Art and Antique Budapest 2026 – A must‑see art fair at Bálna Budapest
If you visit Budapest in late February, put the Art and Antique art fair at Bálna Budapest at the top of your itinerary. This four-day event brings together classic and contemporary art, design objects, antiques and unique collectibles in one spectacular riverside venue.
Key event details
- Name: Art and Antique – Classical and Contemporary Art Fair
- Dates: 26 February – 1 March 2026
- Opening hours:
- Thursday 26 February: 10:00–19:00
- Friday 27 February: 10:00–19:00
- Saturday 28 February: 10:00–21:00
- Sunday 1 March: 10:00–19:00
- Venue: Bálna Budapest, 1093 Budapest, Fővám tér 11–12
- Type of event: Classic and contemporary art fair with paintings, sculptures, antique and design furniture, jewellery, carpets, rare books and collector’s items
- Exhibitors: Around 50 well‑known galleries and art dealers
- Extras: Free guided tours with art historians (with valid ticket), prize draw with a white‑gold diamond necklace as the grand prize
- Ticket prices:
Why visit Art and Antique during your Budapest trip?
Art and Antique is Hungary’s largest classic and contemporary art fair, returning for its eighth edition to Bálna Budapest between 26 February and 1 March 2026. The fair is one of the most important annual events of the local art scene, gathering around 50 well‑known galleries under one roof. You can browse everything from paintings and sculptures to antique and design furniture, jewellery, carpets, rare books and numismatic treasures, with prices ranging from a few thousand forints to high‑end collector’s pieces. Even if you are not planning to buy, the fair works as a rich, curated exhibition where you can simply enjoy wandering through the stands.
What to expect: art, design and atmosphere
The fair presents a colourful mix of classic, modern and cutting‑edge contemporary works, so it is easy to find something that matches your taste. You will see painting, sculpture and fresh contemporary positions from both the Hungarian and international scenes, all displayed in a spacious, walkable setting. The list of participating galleries includes renowned names such as Kálmán Makláry Fine Arts, Virág Judit Galéria, acb Galéria, TOBE Gallery, Vintage Galéria, Erdész Galéria, Faur Zsófi Galéria, Lumas Galéria, Kisterem Galéria and many others, representing both established masters and emerging artists. This variety makes the fair equally attractive for seasoned collectors, design lovers and first‑time visitors who simply want to experience Budapest’s creative side.
One of the highlights this year is the presence of masterpieces from two important private collections at the Kálmán Makláry Fine Arts stand, showcasing works from the Horn Péter Sándorfi collection and the Makláry Kálmán Csernus Tibor collection. These pieces offer a rare opportunity to see significant artworks up close that usually remain in private hands. Thanks to this rich curatorial approach, Art and Antique doubles as a crash course in the current state of the Hungarian art market.
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Guided tours and special experiences
To help you get even more out of your visit, Art and Antique offers free guided tours included in the ticket price at pre‑announced times. These tours are organised by KÉPEZŐ Galéria, an active player in the contemporary art scene since 2021, known for making art approachable for both adults and children through playful, experience‑based programmes. During the fair, art historians Bán Blanka and Tomcsányi Sára guide visitors through the stands, explaining the stories, techniques and context behind the artworks in a friendly, accessible way. This is ideal if you are curious about art but do not have a specialist background, or if you are travelling with family members who would enjoy a more interactive programme.
The event also includes a prize draw that adds an extra touch of glamour to your visit. BÁV ART Aukciósház és Galéria offers a stunning 14‑carat white‑gold necklace with a 0.485‑carat brilliant‑cut diamond pendant as the grand prize, worth over 600,000 HUF. One lucky visitor will walk away from Bálna Budapest not only with great memories and photos, but also with this sparkling, elegant piece of jewellery.
Practical information for visitors
Art and Antique 2026 takes place at Bálna Budapest (1093 Budapest, Fővám tér 11–12), a striking cultural and commercial centre on the Danube waterfront. The building combines 19th‑century warehouse architecture with a contemporary steel‑and‑glass shell, creating a bright interior where art, gastronomy and shopping come together. From the upper levels you can discover a lesser‑known panoramic viewpoint with a special angle on Budapest’s skyline, making your visit even more memorable.
Getting to Bálna Budapest
Bálna Budapest is easy to reach from anywhere in the city using public transport. You can take trams 2, 47 or 49, which connect several central districts along the Danube and stop near Fővám tér, or use metro lines M3 and M4 to reach the same hub. Several bus lines, including 5, 7, 9, 15, 115 and 133E, also stop close to Bálna, making it very convenient if you are staying in the city centre or in Pest’s inner districts. If you arrive by suburban railway, lines H5 and H7 connect to the area and link the outer neighbourhoods and nearby towns to the inner city.
If you prefer to come by car, Bálna Budapest has an underground garage with public parking available throughout the day, and you can also park in the surrounding streets. In many nearby zones, on‑street parking is free after 20:00 on weekdays, as well as at weekends and on public holidays, which is especially practical if you plan a longer evening visit to the fair. Because of the central location, you can easily combine Art and Antique with a walk along the Danube Promenade, a visit to the Great Market Hall or a café break in the lively streets of the 9th district.