There’s a festival happening somewhere around the lake almost every weekend this summer. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly getaway, a wine gathering or top-quality music acts, this guide can find a festival for you.
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Everness Festival – Alsóörs
Pelso Camping in Alsóörs houses this five-day long, eco-friendly festival at the end of June. Here you can recharge with music, dancing and yoga, or visit various lectures given by people such as Deborah Sundahl. There will be classes for men, workshops for kids and henna painting. Shows include Spirit Dance and Merope.
Dates June 20 to 25
Admission Weekly pass: 28,800 HUF. Three-day pass: 25,800 HUF
Attractions Relaxation, endless yoga classes and peaceful company
2/14
Balaton Sound – Zamárdi
Balaton Sound in Zamárdi attracts the largest crowd of all the events that are part of the MOL Nagyon Balaton series. Here you can party with the likes of David Guetta, Martin Garrix, The Chainsmokers and Rita Ora between July 4 and 8. The Clubs on the Beach stage will debut this year, with today’s hottest house and techno DJs. Bungee jumping and a party boat are also here this year.
Dates July 4 to 8
Admission Day tickets: 20,000 HUF. Three-day pass: 54,900 HUF. Four-day pass: 59,900 HUF. Five-day pass: 67,900 HUF
Attractions Balaton sunsets and the thundering sounds of top international acts
3/14
Salföldi Dalföld
Salföld is a fairy-tale village in the Balaton Uplands, where the Dalföld free festival is being organised for the fifth time. The locations include Gyula Tőke’s barn and the beach at Ábrahámhegy but the main attractions – such as Parno Graszt, Snétberger, the Dresch string quartet and Debalina Bhowmick & Folks of Bengal’s Indian folk-music concerts – will take place on the main stage. The show by Mónika Lakatos and Mazsi Mihály Rostás is being hosted at the Pauline monastery ruins on July 8th. Exhibitions, interviews and folk-dance events also feature.
Dates July 5 to 9
Admission Free
Attractions The atmosphere and beautiful scenery of Salföld
4/14
Alkotótábor – Szántódpuszta
Alkotótábor is a small festival organised in Szántódpuszta next to Zamárdi. Besides Hungarian DJs, international acts such as Artefakt, East End Dubs and Ishome provide entertainment. You can also learn more about the state of music thanks to Telecom Electronic Beats on July 7 and 8.
Dates July 6 to 8
Admission Day tickets: 3,000 HUF-7,000 HUF. Weekend pass: 11,000 HUF
Attractions The youthful atmosphere and the up-and-coming artists
5/14
Veszprémfest
Veszprémfest features acts such as Ziggy Marley, Amy MacDonald, Aloe Blacc and Joss Stone. Besides all the cultural delights, the cobblestoned streets will be lined with stalls for eats and drinks, part of the Rosé, Riesling & Jazz Days event.
Dates July 11 to 14
Admission Varies according to concert
Attractions Great concerts and culinary delights
6/14
Badacsonyi Bor7
This traditional wine gastronomy festival in Badacsony offers the most exquisite examples from the region, complemented by talks, shows, folklore events, concerts and craft presentations. Lovers of quality wines will surely find a new favourite here, while those who are newcomers to the world of wines can enjoy going from one booth to the next, sampling something new at each one. The festival is part of the MOL Nagyon Balaton event series and the musical selection includes Babos-Piller Jazz Duo on July 18, Zrínyi Pop and their swing on the 19th and Mary PopKids' indie-pop on July 20.
Dates July 13 to 29
Admission Free
Attractions Rich culture, lakeside strolls and a wine buzz
7/14
Babel Sound – Balatonlelle
Babel Sound is for those who love endless world music. One of the main attractions at this festival in Balatonboglár will be the Icelandic Heiða Björg & the Kaos. Here you can here klezmer, the sounds of Morocco, Spain, India and the Netherlands. If you are looking for a pure multicultural experience this summer, this festival is for you. And it's all free.
Dates July 16 to 22
Admission Free
Attractions Ethnic sounds from around the globe
8/14
Veszprém Street Music Festival
Performers from all around the world arrive in Veszprém between July 18 and 21 to join Hungarian musicians on the streets of the City of Queens. The detailed schedule has not yet been announced but you can expect the Food Truck Show convoy to be rolling into Veszprém around the same time.
Dates July 18 to 21
Admission Free
Attractions Open-air gigs by up-and-coming and professional musicians, and a colourful selection of street food
9/14
Valley of Arts – Kapolcs, Taliándörögd, Vigántpetend
Valley of Arts is one of the Balaton experiences you can’t miss: handcrafted products, concerts, things to keep dogs and kids busy, entertainment all day and all night – all tolled, nearly 1,500 events staged in three villages. Here are a few names from the international selection: Asian Dub Foundation, DePhazz, Triggerfinger, Rebecca Ferguson.
Dates July 20 to 29
Admission Ten-day pass: 31,000 HUF. Five-day pass: 18,000 HUF. Three-day pass: 10,000 HUF
Attractions The village vibe and unbounded fun
10/14
Bohém Légyott – Hegymagas
This get-together at Gilvesy Winery runs over an extra day this year, which means that you can enjoy the amazing view, the Balaton vibes and award winning wines over the Friday and Saturday. They await professional and amateur wine lovers for dinner and tasting on June 29 – the evening will be all about volcanic wines. The next day, June 30, Parno Graszt provide the music.
Dates June 29 and 30
Admission First day: 9,000 HUF, dinner 25,800 HUF. Second day: 4,900 HUF.
Attractions Wines, the view and the vibe
11/14
Paloznak Jazz Picnic
Homola Winery organises the Jazz Picnic at Paloznak on the first weekend of August. Recently announced artists include Jamie Cullum, Soul II Soul, and Geszti+Jazz+Az+Lányok. Almost 20 acts grace the stage under the stars, while the experience is complete with the various accompanying events for kids and families..
Dates August 2 to 4
Admission Day tickets: 7,900 HUF-10,900 HUF. Three-day pass: 13,500 HUF. Four-day pass: 19,200 HUF
Attractions Top music, great wines, picnic vibes and culinary delights
12/14
Samsara – Siófok-Töreki
The Samsara festival near Siófok is all about nature. International acts include Simon Posford, Younger Brother, Ott, and Poppy Ackroyd. The festival is also the first ever Land Art Finissage, which means that many artists will be here to create a design plan together. There's yoga, too.
Dates August 6 to 12
Admission €120
Attractions Peaceful nature
13/14
STRAND Festival – Zamárdi
MOL Nagyon Balaton’s farewell to summer is STRAND Festival where Robin Schulz, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Rag'n'Bone Man, Sigala, and Troyboi will be among the international acts. This year, organisers have expanded the festival with a day zero – everyone with a pass receives a complimentary ticket.
Dates August 21 to 26
Admission Day tickets: 8,990 HUF. Pass: 24,990 HUF
Attractions Hungarian and international mainstream acts, affordable admission and end-of-summer vibes
14/14
B.my.Lake – Keszthely
Lovers of electronic music should head to Keszthely and the MOL Nagyon Balaton’s B.my.Lake, where an abundance of Hungarian and international DJs play, including Matadort, Sam Paganinit and Tale of Us. The organisers will soon announce more names soon.
Dates August 22 to 25
Admission Day tickets: 10,990-14,990 HUF. Pass: 29,990 HUF
Attractions All-day parties, a new venue and quality electronic music
You can learn more about the festivals of MOL Nagyon Balaton from their website.
