Harry Potter: The Exhibition – A Magical Experience in Szentendre

Step Into Hogwarts: Harry Potter Exhibition Brings Magic to Budapest in 2026

Event February 6, 2026 11:00 am - May 1, 2026 8:00 pm

Recommendation ★★★★★

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Author Dani Pesti

The wizarding world is opening its doors in Hungary, and magic is about to become very real for fans of all ages. From February 6 through May 1, 2026, Harry Potter: The Exhibition will transform the Green Event Hall in Szentendre into an immersive journey through the beloved films, books, and expanded universe that have captivated over 4 million visitors worldwide.

Event Details at a Glance

Dates: February 6 – May 1, 2026
Opening Day: February 6, 2026, at 3:00 PM
Location: Green Event Hall, Kalászi út 3, 2000 Szentendre, Hungary
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
Languages: Hungarian and English

Opening Hours:

Monday – Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Final entry: 5:30 PM)
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Final entry: 6:30 PM)
Friday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Final entry: 7:30 PM)
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Final entry: 7:30 PM)
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Final entry: 6:30 PM)

Tickets:

On Sale: November 14, 2025
Pre-Sale Access: November 12, 2025 (waitlist members)
Purchase: Online (recommended – cheaper) or on-site
Children under 4: Free
Children 4-14: Discounted tickets
Teachers: Discounted tickets (with valid ID)
Payment: SZÉP cards accepted on-site

Accessibility:

Wheelchair accessible
Guide dogs permitted
Strollers not allowed (use baby carriers)
Indoor exhibition
Mobile tickets accepted

When Magic Comes to Life

The exhibition opens its doors on February 6, 2026, at 3:00 PM, welcoming visitors throughout the week with generous hours designed to accommodate everyone’s schedule. During weekdays from Monday through Wednesday, you can explore the wizarding world between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM, with the final entry slots at 5:30 PM. Thursdays extend the magic until 8:00 PM, while Fridays stretch even further to 9:00 PM for those who prefer evening adventures. Weekends offer the most flexibility, with Saturdays opening early at 9:00 AM and running until 9:00 PM, and Sundays providing a full day from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Plan to spend approximately 90 minutes wandering through the galleries, though true fans might find themselves lingering longer.

The exhibition will be housed at Green Event Hall, located at Kalászi út 3 in Szentendre, just a short journey from Budapest. The charming riverside town provides the perfect atmospheric setting for your magical adventure, with its cobblestone streets and historic architecture creating an enchanting prelude to what awaits inside.

Securing Your Place in the Wizarding World

Tickets become available for purchase on November 14, 2025, though those who join the waitlist will receive exclusive pre-sale access starting November 12. The organizers strongly recommend purchasing tickets online, not only to guarantee your entry but also to take advantage of lower prices compared to on-site purchases. Each ticket is valid for a specific time slot, a system designed to prevent overcrowding and ensure every visitor has space to fully immerse themselves in the experience. Arriving about ten minutes before your scheduled time allows you to queue comfortably and enter promptly when your magical moment begins.

Families will appreciate the thoughtful pricing structure. Children under four can enter free of charge, while those between four and fourteen years old receive discounted children’s tickets. Teachers carrying valid identification also qualify for these reduced rates, and when accompanying school groups, teachers receive complimentary entry. The venue accepts Hungary’s SZÉP card system for on-site payments, though online purchases require standard payment methods. Should you arrive outside your designated time slot, you’ll need to pay the difference between your regular ticket and a more flexible option, so punctuality pays off in more ways than one.

A Journey Through Hogwarts and Beyond

The exhibition doesn’t simply display artifacts behind glass—it invites you to step into the story itself. Your journey begins in the “From Page to Screen” gallery, where a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone rests in a Gringotts vault-inspired display case, surrounded by projected film scenes and inspirational quotes that remind you why you fell in love with this world in the first place.

Moving deeper into the experience, the Hogwarts Castle gallery surrounds you with immersive multimedia presentations featuring the Whomping Willow’s angry branches, Dementors floating overhead, and the Marauder’s Map revealing the castle’s secrets. Watch for your own name to appear on the map—a delightful personal touch that makes you feel truly present within Hogwarts’ enchanted walls.

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The Great Hall gallery recreates one of the most iconic spaces in the wizarding world, where you can stand beneath the same architectural splendor that witnessed student sortings, lavish feasts, and Dumbledore’s wise pronouncements. The carefully crafted details capture the gothic grandeur that made Hogwarts feel simultaneously imposing and welcoming to generations of readers and viewers.

In the Hogwarts Houses gallery, your magical identity takes center stage. During pre-registration, you’ll select your house or undergo sorting if you’re still deciding where you belong. The legendary Sorting Hat provides the perfect photo opportunity, while newly designed house crests glow through stained glass windows in the colors of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. This space celebrates all four houses while giving special attention to whichever one claimed you as its own.

Becoming Part of the Magic

The exhibition transforms passive observation into active participation through interactive experiences that let you practice actual wizarding skills. In the Hogwarts Classrooms section, digital touchscreens guide you through hands-on lessons that reveal behind-the-scenes filmmaking secrets. You’ll brew bubbling potions in the Potions classroom, predict the future during Divination lessons, pot screaming mandrakes in the Herbology greenhouse, and wield a digital wand to defeat a boggart in Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Each interaction brings you closer to the fantasy of attending Hogwarts yourself.

Hagrid’s Hut and the Forbidden Forest area offers perhaps the most emotionally resonant interactive moment: casting your own Patronus charm. As you encounter centaurs and giant acromantulas lurking among the trees, you’ll step inside a life-size recreation of Hagrid’s cozy hut, experiencing the warmth and safety of the gentle half-giant’s home while the dangerous forest looms just outside.

Throughout your journey, you’ll stand face-to-face with authentic props and costumes from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films—actual items worn by actors and used during filming. These aren’t replicas but genuine artifacts that appeared on screen, allowing you to appreciate the extraordinary artistry and craftsmanship that brought the wizarding world to life.

Taking Magic Home

Before departing, the exhibition’s gift shop offers exclusive merchandise available nowhere else. House-specific apparel and jewelry let you proudly display your magical allegiance, while Chocolate Frogs and Butterbeer—both bottled and on tap—provide edible souvenirs of your adventure. Limited edition collectibles and special relics mark your participation in this unique experience, creating lasting memories of the day you stepped into the wizarding world.

Planning Your Visit

Reaching Szentendre from Budapest requires a pleasant drive along Route 11. After entering the town at the first traffic light, turn left toward Budakalász, passing an ALDI supermarket before turning left again after roughly 100 meters. Visitors approaching from Budakalász will find the entrance on the right-hand side just before reaching Szentendre. On-site parking is available for 1,000 Hungarian forints.

The venue welcomes visitors of all abilities with full wheelchair accessibility and permits guide dogs to assist those who need them. The entire exhibition takes place indoors within climate-controlled spaces, ensuring comfort regardless of Hungary’s February weather. All text appears in both Hungarian and English, making the experience accessible to international visitors exploring Budapest and its surroundings.

Parents should note that strollers aren’t permitted inside the exhibition area to protect the precious displays and installations. Baby carriers provide a practical alternative for families with very young children. While the experience suits all ages, some sections featuring darker elements like Dementors and giant spiders might prove slightly frightening for the youngest visitors, though most children handle these encounters with thrilled excitement rather than genuine fear.

Mobile tickets eliminate any printing concerns—simply show your confirmation email on your phone upon arrival. For any difficulties during the online purchase process, customer service stands ready to help at info@eventim.hu.

Join the Global Wizarding Community

More than 4 million fans across the globe have already experienced Harry Potter: The Exhibition in various locations, becoming part of a worldwide community united by love for this extraordinary story. Now Hungary receives its turn to welcome the magic, celebrate the craftsmanship behind the films, and offer both longtime devotees and curious newcomers the chance to step through the barrier at Platform 9¾ into a world where magic isn’t just real—it’s waiting for you to discover it.

Follow Harry Potter: The Exhibition on Facebook and Instagram at @harrypotter_exhibition, and share your own magical moments using #harrypotterexhibition. The wizarding world is closer than you think, and your adventure begins in Szentendre this February.