Since its establishment in 1981, the Budapest Spring Festival has grown to become one of Hungary’s biggest cultural festivals. The program of the festival features about 200 events which take place over two or three weeks in late March and early April. The Budapest Spring Festival showcases classical music, world music, opera, jazz, theater, dance, contemporary circus, visual arts, and more.
The festival is the result of cooperation between Müpa Budapest (the home to Bartók National Concert Hall, Ludwig Museum and Festival Theater), Hungarian Tourism Agency and the Budapest Festival and Tourism Center. The events are held at dozens of venues throughout Budapest including Müpa Budapest, the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, the Bálna Budapest, the Hungarian State Opera House, the Budapest Music Center, the Vigadó Concert Hall, the Várkert Bazár, and other theaters, museums, cultural institutions and public spaces (streets, parks and squares).
The program of the Budapest Spring Festival includes art exhibitions in the city’s museums and galleries, classical music concerts, aria concerts, theater performances, fine arts and design exhibitions, popular music concerts, dance performances, orchestral concerts, jazz concerts, operettas and musicals, chamber concerts, folk music and folk dance performances, operas, and more. Alongside the best Hungarian artists, the festival features numerous international stars.
One of the festival’s main highlights is the Budapest Art Week, a supplementary program featuring about 60 events such as museum tours, guided gallery visits, private gallery visits, workshops, performances, and more held in 50 venues. The festival also has special programs for children of all ages.
In 2021, the event was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo: Tibor Ács
