Best of Budapest & Hungary

This year marks the 30th time we’ll cross the iconic K Bridge to the Freedom Island, where over 1000 programs at 50 locations await us, celebrating a diversity of genres. Among the highlights are Kylie Minogue, Liam Gallagher, Martin Garrix, and Sam Smith. The event will also feature the Great Street Theater and the ever-fantastic Cirque du Sziget. This year, even one of the shower blocks will be playing music.

    Main Stage

    The Main Stage promises a strong and diverse lineup for visitors this year. On the first day, the "Queen of Pop" Kylie Minogue will perform, followed by Halsey, one of the most versatile artists of her generation, and Liam Gallagher, coming with Oasis’ first album material. On Saturday, expect the renowned DJ Martin Garrix, while on Sunday, Sam Smith, the contemporary pop icon with the most unique voice, will headline. Fred again... will close the festival on the final day. In previous slots on the Main Stage, you’ll find names like Stormzy, Louis Tomlinson, Janelle Monáe, Fisher, Skrillex, as well as Bebe Rexha, Tom Odell, Joker Out, Yves Tumor, Becky Hill, and Raye. This year, local performers will also bring unique productions to the Main Stage, including Beton.Hofi, Margaret Island, and after many years, Azahriah will perform in the Main Stage’s featured slot before Halsey on Thursday.

    Free to be... Special at the Main Stage

    Over the past three decades, Sziget and its audience have created an international community, realizing the "dream state" now known worldwide as Freedom Island. Sziget is a place where one can freely be oneself, where one can be a Szitizen. This year, the "Free To Be..." initiative will frame this concept. The Main Stage will once again host special parties under the name Free To Be… Special, featuring daily 10-minute performances and short talks during transitions to highlight societal changes and collective responsibility. Vincenzo Turiano’s "Unique" will emphasize that we are not different but unique and special. The following day, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Kat Graham will give a talk. The Ghetto Funk Collective will present “In Funk We Trust,” sharing their belief in peace, love, and fun(k). On August 10, there will be a big communal singing session with the Superar Children’s Choir. Copenhagen Collective’s “The Genesis” will discuss the importance of human relationships, and on the festival's last day, we will celebrate Szitizens’ diversity by waving 5000 flags.

    Revolut Stage, Bolt Party Arena, Yettel Colosseum

    The Revolut Stage (formerly FreeDome) will host alternative music acts such as Big Thief, Fontaines D.C., Marc Rebillet, L'Imperatrice, Aurora, MØ, Crystal Fighters, Barry Can’t Swim, and Four Tet on the final day. The Bolt Party Arena is the haven for electronic music lovers, featuring world-renowned party brands daily, including elrow, Q-Dance, Awakenings, STMPD by Martin Garrix, and Rampage. The Yettel Colosseum, styled to resemble ancient amphitheaters, will showcase the crème de la crème of alternative electronic music, with about fifty performers, including Richie Hawtin, Honey Dijon, Ellen Allien, Sven Väth, Nico Moreno, and VICTORIA, the bass guitarist of Måneskin performing a solo project.

    Special Admission and Services

    From 11 PM daily, entry to the Sziget is half-price, which is great news for night owls as the major party spots continue to rock until dawn.

    Additional Music Venues

    The dropYard will feature hip-hop and rap performances, while ibis × ALL presents The Buzz (formerly the European Stage) will showcase bands with notable domestic success but lesser international recognition. The Global Village will welcome visitors with diverse cultures, sounds, and colors. Jukebox by Snowattack will debut as a continuation of the successful Tribute Stage from previous years. The Sziget Beach Chill Zone provides a quieter spot away from the hustle and bustle for relaxation. The LightStage, located at the northern tip of the Sziget, will offer daytime concerts and fiery DJ sets at night.

    Sziget Beyond Music

    This year, organizers have grouped several thematic locations into "zones" to help visitors easily find programs of interest. For instance, the Civil Island and Think for Tomorrow, addressing social issues from a youth perspective, and XS Land, focusing on the specific issues faced by people with disabilities, will be part of the FutureGrounds zone. The ArtFusion Field will host ArtGarden (formerly ArtZone), the theater venue, the Great Street Theater, the Museum of Applied Arts, Cirque du Sziget, and the Roaming Funfair. Daytime and community-building activities will be available in the PlayGround zone, including the SportZone and GameLandHub.

    Magic Mirror Presented by NYX

    The Magic Mirror has celebrated love, joy, and acceptance for over two decades. This year, it will feature even more diverse performances, with the Queens Brunch Vienna’s versatile drag queens kicking off the Mirror’s magic carpet over three days. The Sziget will also have a "Before I Die" wall, encouraging community engagement by sharing desires, hopes, fears, and stories.

    Welcome Zone, Szitizen Care, and More

    To improve visitor experience, a new Welcome Zone has been set up as a perfect meeting point, including the newly renovated City Center. This area provides essential services such as an information center, lost and found, audience services, the Szitizen Center, and a complaint office. The new initiatives aim to handle problems more efficiently and enhance visitor comfort and safety. Special “helper zones” have been created, including a Mental Care Corner for those needing emotional support and a Hangover Care Corner for those needing rest after overindulgence. The First Aid Center will handle injuries and provide a “safety net” for those with specific health needs.

    Food and Drink

    Continuing from last year, the food courts will offer a variety of affordable options. Vendors will provide both Hungarian and international dishes, with each stand offering at least one "wallet-friendly" item. The focus remains on environmental sustainability, with all food-related items made from paper or biodegradable materials. Vendors are encouraged to use energy-efficient solutions and eco-friendly materials. Additionally, drinking water stations have been expanded.

    Crowd Management Innovations

    To address the challenge of crowd flow after concerts, new solutions have been implemented. The Main Stage’s dance area now has a new exit route, and digital information boards will provide real-time updates on exit times and transport options. On high-traffic days, pedestrian access may be opened via the H Bridge, with additional nighttime bus routes and increased ferry and taxi services. A new BOLT taxi stand will be located near the H Bridge.

    Sziget in Numbers

    With a daily capacity of 95,000, Sziget is one of Hungary’s largest "cities," drawing visitors from over 100 countries and featuring around 600 performances from 54 nations over 6 days. Among the performers will be 200 local acts, with many international acts from the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and other countries including Senegal, India, Tanzania, New Zealand, and Benin.

    The largest venue is the 1000 m² Main Stage, with a viewing area three times the size of the Puskás Arena’s floor area, totaling 33,000 m². The Main Stage features a 600 m² LED wall and hundreds of intelligent lights. The largest structure is the Revolut Stage tent, covering 5700 m², while the Bolt Party Arena occupies 4000 m² and the Yettel Colosseum is built from 3000 pallets.

    A new feature this year is the removal of the FOH mixing tower in the center of the crowd, replaced by smaller structures at the sides of the viewing area for better sound and sight. This large-scale implementation is unprecedented in Hungary.

    Additional Infrastructure

    Sziget will cover 46,855 m² of ground with temporary flooring, equivalent to 59 standard handball courts. Temporary water and sewage systems will serve 132 water containers and over 500 shower stalls. The festival city includes over 200 office and storage containers, with 15 cubic meters of leveling material used for setup. The backstage areas will feature 750 office desks, 1200 chairs, 500 shelves, and 1000 beer tables accommodating 8000 people.

    Traffic management will be supported by 250 directional signs and 100 m² of LED displays. The site will have 85 drink stands and 80 food stalls. The organization involves agreements with four property owners worth over 300 million HUF and cooperation with at least seven licensing authorities.

    Camping facilities are available with various levels of service, including accessible options and hygiene services. A 24-hour health center with over 200 staff, including doctors and nurses, will handle minor injuries and offer X-rays. Security is ensured by a 24-hour team, including hundreds of security personnel, firefighters, and a command center with meteorologists, firefighters, armed forces representatives, and operators.

    Restroom Facilities

    The festival will replace mobile toilets with water-flushed units in decorative container blocks. Approximately 1000 units will be provided, supported by 70 pumps. This initiative, eliminating mobile toilets, is a unique achievement internationally and highlights the use of recycled water from the Danube for dust control.