The Wine and Gastro Festival lights up Hajdúszoboszló from September 18 to 20, 2026, taking over Szent István Park with a long weekend of food, wine, music, and open-air fun. Entry is free, the schedule is packed, and the whole point is simple: eat well, sip better, and dance into the night. From afternoon stage shows and cultural programs to DJ parties after dark, it’s pitched to all ages and all tastes, and it proudly pours some of the best bottles from Hungary’s wine regions alongside a sprawling lineup of street food and local specialties.
Festival-goers can expect a full sweep of culinary experiences across the park: traditional plates reimagined, hearty grills, sweet bites, and stalls pouring everything from light whites to bold reds and sparkling refreshers. The organizers promise a smooth mix of daytime family atmosphere and upbeat evening energy, with live concerts rolling into DJ sets as the sun goes down. Bring your appetite and your dancing shoes—there’s plenty of both on the program.
Hajdúszoboszló’s biggest autumn gastro event spreads out across Szent István Park, postcode 4200, right in the city’s easy-to-reach core. With the festival free to enter, it’s a magnet for locals and visitors alike, and a perfect excuse to blend tastings with a wellness break in Hungary’s most famous spa town. The city’s cultural life steps into the spotlight too: stage acts and performances run daily, building up to evening crowd-pleasers and that signature late-night party vibe.
Where and when
– Dates: Friday to Sunday, September 18–20, 2026
– Location: Szent István Park, 4200 Hajdúszoboszló
– Admission: Free
The organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, but the intent is clear: a three-day celebration of food, wine, and music to close out the summer with a bang.
Eat and drink highlights
Expect a broad food-and-drink lineup covering classic Hungarian comforts, festival-friendly grills, seasonal plates, and artisanal desserts. Look out for lemonade bars, cocktail counters, coffee specials, and hand-crafted ice creams—perfect pairings for an afternoon tasting flight or a post-concert stroll. Between savory crêpes, sweet crêpes, and patisserie-grade slices, the dessert crowd is covered. Wine is the headliner, but there’s ample choice for beer lovers and mocktail fans too.
Music, culture, and nights out
The stage program threads through each day with live music and cultural showcases, moving into DJ-led parties each evening. Families can lean into daytime performances with easier tempos, while night owls can plan for bigger, beat-driven sets under the park lights. The formula is tried and true in Hajdúszoboszló: start casual, end electric.
Plan your stay
If you’re making a weekend of it, the city’s accommodations are clustered close to the action and the spa. Hotel Barátság sits in the green belt on the hotel promenade with panoramic views from Hajdúszoboszló’s tallest building. Guests get an in-house bath and wellness wing with therapy and contrast pools, hot tubs, saunas, an infrared sauna, and a steam bath—ideal for unwinding after a long tasting run. The hotel bundles stays, wellness, and events in one spot, serving both leisure and business travelers seeking a full recharge and relaxation.
Prefer apartment-style living? Options abound within walking distance of the beach and spa complex—some just a 5-minute stroll away, others 100–200 meters from the entrances. You’ll find two-, four-, and five-person units, plus newly built apartments near Kölcsey and Major streets, close to restaurants, markets, and grocery stores. Quiet garden-district guesthouses offer peace and privacy while keeping the Medical Spa (Gyógyfürdő) and Béke Bath (Béke Fürdő) a short walk away. Several properties sit only 150–400 meters from the bus station or the Hungarospa gates.
Eat out around town
Hajdúszoboszló’s dining scene leans traditional with clever twists. Kemencés Csárda channels the old roadside csárda spirit with a modern take, both in the menu and the interiors. A romantic, elegant complex near the spa boasts a 150-seat covered terrace and an 80-seat panoramic terrace upstairs for airy evening meals. Nr.8 welcomes day and night diners with classics and specialty grills—its big summer-and-winter terrace, including a nearly 80-seat pavilion, is a local favorite for cocktails and cozy drinks between April and late November.
Mirage Restaurant has been revamped top to toe, serving seasonal menus in an upscale setting, complete with a striking pálinka wall and guest-first service. A boutique hotel-and-café setting nearby promises refined rooms and a bakery-scented dining room; with 13 room types, it caters to business travelers, couples, families, and forever-young weekenders alike—and offers both bathtub and shower options in every category.
Bars, games, and late-night options
For a change of pace, U-Pub Bar rolls out a wide drinks list at friendly prices and packs in entertainment few bars can match: an escape room, bowling, billiards, darts, air hockey, and foosball—all under one roof. It’s a solid pre- or post-festival stop when you want to switch from wine flights to friendly competition.
Wellness plus
Many hotels in the resort district double down on family-friendly stays and wellness. One 107-room property offers everything from classic doubles and triples to 2+2 family apartments, family rooms with bunk beds, and indulgent suites. Expect color TVs, minibars, phones, in-room safes, and plenty of balconies; some rooms are air-conditioned, and all include private bathrooms with toilets. Close to the Medical Spa (Gyógyfürdő)—sometimes just 300 meters—the locations make it easy to split your time between saunas, pools, and the park’s festival buzz.
Good to know
– The festival is free and open-air, right in Szent István Park.
– Dates: September 18–20, 2026; evenings are busiest, afternoons are family-friendly.
– Accommodation and dining options span from boutique to budget, almost all within a short walk of the spa and the festival area.
– The schedule can change; check updates closer to the date.
Book your bed, pace your tastings, and save room for a late-night dance. Hajdúszoboszló’s Wine and Gastro Festival is set to be the most delicious send-off to summer.
