Zalaegerszeg rolls into late 2025 and early 2026 with a packed calendar of culture, comedy, concerts, and glowing nights. The city and its scenic surroundings near the Alps and Őrség (Őrség) promise easy day trips, family-friendly downtime, and a string of events across multiple venues from December through spring. Expect exhibitions, festivals, theater, and a dazzling new light attraction that turns an open-air museum into a walk-through fantasy of illuminated history.
Comedy, Concerts, Theater
On December 30, 2025, comedian András Péter Kovács brings Idővel to the Dumaszínház stage at the Zalakerámia Sports and Events Hall (Zalakerámia Sport- és Rendezvénycsarnok), with Boldizsár Fehér as the opener. Tickets: 9,590 HUF (about 26.6 USD).
January fills quickly. An ABBA Show lands at Art Cinema Zalaegerszeg on January 20, tickets 13,900 HUF (38.6 USD). The racy musical comedy Meztelen igazság (Naked Truth), 18+, plays January 23 at Art mozi – Ady Hall, 7,500–7,900 HUF (20.8–21.9 USD). On February 6, Zerkovitz–Topolcsányi’s Orfeum hercegnő (Princess of the Orpheum) hits Zalaegerszeg Art mozi – Teremtükör, 4,900–6,900 HUF (13.6–19.2 USD). February 17 brings Húzzad csak, kivilágos virradatig! to the Keresztury Dezső Cultural Center, 5,200 HUF (14.4 USD). Candlelight classics arrive February 27 with Vivaldi: A négy évszak – gyertyafényes koncert (The Four Seasons by Candlelight) at Art Cinema Zalaegerszeg, 12,900–14,900 HUF (35.8–41.3 USD). Comedy returns March 13 with Ray Cooney’s A miniszter félrelép (Out of Order) by Bánfalvy Stúdió at the Art mozi (Ady Hall), 6,900–9,900 HUF (19.2–27.6 USD).
After-New-Year Party and Spring Festivals
Ring in 2026 (again) at the Pótszilveszteri Retro Party on January 10, dancing to massive Hungarian and international hits from the ’80s and ’90s. May locks in two outdoor fixtures: the Beer Festival (Sörfesztivál) from May 8–10, and the Pankkutya Festival from May 28–30. Dates and lineups can shift, so double-check before you go.
Hungary’s First “Light Village”
The Göcsej Village Museum (Göcseji Falumúzeum) transforms into a sprawling light exhibition for the first time, turning the night into a glowing journey through the past. Under the stars, figures of people, crafts, animals, and houses shine in sculpted light, while illuminated gates and tunnels guide visitors through an imaginative retelling of rural heritage. It’s billed as a can’t-miss for kids and adults alike, blending history, fantasy, and light art in a fresh way.
Catch “Hungary’s First Light Village at the Göcsej Village Museum” (“Magyarország első fényfaluja a Göcseji Falumúzeumban”) across several runs:
– December 26–30, 2025
– January 1–11, 2026
– January 12–18, 2026
– January 19–25, 2026
– January 26–February 1, 2026
All dates in Zalaegerszeg. Tickets range from 2,900–12,500 HUF (8.0–34.7 USD).
Plan Smart, Stay Flexible
Events take place at multiple sites around Zalaegerszeg, including the Zalakerámia Sports and Events Hall, Art mozi (Ady Hall and Teremtükör), Art Cinema Zalaegerszeg, and the Keresztury Dezső Cultural Center. The area’s nature—close to the Alps and Őrség (Őrség)—adds easy hiking and touring to your itinerary. Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, so keep an eye on updates and secure tickets early.
