Budapest Festivals in January
January festivals in Budapest make the cold winter days and weekends more cheerful. The January events start with festive New Year’s Day events in Budapest ranging from NYD concerts and cruises, through after parties to shows. But who doesn’t need a good doze of good humour to start – and then continue – the New Year with? Put away the gloomy short days, and immerse in Hungarian festivals in January.
After the many New Year concerts in Budapest and New Year parties, cruises, thermal baths, and so on, the festival season is back with some special local flavors.
Budapest Christmas Market the last days of the Advent Fair on Vorosmarty Square and St Stephen Square often reach over to the New Year.
Ice Rink Budapest: the beautiful and spacious ice rink is hugely popular among locals and foreigners alike in the Hungarian capital. The ice rink itself is in the magnificent City Park, on one side flanked by the Vajdahunyad Castle and on the other side by the beautiful palace of the Ice Rink Mujegpalya. Winter is the high season for sports festivals and other icy events. Dates: all January.
Ice Rink until Midnight Festival – all over in Hungary for a single night in January almost all ice rinks will open their gates for the Night of Ice Rinks, until 12 am/ midnight. Date: January 19, 2019.
Solo/Duo (SzoloDuo) Contemporary Dance Festival and Competition: the event is an international dance competition and festival of solo and duo performances. Every year the dancers perform and the best shows are awarded by the jury panel and the audience. If you love contemporary dance, SoloDuo is a must see festival in January in Budapest. Date: Jan 9, 10, 11, 12, 2019.
Winter Beer Festival / Winterfest in Budapest. It’s cold outside, so let’s have some cold inside, could be the motto of the winter beer festival in Hungary hosted by Gasztrosetany.
The fantastic beers will be some of the best available beers in Hungary. The cheap entries include a beer cup and fun concerts. The setting of the beer fest is the lovely neo-Baroque Danube Palace in the city center (close to St Stephen’s Basilica). Date: January 18, 19, 2019.
The Grand Budapest Film Festival – a fascinating 2 day festival for independent film lovers in the beautiful Pushkin Art Cinema of Budapest (Puskin Mozi). The indie films are screen in English or with English subtitles. The entrance is free to the film festival, so be there early to have a seat / get in at all. Date: January 17, 18, 2019.
Parties and Pub crawls: for the young and energetic folks Budapest parties do not stop in cold January. Every weekend you can find concerts and mini festivals in pubs, bars and clubs. You can just head to some of the ruin bars in Budapest, it’s a mega party zone with a bustling nightlife at the weekends (District VI, city center). For a ‘drink and be guided’ experience, you can book a Budapest pub crawl as a warm up, or hop on a Budapest Party Boat to be in the party mood on the river Danube. Date: multiple days in January
Hungarian Farming Fair in Budapest: in Hungexpo Budapest, AgroMashExpo will feature wonderful agricultural machines, so local and foreign farming fans come together to marvel at the recent technology, hear news, and have fun at the fair. Date: Jan 23 – 26, 2019.
Viticulture and Viniculture Budapest: Hungary’s essential exhibition / fair specialised in wine-growing and wineries. A great festival and professional program for those interested in managing or setting up vineyards, wine making, presses, tools, and the recent trends. Dates: Jan 23 – 26, 2019.
Wedding Expo Budapest: January wedding fair for Hungarian and international wedding businesses and to be weds, set in the gigantic Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena in Hungary: January 26 – 27, 2019.
International Documentary Film Festival Budapest: If you love documentary films come and check out the film festival of documentaries set in Budapest. Besides the screenings, there are talks, discussions, panel chats, concerts and great folks who are into documentary films. The location this year is Cinema City Arena, one of the big movies in the city of Budapest. More details about the programs on the official website. Dates: Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2019.
Chinese New Year Festival in Budapest – various venues, the biggest one is Millenaris Park on the Buda side of Budapest with thousands of visitors. But there are classical music events, for example in the prestigious Palace of Arts in Budapest, you can listen to a proper Chinese New Year Concert. Tickets for the Chinese NY event are worth booking in advance. Click here for more January concerts in Budapest. Date: Jan 25-27 and Jan 31, 2019.
Young Jazz Music Talents (Finale) in Budapest Jazz Club. This music talent show, organised and judged by the Hungarian Jazz Federation, is dedicated to finding the most talented young Hungarian jazz musician of the year. Date: not confirmed for Jan 2019.
Young Jazz Music Talents (Finale) in Budapest Jazz Club. This music talent show, organised
and judged by the Hungarian Jazz Federation, is dedicated to finding the most talented young Hungarian jazz musician of the year: not scheduled for 2019
Bath Parties in Budapest: March is the month when the Magic Bath parties make the thermal bath lively every Saturday (from this month the venue moves to Szechenyi Baths). Dates: January: bath parties in Budapest are normally not scheduled in January as this is typically the winter break time. Date: none. Check out February Festivals instead.
Gluttonous Thursday – 50% off the prices Restaurant Program in Budapest with dozens of participating restaurants (date has not been officially finalized yet)
Stage Diving Metal Music Festival in Budapest Cafe Durer: is one of the long awaited events for metal music fans in Hungary. Check their official FB page for upcoming events. Date: not confirmed for Jan 2019.
