Szeged, the sunlit city on the Tisza, packs its calendar with festivals, national headliners, and outdoor spectacles, anchored each summer by the beloved Open-Air Festival (Szegedi Szabadtéri Játékok) on Dóm Square. The historic county seat of Csongrád doesn’t pause—markets, theater, concerts, family shows, and film all jostle for space week after week.
January: Markets, Theater, and a Gospel Glow
BÖDÖN Market (BÖDÖN Piac) returns January 11, with another edition on January 25—local makers, flavors, and finds in full flow. Throughout January, the National Theatre of Szeged (Szegedi Nemzeti Színház) rolls out a dense slate of performances: January 4–11, 14–19, and 22–30, with tickets from about $2.75 to $220. On January 13, The Original Golden Voices of Gospel bring a New Year’s Joy Concert to the majestic Szeged Cathedral (Szegedi Dóm). January 17 doubles up with a courtyard Garage Sale at D14 and Csokimatiné gyerekeknek/2 – The Nutcracker (Diótörő) at Korzó Zeneház. On January 24, the Menopause (Menopauza) tour lands at Pick Arena (Pick Aréna), tickets roughly $27–$55. Comedy arrives January 28 at the IH Event Center (IH Rendezvényközpont) Boncz Géza Hall with The Naked Truth (Meztelen igazság) – a musical comedy priced around $22.
February: Big Stages and Classic Laughs
The National Theatre returns February 1–8, 10–16, 19–22, and 23–28 (about $2.75–$220). On February 5, Dániel Mogács’s EGO hits Dumaszínház at IH (about $20–$24). On February 7, the arena hosts László Dés – Péter Geszti – Krisztián Grecsó: The Paul Street Boys (A Pál utcai fiúk), tickets about $25–$36. BÖDÖN Market pops up again February 8 and 22. February 13 brings Apostol – We Can’t Live Without You! (Nem tudunk élni nélkületek!) to IH, tickets around $25–$31. On February 20, Ray Cooney’s farce Run for Your Wife (Páratlan páros), presented by Bánfalvy Stúdió, plays at IH ($20–$23).
Spring: Icons, Ideas, and Family Magic
March 28: Mazsola and Tádé (MAZSOLA és TÁDÉ), a musical puppet show at IH, around $9.70. April 7: Bródy 80 celebrates a legend at IH, about $39–$44. April 21: psychologist Noémi Orvos-Tóth unpacks inherited family patterns at IH, roughly $27. May lifts off with Mamma Mia! at Pick Arena (Pick Aréna) on May 10 ($27–$68), and an exclusive Tvrtko – Chernobyl 40 talk on May 12 at IH. The 10th Zsigmond Vilmos International Film Festival runs May 13–17. The Dóm Square Cavalcade (Dóm Téri Kavalkád) colors the city May 22–24.
Summer: The Open-Air Festival Takes Over
Deja Vu Festival (Deja Vu Fesztivál) returns June 11–12. The Szeged Open-Air Festival (Szegedi Szabadtéri Játékok) roars in from July: Geszti Concert (July 1, Újszeged), Dawn of Heroes (Hősök Hajnala) (July 4, Dóm Square, about $14–$46), Honeybeast (July 8, Újszeged, about $25–$33). The Three Musketeers (A 3 testőr) commands Dóm Square July 10–11 and 17–18 ($19–$93). Charlie in Concert hits July 22 (Újszeged, about $25–$33). Cinefonic scores July 24 (Dóm Square, about $17–$61). ABBA Show shimmers July 29 (Újszeged, about $25–$33). Carmen ignites July 31 (Dóm Square, about $19–$68). August adds Petra Gubik (Aug 5, about $19–$27), a Dixieland Gala (Aug 12, about $18–$24), and Wicked at Dóm Square Aug 14–16 and 20–22 ($19–$89).
Beyond the Big Headliners
Literary, kids’, and garden programs pack the months: from Péter Esterházy – Lili and Sleeping Beauty (Csipkerózsika) in January to Bunny, Hop! (Nyuszi, hopp!) and The World of Lóri’s Imagination (Lóri fantáziavilágban) series in February; the Aranygyapjú Társulat’s King Matthias and the Truth-Telling Shepherd (Mátyás király, meg az igazmondó juhász) on February 28. Springtime Botanical Garden (Füvészkert) highlights include Easter in the Botanical Garden (Apr 5–6), Hanami (Apr 11), tulip tours (Apr 18), and Earth Day (Apr 25). Summer blooms with the Summer Flower Cavalcade (Nyári virágkavalkád) (June 20) and the 19th Lotus Days (XIX. Lótusz Napok) (July 25–26). Autumn returns with African and Exotic Plants Day (Sept 12), Dog Day (Sept 20), Bees’ Day (Sept 26), pumpkin carving at the “Tök Jó” Day (Oct 17), and Momiji fall colors (Oct 24). Sports cap the year as the Harlem Globetrotters’ The 100 Year Tour dunks into the City Sports Hall on October 30, with tickets about $27–$220.
