Celebrate Hungarian Heritage at Museum of Ethnography Anniversary Festival
Experience Budapest’s rich cultural traditions at a special anniversary celebration on October 11, 2025, as the Museum of Ethnography marks one year since opening its internationally acclaimed collection exhibition. This award-winning display has earned prestigious Red Dot Design and IF Design awards and received a nomination for the European Museum of the Year Award, making it one of the world’s most modern ethnographic exhibitions.
The full-day cultural festival offers visitors an immersive journey through Hungarian folk traditions, featuring spectacular performances, interactive workshops, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the museum’s treasures. This is your chance to discover living heritage through music, dance, and traditional crafts in one of Budapest’s most innovative cultural spaces.
Festival Highlights
The day’s centerpiece is a stunning costume show by the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble at 10:30 AM in the Damjanich Street entrance hall. Kossuth Prize-winning artist Zsuzsanna Vincze will present traditional costumes from diverse Hungarian regions including Rábaköz, Matyóvidék, Southern Great Plain, Kalotaszeg, Gyimes, and Sárköz. The presentation combines authentic museum-quality pieces with stylized stage costumes, accompanied by regional dance performances that bring each tradition to life.
Interactive Experiences
Throughout the day, the museum transforms into a living cultural center with activities on every floor. The Ethnosound Experience Drumming workshop at 11:30 AM offers hands-on musical exploration, where participants can experience the joy of rhythm-making with real instruments under the guidance of Károly Fehér and his team.
Families with children can enjoy the “Dress up your doll” activity from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM, where young visitors become fashion designers, creating colorful outfits inspired by the exhibition’s diverse cultural displays. This creative workshop takes place in the Collection Exhibition on the -2nd floor.
Traditional Crafts Workshop
In the afternoon, join a unique textile recycling project in the MÉTA space from 3:00 PM to 4:45 PM. Museum educators invite visitors to participate in chain stitching using textiles discovered during the museum’s relocation. This community workshop combines conversation, sewing, and storytelling, creating a shared cultural experience.
Behind-the-Scenes Access
The anniversary celebration also provides rare glimpses into the museum’s inner workings. Professional restorers will reveal the hidden secrets of artifact preservation, while conductor Gábor Hollerung shares personal insights into the collection. These presentations offer fascinating perspectives on how cultural heritage is maintained and interpreted for modern audiences.
Vote for the Collection’s Top 10
Launch day marks the beginning of an exciting visitor engagement project – voting for the Collection Exhibition’s “must-see” pieces. From the 3,600 objects displayed across eight rooms, visitors can help select ten essential items that represent the exhibition’s highlights. Voting continues until March 5, 2026, and results will create a quick tour route for time-pressed visitors.
Practical Information
Tickets and Access
Special event tickets cost 2,500 HUF and include access to all exhibitions and day programs. Children under 3 attend free. Purchase tickets online in advance or at the museum’s entrance ticket desks. Note that the building requires tickets for entry on this day – no free access is available.
Schedule
The festival runs from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, with exhibitions and shops closing at 6:00 PM. All programs conclude by 6:00 PM.
Important Notes
All programs and activities are conducted in Hungarian, which adds authentic cultural immersion but may limit accessibility for non-Hungarian speakers. However, the visual elements of costume shows, dance performances, and craft workshops remain engaging regardless of language barriers.
The museum reserves the right to alter the program, and photography and videography may occur during events, with some content potentially streamed live.
Getting There
The Museum of Ethnography is located in Budapest’s museum district, easily accessible by public transportation. The main entrance is on Damjanich Street, where the spectacular costume show takes place.
This anniversary celebration offers international visitors a unique opportunity to experience Hungarian folk culture in an award-winning, contemporary museum setting. Whether you’re interested in traditional crafts, folk dance, music, or simply discovering new perspectives on cultural heritage, this festival provides an authentic and engaging cultural experience in the heart of Budapest.
The combination of professional performances, hands-on workshops, and interactive voting makes this event suitable for visitors of all ages and interests, offering both entertainment and education about Hungary’s rich ethnographic traditions.
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