Zalaegerszeg is packing the calendar with culture, food, festivals, and nighttime spectacles. Set among rolling hills near the Alps and the Őrség’s wild landscapes, the city and its surroundings promise easy day trips, hiking, and plenty of family-friendly downtime. From stand-up and theater to beer tents and glowing installations after dark, here’s what’s on from late 2025 into mid-2026 across multiple venues.
Stand-Up to Close the Year
On December 30, 2025, András Péter Kovács brings his solo show, Idővel, to the Zalakerámia Sports and Events Arena, with Boldizsár Fehér opening. Tickets are about $26.50. Expect sharp timing, relatable life riffs, and a crowd primed for the New Year.
Hungary’s First Light Village
The Göcsej Village Museum (Göcseji Skanzen) in Zalaegerszeg transforms into an immersive nighttime light exhibition for the first time. Under the night sky, illuminated sculptures of people, trades, animals, and houses glow to life, while lit gates and tunnels usher visitors toward the past in a fresh, dreamlike way. It’s billed as unforgettable for kids and adults alike, where history meets imagination and light art.
Dates:
– December 26–30, 2025
– January 1–11, 2026
– January 12–18, 2026
– January 19–25, 2026
– January 26–February 1, 2026
Tickets range from about $7.90 to $34.20.
Retro Beats After New Year
January 10, 2026: Pótszilveszteri Retro Party keeps the New Year buzz going with the biggest Hungarian and international hits from the ’80s and ’90s. Come ready to dance. Zalaegerszeg, venue TBA.
Big-Stage Music Moments
– January 20, 2026: ABBA SHOW at Art Cinema Zalaegerszeg. Tickets about $38.00 flat. Costumes, harmonies, and all the chart-toppers.
– February 27, 2026: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons — Candlelight Concert at Art Cinema Zalaegerszeg. Tickets about $35.20 to $40.70. Baroque drama, strings, and flickering glow included.
Theater and Comedy Nights
– January 23, 2026: Meztelen igazság, a musical comedy (18+) at Art Cinema — Ady Hall. Tickets about $20.60 to $21.70.
– February 6, 2026: Zerkovitz–Topolcsányi: Orfeum hercegnő at Zalaegerszeg Art Cinema — Teremtükör. Tickets about $13.50 to $19.00.
– March 13, 2026: Ray Cooney’s A miniszter félrelép (Out of Order) by Bánfalvy Stúdió at Art Cinema (Ady Hall). Tickets about $18.90 to $27.10.
Folk and Fun
February 17, 2026: Húzzad csak, kivilágos virradatig! at the Dezső Keresztury City Cultural Center (Keresztury Dezső Művelődési Központ). Tickets about $14.20. Expect folk rhythms and a party spirit that carries into the night.
Food and Beer Festivals
– May 8–10, 2026: Beer Festival (Sörfesztivál) brings beer culture to Zalaegerszeg with taps flowing and street-food vibes.
– May 28–30, 2026: Pankkutya Festival (Pankkutya Fesztivál) lands with its own quirky blend of performances and community flavor.
Stay, Eat, Repeat: Where to Sleep and Dine
Zalaegerszeg makes it easy to linger. A superior three-star hotel in the city center offers elegant, flexible spaces for events, plus a restaurant ideal for business lunches and dinners. Another central standout pairs top lodging with atmospheric wine evenings, culinary events, and weddings, with a wide menu at smart prices.
In the city’s green belt, Jánkahegy Gyuri Csárda and Guesthouse (Jánkahegyi Gyuri Csárda és Vendégház) serves up a panoramic terrace above town, classic dishes, local wines, and pálinka in a magical hillside setting. Kiskondás Restaurant and Pension (Kiskondás Étterem és Panzió) can host family and corporate events up to 170 people and has 10 rooms for overnight stays.
For a quiet base near nature, Kovács Guesthouse (Kovács Vendégház) in the Neszele district sits about 0.5 mile from Lake Gébárti (Gébárti-tó), the thermal bath, and one of Central Europe’s largest water parks, AquaCity. It’s open year-round. A family-style four-star pension right in the city center offers rooms upstairs and in a rear wing; breakfast is continental, with full or half board on request in a classic dining room.
Another spot offers single, double, and triple rooms with breakfast, hosting up to 8 guests at once. Its restaurant seats 180, with a 100-seat garden area for sunny days. On the edge of the city, Vándor Vigadó makes a handy springboard for trips to Lake Gébárti (Gébárti-tó), AquaCity and the thermal bath, the Őrség, Zalakaros, Hévíz, Kehidakustány, Lake Balaton, or even over the nearby Austrian border. Rooms range from doubles with private bathrooms to shared-bath triples and apartment-style rooms for 4–6. There’s a shared upstairs kitchen and serving area, and meals available on request in the in-house restaurant.
The Willis Hotel Business & Wellness in the city center brings 64 new rooms in calm earth tones, with plush carpeting, marble touches, hotel-wide high-speed Wi‑Fi, and free parking. For homey stays, another guesthouse offers three triple and three double rooms, each with private showers and optional extra beds, plus two kitchens and two dining rooms, large balconies, TVs, and a garden with a pond, swing, and grill. Park in the garage or enclosed yard. Lake Gébárti (Gébárti-tó) is great for fishing, while AquaCity and the neighboring thermal bath are just 0.6 mile away.
For sweet breaks, a downtown confectionery with a shaded, heated terrace serves pastries, coffee, loose-leaf teas, and fresh veggie and fruit smoothies year-round.
Plan the Trip
Between the nightly glow of the Göcsej light village, a packed theater slate, and spring festivals, Zalaegerszeg is set for a lively season. Book ahead for the big shows, aim for a hillside terrace at sunset, and leave room for a candlelit concerto to cap the night.
