This year’s Highlights of Hungary Awards celebrated three outstanding Hungarian achievements: the preservation efforts of Levente and Tímea Gáll, the compassionate work of the Hungarian Hospice Foundation, and the artisanal excellence of Szabi the Baker. The winners each received 2 million forints and national acclaim for their dedication to community, tradition, and humanity.
The Netflix series Mary, set to be released on 6 December, has come under fire following antisemitic attacks on social media after the unveiling of its first trailer this week. Users have expressed outrage because Mary, who was Jewish, is portrayed by an Israeli actress, and several cast members are Israeli.
On 20–23 November Budapest will once again host the World Science Forum (WSF), organized by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. This year’s theme centres on the connection between science and policy during global transformations, gathering leaders from around the world.
‘On our part, we doubt that “history of ideas” as a methodologically coherent discipline existed in Hungary between the two world wars…Nevertheless, their work is undoubtedly a prime example of an attempt at the creation of a conservative-oriented social science. The history of ideas is, in fact, a philosophy of history that takes into account factors that transcend matter, and through a specific research methodology is able to grasp and evaluate the processes that take place “behind” the surface of purely material social phenomena.’
‘Progress towards the 2030 and 2025 targets shows steady improvement in most areas at the Community level, with a benchmark already achieved by Member States. Most work remains to be done in the area of primary education, where the gap between results and intentions is still widening.’
According to a new Real-PR 93 survey, 74 per cent of Hungarians support the government’s target to raise the average salary to one million forints, reflecting broad approval among all demographics and age groups from across the political spectrum.
‘The House of the Nation is a symbol of our independence, sovereignty, and solidarity,’ Kinga Gál, Chair of the Fidesz–KDNP delegation to the EP, emphasized at the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition that presents the Hungarian Parliament building at the European Parliament in Brussels. The exhibition opened as part of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Student City planned to be developed with government funding in Budapest could provide thousands of new student residence places within three years, as the country’s demand for higher education housing grows. Minister Balázs Hankó discussed this ambitious project, the success of Hungarian universities, and the housing needs of young people in a recent television interview.
‘Although almost all of Hungary was covered in noxious and harmful air for the entire weekend, so too was more than half of Central and Northern Europe, with countries such as Denmark, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia, as well as Italy also being directly affected by the emanations (wherever they may have come from)….But what is the cause?’
Robbie Williams is set to return to Budapest, thrilling fans with a concert at the MVM Dome on 12 September 2025 as part of his ‘Live 2025’ world tour. Williams, no stranger to breaking records, has established himself as a powerhouse in live music. His 2006 world tour achieved a remarkable milestone, selling over 1.6 million tickets in just one day, and his three-night performance at Knebworth attracted 375,000 fans, setting an attendance record.
Budapest’s holiday spirit will come alive on 15 November with the opening of two cherished Christmas markets: the Advent Basilica at St Stephen’s Square and Vörösmarty Classic Xmas at Vörösmarty Square. Both markets will feature festive décor, local artisans, Christmas delicacies and cultural programmes for all ages.
Visit Hungary has launched a nationwide winter tourism campaign offering 20 per cent discounts at over 300 locations for guests paying with SZÉP cards. Running from January through February, the campaign promotes winter travel across Hungary, highlighting the country’s natural beauty, wellness spas, culinary offerings, and winter activities, reaching audiences through television, social media, and online platforms.
The campaign at Varna was one of the most important campaigns launched to repel the Turks, and it needed little to succeed…Varna opened the way to Byzantium, and thus nothing could prevent the Ottoman siege and fall of Constantinople in 1453.
Disney has confirmed that a brand-new Star Wars trilogy is in development, promising fans an entirely new storyline unconnected to the iconic Skywalker Saga. Written by X-Men producer Simon Kinberg, the trilogy marks a new direction for the franchise. Read our article for more information and also to learn about the Hungary-related curiosities in the Star Wars universe.
Vadrózsa Dance Ensemble is the most prominent non-professional folk dance ensemble in Hungary. With 40 dancers and five musicians, the main mission of their American tour, which included five stops (New York, Washington, DC, Cleveland, Boston, and New Brunswick) was to showcase the diversity and virtuosity of the Carpathian Basin’s folklore through a fresh, youthful approach.
The Tamási Thermal Spa, heavily damaged by fire three years ago, is set for a major restoration, funded by nearly 5 billion forints in government support. The extensive renovation, scheduled to conclude by autumn 2025, will bring state-of-the-art upgrades to the spa.
A Hungarian-led research team has launched the Geoastronomy project, supported by the European Research Council, to explore the composition and atmospheres of rocky exoplanets orbiting Sun-like stars. This six-year initiative aims to expand our understanding of both these distant worlds and our own planet.
The GraphicPécs international graphic arts festival returns to Pécs from 7 November to 25 January, offering exhibitions, professional talks, book launches, and roundtable discussions, all celebrating the dynamic intersections of music, visual art, and underground culture.
‘While the exponential growth of AI heightens immediate concerns about meeting energy demand, green energy ambitions must be evaluated through the lens of feasibility, affordability, and reliability…Because demand is ever-increasing, policy makers must take a pragmatic approach, encouraging supply and production expansion across every fuel type, wherever practical.’
During the University of Szeged’s Innovation Day, Nobel laureate Katalin Karikó underscored the responsibility of scientists to convey their findings to the public, inspire the youth, and foster acceptance of scientific advancements, highlighting the crucial role of resilience and collaborative partnerships in research.
Researchers from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) have achieved a pioneering milestone by successfully growing viable mustard plants in a lunar soil simulation. This world-first result includes three viable seeds, setting a new standard in plant growth for future space agriculture.
Renovations at the Hungaroring are well underway following the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, with a budget of 78.9 billion forints aimed at extensive upgrades. These include refurbishing the main grandstand and paddock, constructing two new tunnels for improved access, and ensuring a cutting-edge facility for racing enthusiasts by 2026.
An election night in Budapest: Hungarian conservatives gathered in anticipation of a Trump victory at an event hosted by MCC and the Center for Fundamental Rights on 5 November. There were serious panel discussions with experts, but also plenty of fun, chatting, drinks and food, with attendees keeping their fingers crossed for the candidate on the right side of history.
‘Linguistic–ethnic nationalism is the quintessential negative (in Joó’s parlance, “imperialist”) nationalism, a nationalism insensitive to qualitative differences or to more elevated spiritual concepts of the state, such as the unifying “Hungarus consciousness” of the nomadic empire’s supranationalism, which derives from the dynasty’s divinely-derived spiritual unifying power.’
Real estate developer and reality TV show star Donald Trump was given very little chance by mainstream journalists and pollsters in 2016. However, by focusing on illegal immigration and standing up against the new ‘woke’ PC activists at the time, he managed to pull off one of the greatest upset victories in a presidential election in American history.
Cinema City’s Film Festival, running from 7 to 10 November in Budapest and regional multiplexes, promises a lineup of premieres, discounted tickets, Hungarian films, and exclusive meet-and-greets. Audiences can enjoy newly released blockbusters alongside domestic cinematic highlights and film club discussions.
The European Commission’s aviation safety agency EASA’s conference was hosted in Budapest, Hungary under the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The emphasis was placed on the essential impact of human factors in ensuring safe operations at the event; as well as the aviation industry’s long-term challenges, such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
On 4 November Soviet tanks rolled into the country, sealing the fate of the glorious 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight. Hungary’s National Day of Mourning, instituted by the second Orbán government and observed nationwide, commemorates the crushing of the uprising, honouring the heroes who fought against the Communist regime and Soviet occupation.
In an unusual oversight, Hungary was left off the map in a geography textbook designed for fourth-grade students in Italy. Discovered by gyerekszoba.hu, the Noi Supereroi 2030 textbook instead shows Romania sharing borders with Austria and Slovenia—a puzzling omission still awaiting publisher response.
The Hungarian Science Festival, hosted by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, begins this Monday with an expansive month-long programme. The Hungarian Science Festival has been held since 2003, commencing on 3 November with the Day of Hungarian Science, commemorating Count István Széchenyi’s donation of a year’s income from his estates in 1825 to establish the Learned Society, the precursor of today’s Hungarian Academy of Sciences.