HanukaFeszt 3.0 – Eight Days of Light in Budapest
HanukaFeszt 3.0 in Budapest
HanukaFeszt 3.0 is an eight-day cultural celebration built around Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, turning Budapest into a living stage of music, stories, and shared rituals from 14 to 21 December 2025. Instead of focusing only on religious ceremony, it opens the doors of synagogues and community centres to locals and visitors of any background, inviting them to experience Jewish culture through concerts, theatre, food, and city walks.
Organised by the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (Mazsihisz) and partners, the festival’s “3.0” name reflects a renewed, contemporary approach that grows each year, reaching wider audiences and experimenting with new formats. The aim is to show that Jewish heritage is not just a chapter in Budapest’s history books, but a dynamic, creative force in the city’s present.
Key festival details
- Dates: 14–21 December 2025
- Location: Central Budapest, across five main venues (Rumbach Sebestyén Street Synagogue, Goldmark Hall, Bethlen Square Synagogue, Bálint House, Gólem Theatre)
- Theme: HanukaFeszt 3.0 – “Eight days of wonder” and the Festival of Lights
- Type of event: City-wide Hanukkah cultural festival with concerts, theatre, talks, walks, food events, and family programmes
- Organiser: Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (Mazsihisz), with Budapest Jewish Community and other partners
- Suitable for: All ages, from families with children to culture lovers and night-out seekers
- Access: Mix of free, registration-based, and ticketed programmes at historic synagogues and community venues
The spirit of Hanukkah
Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in the Temple in Jerusalem, with light as the central symbol of the holiday. In Budapest, HanukaFeszt translates this story into an urban festival: public menorah lightings, songs, and community events bring warmth and connection to the short winter days.
The festival uses art, music, gastronomy, and storytelling to turn the message of Hanukkah into something universally understandable: resilience, joy, and togetherness. Whether you join a family workshop, a late-night concert or a neon party, the focus is always on shared experiences rather than formality, making it very welcoming for international visitors.
Cultural highlights and concerts
During HanukaFeszt 3.0, some of Budapest’s most beautiful synagogues double as atmospheric concert halls and cultural venues. The Rumbach Sebestyén Street Synagogue serves as one of the main hubs, hosting major evenings such as a special Budapest Bár concert in klezmer-inspired style with well-known guest artists.
The programme also features talk shows and stage events at the Goldmark Hall, including a “Great Family Talkshow” with beloved actor János Gálvölgyi and his family, focusing on traditions, humour, and intergenerational stories. For visitors, these nights are a rare chance to see leading Hungarian performers in intimate, historic settings rather than large arenas.
Taste Hanukkah in Budapest
Food plays a central role in HanukaFeszt, and the GasztroHanuka opening at the Bethlen Square Synagogue is a highlight for culinary travellers. Here you can try classic Hanukkah specialties such as sufganiyot (jam-filled doughnuts) and latkes (crispy potato pancakes), along with modern reinterpretations that nod to Budapest’s inventive food scene.
The event is designed as a family-friendly food fair with games like the dreidel, shared tables, and a relaxed, informal vibe. The mix of sizzling dough, sweet toppings, and lively chatter makes it feel like a cosy winter street-food market, while every dish still points back to the “miracle of the oil” at the heart of Hanukkah.
Theatre, walks and neon nights
HanukaFeszt 3.0 goes beyond concerts to include theatre, literary evenings, and even club culture. At the Goldmark Hall, visitors can watch a dark comedy by Israeli playwright Hadar Galron, The Final Final Solution, performed in English with Hungarian subtitles and using sharp humour to tackle serious themes.
Best deals of Budapest
If you prefer to explore the city itself, a guided Hanukkah Jewish Quarter walk with András Borgula leads you through the historic Jewish district, revealing hidden corners, stories, and holiday traditions well beyond the usual tourist stops. Younger travellers and nightlife fans can head to a Hanukkah neon party, where UV lights, beats, and holiday symbols show how tradition and modern club culture can blend in playful, unexpected ways.
Family programmes and learning
HanukaFeszt’s “0 to 120” slogan really comes to life in its family and educational events. The Family Hanukkah Carnival at the Bálint House includes children’s concerts, candle lighting, crafts, face painting, and a festive atmosphere ideal for families visiting Budapest with kids.
Adults looking for deeper insight can join Sephardic “free university” sessions, song workshops, and spiritual evenings. A standout is Dániel Gryllus’s musical interpretation of Sándor Weöres’s spiritual text “A teljesség felé” at the Rumbach Synagogue, where literature and live music merge in a contemplative Hanukkah setting. These programmes offer a quieter, reflective counterpoint to the festival’s concerts and parties.
The city as a festival map
HanukaFeszt 3.0 unfolds across five main venues, all easily reachable in central Budapest and perfect for visitors exploring on foot or by public transport.
- Rumbach Sebestyén Street Synagogue: Main festival base for flagship concerts and joint celebrations.
- Goldmark Hall (Wesselényi Street): Historic cultural hall hosting theatre, talk shows, and parties.
- Bethlen Square Synagogue: More intimate setting for food-focused and family-friendly programmes.
- Bálint House: A modern Jewish community centre that becomes the home of the big family carnival.
- Gólem Theatre: Hub of contemporary Jewish theatre and alternative events within the festival.
Across the eight days, public menorah lightings and Hanukkah events also appear at squares, stadiums, and cultural centres from the MTK football ground to Gozsdu Courtyard, so you may encounter the Festival of Lights simply by wandering through the city in the early evenings.
“The Oil of Joy” at Rumbach
Within HanukaFeszt 3.0, “The Oil of Joy” stands out as a flagship event at the Rumbach Synagogue. This evening brings together German and Hungarian communities, Israeli artists, Christian music groups, and young cantorial students for a multi-part programme of concerts, teaching, and candle lighting.
The schedule moves from a German ensemble and dancers, through ceremonial candle lighting and shofar-led song sessions, to Hebrew psalms, concerts by prayer-house musicians, and a finale featuring Rumbach’s young cantors and communal dancing. For visitors, it’s a rare, powerful way to see interfaith and international dialogue expressed through music and movement rather than speeches.
A different side of Budapest’s winter
For many travellers, Budapest in winter means Christmas markets, thermal baths, and ruin bars, but HanukaFeszt 3.0 offers a more intimate, culturally rich layer of the city. You can step inside stunning synagogues lit by candles and stage lights, taste holiday food alongside locals, and join walking tours and events that explain Budapest’s Jewish heritage from the inside.
Whether you’re a culture lover, foodie, history buff, or simply curious about Hanukkah, this eight-day festival is one of the most atmospheric ways to experience December in Budapest. If your trip coincides with the dates, plan at least one evening around HanukaFeszt – and let the Festival of Lights guide you to a more personal connection with the city.
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