Szekszárd lines up a full year of classical and pop concerts, open-air shows, festivals, and food-and-wine events in 2026, with plenty to do for first-timers and regulars alike. The city’s cultural calendar stays lively from New Year’s Day through spring, backed by a rich local wine scene and a cluster of hotels, motels, and estates that turn a concert trip into a full-on getaway.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Big Kickoff
The party starts a day early: on 2025.12.31, iconic Hungarian rock band Bikini plays in Szekszárd, setting the tone for a festive turn of the year.
On 2026.01.01, the New Year’s Concert brings the Budapest Ragtime Band to town, with Éva Bolba joining as a featured collaborator. Expect a bright, brassy afternoon with virtuoso swing energy—perfect for easing into the year with smiles and syncopation.
January: Classical Afternoons and a Star Violinist
On 2026.01.18, Agora Classical Music Afternoons presents students from the “B” division of the Liszt Ferenc Primary School of Arts (Szekszárdi Liszt Ferenc Alapfokú Művészeti Iskola) in concert—one of those local gems that reveals the city’s next generation of musicians in a relaxed, community-first setting.
The same day, violin virtuoso Zoltán Mága headlines the Szekszárd New Year’s Concert at 7100 Szekszárd, Szent István Square 10 (Szent István tér 10). Tickets are listed at 10,000 HUF (about 27.70 USD). Mága’s New Year events are famously glamorous, blending dazzling technique with crowd-pleasing classics.
Patriotic Piano, Hungarian Repertoire
On 2026.01.22, My Homeland, My Homeland (Hazám, Hazám) brings pianist and organist Miklós Teleki—recipient of the Artisjus and Imre Varga Awards—for a piano recital of Hungarian works in Szekszárd. Tickets are 3,000 HUF (about 8.30 USD). Expect a focused journey across national themes and composers, seen through the hands of a seasoned virtuoso.
March: Women’s Day With a Hook
On 2026.03.08, We Love It in Hungarian! Band (Magyarul Szeretjük! Zenekar) takes the stage for a Women’s Day concert. The band’s name says it all—and the night tends to be a warm, celebratory setlist with a singalong feel.
May: Paying Tribute to Two Legends
On 2026.05.21, What Am I Without Music… (Zene nélkül mit érek én…) brings an emotional tribute to Zsuzsa Cserháti and Péter Máté, two timeless voices in Hungarian pop. Tickets are 8,900 HUF (about 24.60 USD). Expect big songs, big nostalgia, and big voices honoring the originals.
Stay: From Wine Hotels to Gateway Motels
Hotel Merops, a four-star wine hotel in downtown Szekszárd, sits by the Mészáros wine house a short walk from the city center. It’s quiet small-town calm wrapped in wine-country atmosphere, with a distinctive interior, a trained team, and tailored services. There are 8 rooms and 2 apartments, plus curated gastronomic programs in and around the city. At the Nádasdi House, the Main Street Bistro delivers a broad menu of well-executed dishes, while the hotel arranges tastings and hosts cellar events—from birthdays and friendly dinners to corporate gatherings.
Sió Motel marks Szekszárd’s northern gateway along Route 6, right between the Szekszárd and Tolna wine regions on a 2.5-hectare plot, close to the Gemenc Forest and Sárköz—handy for road-trippers and nature lovers.
Hotel Zodiaco is the area’s only three-star hotel, a modern, elegant choice built on a keep-improving philosophy for both business stays and weekend breaks.
Wine: Estates, Cellars, Tastings
Attila Estate (Attila Birtok), in the Baranya Valley, works 14 hectares with a focus on Blaufränkisch (Kékfrankos), Kadarka, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zweigelt. The kitchen pairs Bodri wines with dishes emphasizing the many shades of Hungarian cuisine—updated, modernized, and still proudly Hungarian at heart.
Bodri Winery (Bodri Pincészet) is a 100-hectare winery and tourism hub on the city’s southern edge in a scenic valley. It bundles a winery, event center, restaurant, show kitchen, and guesthouses. The 19,375-square-foot main cellar has twelve domes; a 3,229-square-foot aging cellar opens for tours; and a 15,069-square-foot rosé facility turns out volume without dropping quality. Up to 61 guests can stay in polished rooms, with an underground thermal-water Roman bath, jacuzzi, and sauna. The Optimus Restaurant showcases a modern take on Hungarian classics.
Winecarver Cellar (Borfaragó Pince) lives in the heart of the upper town on the site of a former carpenter and woodcarver’s workshop—offering tastings of handcrafted wines among folk woodcarving masterpieces. It’s a tucked-away spot that’s still easy to reach, great for friends and colleagues who prefer a quieter hideout.
On Várdomb Hill (Várdomb), another local estate centers Blaufränkisch (Kékfrankos) for its range and reliability, both solo and as the backbone of blends, while giving equal attention to Rhine Riesling, Cserszegi Fűszeres, Kadarka, Blauer Portugieser (Kékoportó), Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah.
A craft winery in the Porkoláb Valley (Porkoláb-völgy) works only estate-grown grapes and avoids commercial yeasts, malolactic starters, enzymes, fining agents, colorants, and flavor, aroma, or acid-adjusting additives. They also skip filtering, sterilization, oxygen dosing, and heat treatment—then bottle everything.
Another cellar leans into experimentation and blends. Rosés are made from nearly every red variety they grow and have scored well at international competitions. Reds are a point of pride too: local staples Blaufränkisch (Kékfrankos) and Kadarka meet Merlot, Cabernet, and Pinot Noir to keep Szekszárd’s signature intact while reaching outward.
Want a reset with a view? Unplug on the vineyard hill, settle back, and let the wines do the work.
The Eszterbauer family, with Swabian and Serbian roots, runs a tradition-rich winery offering tastings led by family members in a representative wine house and show cellar. Their wine-and-guest house hosts groups of 8 to 50 with everything from simple bites to multi-course dinners, and a webshop for award-winning bottles.
A family winery farming 6.6 hectares across four Szekszárd subregions focuses on Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Blaufränkisch (Kékfrankos).
Good to Know
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
