Zalaegerszeg is packing the calendar with theater, music, comedy, family magic, and a glowing first: Hungary’s very first light village. From late 2025 through spring 2026, the city shifts from cozy Advent vibes to ABBA sparkle, candlelit Vivaldi, and a beer-fueled May finale. Here’s what to catch, where to go, and why you’ll want extra evenings free.
Operetta With Bite: Te rongyos élet…
On 2025.11.20., Art Mozi’s Teremtükör hosts Imre Kálmán – Zsolt Meskó: Te rongyos élet… Expect a stylish twist on classic operetta drama, with bold emotional turns and razor-sharp lyrics. Tickets run from about $16.20 to $18.95, and the venue keeps it intimate enough that every seat feels close to the action.
Family Escapes: Tales Meet Reality
On 2025.11.22., the Apáczai Csere János Cultural Center presents Utazás a mesék és a valóság birodalmába (Journey to the Realm of Tales and Reality), a warm, imaginative ride where fairy tales brush up against everyday life. One price, easy choice: tickets are about $6.85, making this an effortless pick for a weekend outing with kids or nostalgic adults.
Hungary’s First Light Village: A Nighttime Wonderland
The Göcsej Village Museum (Göcseji Falumúzeum) transforms into a luminous dreamscape for multiple weeks across winter 2025–2026. It’s the inaugural edition of Hungary’s First Light Village (Magyarország első fényfaluja), turning the open-air museum into a glowing tableau: sculptures of people, crafts, animals, and houses made of light; illuminated gates and tunnels forming a new path back into the past. The concept blends history, imagination, and light art under the night sky—think immersive installations that also teach you something.
Catch it on these runs: 2025.11.17–11.23., 11.24–11.30., 2025.12.01–12.07., 12.08–12.14., 12.15–12.21., 12.22–12.23., 12.26–12.30., 2026.01.01–01.11., 01.12–01.18., 01.19–01.25., and 01.26–02.01. Tickets range from about $9.30 to $34.25, so you can choose a simpler entry or go big for peak nights and extras. It’s pitched as unforgettable for kids and adults alike—and the multi-week run means you can dodge the most crowded hours if you plan well.
Advent on the Hill
Landorhegy Advent (Landorhegyi Advent) lands on 2025.11.30. in Zalaegerszeg’s Landorhegy district. Expect local charm, light displays, and community-led holiday spirit—the kind of evening that pairs well with hot drinks and wandering.
Burnout, Meet Csernus
On 2025.12.09., Dr. Imre Csernus takes the stage at the Dezső Keresztury City Cultural Center (Keresztury Dezső Városi Művelődési Központ) with KIÉGÉS helyett ÚJ KIHÍVÁSOK—his plainspoken, sometimes uncomfortable, always energizing take on swapping burnout for new challenges. Tickets are around $16.20, and his sessions are known for being as practical as they are provocative.
Holiday Theater: A padlás
On 2025.12.22., A padlás (The Attic) hits Art Mozi. This beloved Hungarian musical mixes mystery, memory, and heart with enduring songs and a touch of magic realism. Tickets are about $22.00, and yes, it’s a perfect pre-Christmas pick.
Year-End Laughs
On 2025.12.30., comedian András Péter Kovács brings Idővel (In Time), with opening act Boldizsár Fehér, to Dumaszínház at the Zalakerámia Sports and Events Hall. It’s classic KAP—observational, agile, and delightfully sharp. Tickets run about $27.65.
ABBA, Bare Truths, and Candlelight
2026 warms up fast. On 01.20., ABBA SHOW takes over Art Cinema Zalaegerszeg—sequins optional, singalongs inevitable. Tickets are about $35.30 to $40.75.
On 01.23., Meztelen igazság – zenés vígjáték (18+) hits Art Mozi’s Ady Hall, a saucy, song-laced comedy with adult humor that doesn’t pretend. Tickets are roughly $20.55 to $21.65.
On 02.27., Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – Candlelight Concert (VIVALDI A NÉGY ÉVSZAK – GYERTYAFÉNYES KONCERT) glows at Art Cinema Zalaegerszeg. Candlelight concerts hit differently—intimate, immersive, romantic. Tickets: about $35.30 to $40.75.
Operetta Royalty and Folklore Fever
On 2026.02.06., Zerkovitz–Topolcsányi: The Orpheum Princess (Orfeum hercegnő) brings vintage glamour and melodic charm to Art Mozi’s Teremtükör, with tickets from roughly $13.45 to $18.95.
On 02.17., Húzzad csak, kivilágos virradatig! storms into the Dezső Keresztury City Cultural Center—a folk-infused night of music and dance that plays until the small hours in spirit, if not the clock. Tickets are around $14.85.
Farce Done Right
On 2026.03.13., Bánfalvy Stúdió brings Ray Cooney’s Out of Order (A miniszter félrelép) to Art Mozi’s Ady Hall. It’s the classic British farce of political missteps, cover-ups, and doors that won’t stop slamming. Tickets land between about $18.95 and $27.15.
Spring Festivals: Beer and Bark
The city heads outdoors in May. Beer Festival (Sörfesztivál) taps into Zalaegerszeg from 2026.05.08–05.10. Expect local and regional brews, food, and live acts—the essentials, nothing overcomplicated.
Then, 2026.05.28–05.30., Pankkutya Festival (Pankkutya Fesztivál) arrives. The name is delightfully cryptic; the vibe is fun-forward and community-minded, with music and playful programming to match early-summer energy.
How to Plan It
If you’re picking just three: make the light village a must, grab a seat for A padlás, and close winter with the candlelit Vivaldi. If you’ve got kids, the fairy-tale trip and the glowing museum nights are easy wins. If you want pure fun, ABBA SHOW and the beer fest won’t let you down. Most events sit in that sweet-spot pricing—from about $6.85 for family shows to $40.75 for premium concert seats—so you can build a lineup without wrecking the budget.
Zalaegerszeg’s calendar has a throughline this season: light, music, and stories that turn cold nights into warm ones. Pick your nights. Then add one more.
