Budapest Classics Film Marathon Returns for Its 9th Edition
From 15 to 20 September, Budapest turns into a haven for classic cinema as the Budapest Classics Film Marathon takes over the city for its ninth year running. Organized by the National Film Institute of Hungary, this internationally respected festival brings nearly 100 screenings of restored classics to some of the capital’s most beautiful cinemas, plus a brand-new open-air venue, making it one of the most rewarding cultural events on Budapest’s autumn calendar for film lovers visiting the city.
Festival at a Glance
- Dates: 15 to 20 September 2026
- Venues: Toldi Cinema, Uránia National Film Theatre, Budapest Kertmozi, French Institute Budapest, Art+ Cinema, and the National Film Institute Film Archive
- Opening film: World premiere of the fully restored 4K version of the Queen Budapest concert film, screening on 15 September at Uránia National Film Theatre
- Special guests: Filmmakers Mathieu Kassovitz, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, and cinematographer Paweł Edelman, appearing for masterclasses and audience talks
- Featured anniversaries: The 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, the 100th anniversary of Andrzej Wajda’s birth, and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Hungarian filmmaking
- Standard ticket price: 1,500 HUF, with the Queen Budapest premiere priced separately at 4,900 HUF
- Free admission: Screenings at the National Film Archive and all industry programme events
A World Premiere Fit for Rock Royalty
The festival’s undisputed highlight is the world premiere of the fully restored Queen Budapest concert film, opening the marathon on 15 September at Uránia National Film Theatre. The film documents Queen’s legendary 1986 concert in Budapest’s former Népstadion, played to 80,000 fans, at a time when the band became one of the first major Western acts to perform behind the Iron Curtain. The 4K restoration was carried out by the National Film Institute’s Film Archive together with Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post team in New Zealand, the same studio behind the visual effects for The Lord of the Rings. Alongside the full concert, the restored footage captures Freddie Mercury and the band exploring Budapest and Szentendre, including a lighthearted afternoon go-karting at the Hungaroring. It’s a genuinely rare piece of music and film history, and catching this restored version on the big screen in the city where it all happened adds a layer of meaning you simply can’t get anywhere else.
Where to Catch the Screenings
The festival’s programme is spread across six venues, giving visitors a good excuse to explore some of Budapest’s most striking cinema architecture along the way.
Best deals of Budapest
- Toldi Cinema, 1054 Budapest, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 36-38
- Uránia National Film Theatre, 1088 Budapest, Rákóczi út 21
- Budapest Kertmozi, Városháza Kertmozi, 1052 Budapest, Városház u. 9-11
- French Institute Budapest, 1011 Budapest, Fő utca 11
- Art+ Cinema, 1073 Budapest, Erzsébet krt. 39
- National Film Institute Film Archive, 1021 Budapest, Budakeszi út 51/C
Uránia National Film Theatre, an ornate 1896 building blending Venetian Gothic and Moorish Revival styles, anchors much of the main programme, while Toldi Cinema, a beloved arthouse venue just steps from the Arany János utca metro station, and Art+ Cinema round out the indoor screenings. New for this edition, open-air screenings move to the courtyard of Budapest City Hall under the Budapest Kertmozi banner, running six evenings straight with a lineup that includes Niagara with Marilyn Monroe, Amélie, and Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise, closing out the outdoor series in style.
Themes Worth Knowing Before You Go
Beyond the marquee premiere, this year’s programme leans heavily into anniversaries and thematic deep dives that make for excellent viewing even if you don’t recognize every title. A selection marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution brings back decades-banned Hungarian films alongside newly restored prints, while a retrospective celebrates the 100th birthday of Polish master Andrzej Wajda with classics like Ashes and Diamonds and Man of Marble. Film buffs can also dive into a playful selection called Bloody Countesses, tracing female vampire characters through 20th-century genre cinema, or explore the Open Archives programme, which offers a rare look behind the scenes at some of the world’s leading film archives and their latest restoration work.
Good to Know for Visitors
Most films screen in their original language with English subtitles, though this can vary by title and venue, so international visitors should double-check subtitle availability for specific screenings on the festival’s official website before booking. Standard tickets run at a very accessible 1,500 HUF, making this one of the more affordable cultural experiences in the city during September, aside from the special-priced Queen Budapest premiere. The festival is considered one of Europe’s three most significant classic film heritage events, alongside Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna and the Lumière Festival in Lyon, so it draws a genuinely international crowd of cinephiles and industry professionals each year. Given the mix of rare restorations, guest filmmaker talks, and a genuine world premiere, it’s worth checking the full schedule in advance and booking ahead for anything you don’t want to miss, especially the opening night.