If you thought Pécs was just another Hungarian town, think again. The city is rolling out a colorful program for 2025 and 2026, packed with concerts, festivals, theater, and unique experiences for everyone. Whether your taste is rock, swing, film music by candlelight, or a good old dinosaur adventure, the packed calendar will keep your weekends (and some weekdays) anything but dull.
A Hub of Cultural Delight
Pécs’s Zsolnay Cultural Quarter (Zsolnay Negyed) stands as the city’s creative heart, built on the grounds of the old porcelain factory. Now, it’s a buzzing cultural center, bringing together music, art, and community events for locals and visitors alike. But the rest of the city joins in too, giving you choice after choice for every free evening or busy weekend.
Concerts to Look Forward To
Let’s talk music. The concert line-up is truly diverse. Start your calendar with the TomPeti and Friends (TomPeti és Barátai) concert on October 4, 2025, a family favorite held at the Zsolnay Quarter’s E78 Hall. Price: $12.
Candlelight concerts are all the rage in 2025 and 2026, promising a magical twist for classics and film scores. Ennio Morricone’s film music lights up the Apáczai Cultural House (Apáczai Művelődési Ház) on October 14, 2025, for $38-41, and Hans Zimmer gets the same candlelit treatment there on November 12 ($36-41). Want more? There’s a Vivaldi Four Seasons concert on January 29, 2026, Harry Potter’s music in February, and even tributes to the music from Bridgerton and Ludovico Einaudi, all with that special candlelit atmosphere (tickets $36-41).
Legends and Special Performances
Legendary performer Miklós Fenyő (Fenyő Miklós) brings his AdvenTour swing show to the Kodály Center (Kodály Központ) on November 22, 2025, with tickets from $16 to $47. The city also celebrates icons: HOBO’s “80+1” concert hits in April 2026, just after the Bródy 80 and other milestone events at Pécs Kodály Center ($33-44).
If you like your rock soft, the “Rock Ballads by Candlelight” show in April at the Apáczai House ($36-41) is for you. For indie and alternative fans, look out for the Artúr Rambo album launch at the Free Port (Szabadkikötő) on December 20, 2025 ($14).
Can’t-Miss Weekly and Thematic Events
Pécs’s event calendar never stops. Every week, there are fresh recommendations throughout the city, especially in the Zsolnay Quarter. The National Theatre of Pécs (Pécsi Nemzeti Színház) fills the season with regular performances ($11-$22)—from plays and comedies like “Boeing Boeing” to “Happy Birthday, or Six in Pajamas,” and the perennial musical “Oh, What a Ragged Life… (Te rongyos élet…)”.
Festivals, Fairs, and Family Fun
Beyond music and theater, tradition lives on through many fairs: antique markets, vehicle bazaars, animal and flea markets rotate nearly every month, and sometimes every week. Beer lovers, mark your calendars: the Pécs Beer Brewery’s (Pécsi Sörfőzde) guided beer-tasting tours run every Saturday, and the Pécs Beer Festival (Pécsi Sörfesztivál) plus gastro-market take over in October.
Families and science fans won’t want to miss the ongoing Dino Park (Dínó Park) adventure at Malom Valley (Malomvölgy), packed with both fun and educational moments.
For food lovers, fall brings the Chestnut Grove Festival (Gesztenyeliget Fesztivál), and just about every Saturday there’s a chance to explore, taste, and celebrate local flavors.
Intimate Talks & Stand-Up
Prefer something stimulating for the mind? Book yourself into talks like “How to Break Family Patterns?” by psychologist Noémi Orvos-Tóth. Science stands up for fun too, with László Mérő’s “The Power of Words,” and Péter Janklovics’s comedic solo show, offering brain food and laughs alike.
For more laughter, check out Michael Cooney’s “Whodunnit Here?!” or Dénes Musimbe’s show—both guarantee clever punchlines and big smiles.
Unique Experiences for Every Taste
From illusionist performances (“Masters of Illusion”), “The Digital Ninja” stand-up, to workshops in watercolor or discovering your own mandala, Pécs tailors its programs for all ages and moods. Whether you’re dancing at a tribute to Ludovico Einaudi, buying a classic car at the auto fair, or just tasting your way through local brews, you’ll find something far from ordinary.
So whether you’re planning far ahead or just need a last-minute weekend idea, Pécs has filled the calendar for 2025 and 2026 with so many options that the hardest part might just be deciding what to do next.
