect mouthwatering sausages, intense sausage-making competitions, raucous pig slaughters, open-air concerts, outstanding food and drink, and endless entertainment for all ages. If you’ve ever wished for a festival that combines the culinary Olympics with a countryside party, mark these dates on your calendar.
Competition Frenzy: Sausage Battles for Every Generation
The heart of the festival pulses with an energetic series of food competitions. Each day, different groups test their sausage-making skills against each other under large tents and pavilions. Thursday kicks off with an international dry sausage contest at the Event Barn, followed by a youth sausage-stuffing competition, which welcomes ambitious preschoolers and grade-schoolers at the Mokry Sámuel tent.
Friday brings high school and university contestants into the action, while on Saturday, the sausage-stuffing reaches international proportions with contests for teams from around the world, taking place in both the Mokry Sámuel and Mihály Munkácsy (Munkácsy Mihály) tents. On Sunday, generational teams—families, friends, and multi-age groups—get their chance at sausage glory, also in the Mokry Sámuel tent. For those interested in a different culinary challenge, Sunday morning starts early with a stuffed cabbage cooking contest right in front of the open-air stage.
Aspiring competitors can book tables for any contest online, choosing their preferred time and tent for optimal sausage-stuffing performance. Each event has different start times, so it’s a good idea to check the full schedule before reserving your spot.
Tickets: Not Exactly Small Potatoes
Admission isn’t free for most, but there are options depending on how much festival excitement you can handle. Festival passes (good for all four days) vary in price depending on when you buy: starting August 1, they cost $40 USD, rising to $49 USD if purchased during the festival itself. Each festival day also offers single-day tickets, priced from $20 USD in August and reaching $25 USD when bought last minute.
Looking to save? On Thursday, there’s a special offer: arrive before 2 PM and you won’t pay a dime. Stick around and don’t leave the grounds, and the whole day is yours—free sausage dreams until closing.
Children under six enter free. All tickets are digital coupons, exchanged on site for stylish festival wristbands. Payment can be made by either bank card or SZÉP card (a popular Hungarian benefit card).
Just remember: once you buy, there are no refunds or exchanges—so decide which day you want to savor sausage magic and lock it in early.
Where to Stay: From Forest Hideaways to City Chic
The festival attracts people from all over Hungary and beyond, so accommodations fill up fast. Everything from family-run guesthouses to stylish hotels can be found around Békéscsaba. There are air-conditioned rooms in quiet houses on the outskirts of the city, complete with shared kitchenettes and covered parking. If you prefer the full hotel experience, try the Arcanum Hotel (Arcanum Hotel), featuring wellness facilities in its own multi-acre park—perfect for relaxing after indulging in paprika and pork.
Downtown, luxury apartments with every modern comfort overlook Csaba Center (Csaba Center), while the historic Fiume Hotel (Fiume Hotel) offers classic elegance and views of the newly renovated main square. For something more rustic, the Fenyves Wellness Hotel (Fenyves Wellness Hotel) nestles in pine forests along a water channel, blending spa relaxation with natural beauty.
Budget travelers will appreciate Meteor Guesthouse (Meteor Vendégház), which has Wi-Fi, TV, a communal kitchen, and accessible rooms. There’s also a four-star conference and wellness hotel, cleverly converted from the city’s old brewery, as well as the centrally located Réti Guesthouse (Réti Panzió), newly refurbished with 11 rooms ready for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Eats, Drinks, and Surprises
While sausage is king, there’s plenty more to enjoy. Expect craft burgers, hearty platters, cocktails, hot chocolate, nachos, and all sorts of tempting Hungarian treats. Organizers caution that they may adjust programs or schedules up to the last minute, so keep an eye out for new surprises.
The Csaba Sausage Festival (Csabai Kolbászfesztivál) blends Hungary’s most delicious traditions, lively competitions, and high-spirited fun. Whether you’re there to compete, feast, or just soak up the raucous carnival atmosphere, you won’t leave hungry—or bored.
