Veszprém’s Archdiocese is kicking off 2026 with a full slate: exhibitions, concerts, family and children’s programs, guided tours, themed walks, talks, feast-day celebrations, and major church events across multiple towns and venues from January through spring. Highlights include rare-access tours in the Castle District, an ecumenical prayer week uniting denominations across the city, a family-centered YearCompass session, a gathering for consecrated life in Tihany, a charity gala in Sümeg, and a steady run of marriage preparation courses at the Padányi school.
Plan Your Year: Family Workshop with YearCompass
On January 24, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., the Archdiocese’s Family Pastoral Office invites families to an annual planning session at the Archiepiscopal Office’s Gizella Hall, Veszprém, Jutasi St. 18/2. The idea is simple: pause at the start of the year, look back, close the book on the last 12 months, and set clear plans for the year ahead. Parts of the YearCompass booklet will be used to guide review and planning. Participation is free, but capacity is limited and requires registration.
Hungarian Culture Day in the Castle District
Also on January 24, the Castle District opens rarely seen historic spaces with special guided walks—no registration, groups capped at 20. Expect expert-led access, open library stacks, and a living-heritage focus. Schedule:
– 11:30 a.m. – Guided walk: Archbishop’s Palace and Koller Library. Departing from in front of the Biró–Giczey House. Dr. Balázs Karlinszky, director of the Veszprém Archdiocesan Archives, presents the Koller Library, home to centuries-old volumes preserving the history of Hungarian culture.
– 2:00 p.m. – Guided walk: St. Michael’s Cathedral and St. George’s Chapel. Explore sacred architecture and liturgical spaces shaped from the Middle Ages to today.
– 4:00 p.m. – Guided walk: Archbishop’s Palace and Gizella Chapel. See Baroque and medieval forms collide in a densely layered historic setting.
The Biró–Giczey House (31 Vár Street) will be open 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. with free entry to exhibitions on the district’s history, architecture, and cultural heritage. Note: the house is otherwise closed between January 1 and February 1. Weekend fortress tours for groups of 15+ can still be booked in advance at St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. George’s Chapel, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Gizella Chapel. Location: Veszprém – Castle District (Biró–Giczey House, 31 Vár Street).
Ecumenical Prayer Week Across Veszprém
From January 18 to 25, churches across Veszprém will again pray together for Christian unity. The theme carries the line: One body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope (Ephesians 4:4). The 2026 spiritual materials were prepared by the Armenian Apostolic Church, drawing on its deep historical and ecumenical experience. Prayers and reflections center on hope, dialogue, and peace in a divided world.
Local schedule: daily services at 5:00 p.m. in different denominational churches, with preaching by Catholic, Reformed, Lutheran, and Greek Catholic pastors. Archbishop György Udvardy will preach at the closing service. All Christians are warmly invited to witness to shared faith and hope: That all may be one (John 17:21).
Day for Consecrated Life in Tihany
On Monday, February 2, the meeting of religious orders active in the Archdiocese will be held in Tihany. Vespers begins at 5:15 p.m., followed by a festive Mass at 6:00 p.m., led by Archbishop György Udvardy. Everyone is encouraged to come and pray together for religious communities and new vocations.
Marriage Prep Courses in Veszprém
Engagement courses run at the Padányi school (Veszprém, Szeghlety J. Street 6) on multiple Fridays: February 6, February 13, February 20, February 27, March 6, and March 13. The program helps couples prepare for marriage and family life, covering:
– The spirituality of marriage
– The family we come from
– Relationship communication and conflict management
– Intimacy in marriage
– Male–female differences, pitfalls of marriage
– Childrearing and family life
These sessions provide a practical, faith-grounded foundation for couples heading toward the altar.
Charity Ball in Sümeg: Supporting Families in Crisis
The 4th Archdiocesan Caritas Ball will be held on February 13 at Hotel Kapitány in Sümeg, raising funds for families in crisis. Reception from 6:00 p.m., welcomes from 7:00 p.m. The ball’s main patrons are Archbishop György Udvardy and Imre Polgárdy, chair of the Veszprém County Assembly. Program: opening greetings, gala dinner, live music by Gin-Tonic Zenekar, Sümegi randevú (Sümeg Rendezvous) performed by Zoltán Miller and Bernadett Vágó, plus a raffle with valuable prizes. Tickets: 16,000 HUF/person (about 43.80 USD), 12,000 HUF/child ages 4–14 (about 32.80 USD). Note: the event listing appears twice; details are identical.
Concert Picks for Winter and Spring
– February 4: Joint concert by Szilárd Ferenc Kovács and Nóra Ducza.
– April 15: Joint concert by Martin Baker and Tamás Kéméndi.
– May 28: János Pálúr – Teremtéstörténet (Creation Story).
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
