London’s Best Theatre Comes to Budapest with National Theatre Live 2026
A West End Season Without Leaving the City
Movie fans and theatre lovers in Budapest can catch some of London’s most talked-about stage productions without booking a flight, thanks to the return of National Theatre Live at Uránia Budapest. Running from September 1 through November 24, 2026, the autumn season brings six screenings, one bold contemporary drama and five reimagined classics, straight from London’s biggest stages onto the big screen in the historic Díszterem hall. Every screening plays in English with English subtitles, making the series a natural fit for international visitors who want a proper cultural night out during their stay in Budapest.
The Essentials at a Glance
- Venue: Díszterem hall, Uránia Budapest
- Dates: September 1 to November 24, 2026, six Tuesday evening screenings
- Showtime: every screening starts at 7:00 pm
- Language: presented in English with English subtitles
- Running times: vary by production, from 85 minutes for The Fifth Step up to 180 minutes for Hamlet and Les Liaisons Dangereuses
- Standard ticket: 5,100 forints
- Discounted ticket: 4,500 forints for students, under 26s, pensioners, over 65s, and teachers
- Distributor: Piece of Magic Entertainment
What’s Showing This Season
The season opens on September 1 with The Fifth Step, a sharp two-hander by David Ireland exploring alcohol recovery and therapy, filmed at London’s Soho Place Theatre and starring Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman. On September 22, the mood shifts entirely with Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, his beloved comedy of double identities and mistaken engagements, recorded at the Lyttelton Theatre with a cast including Sharon D. Clarke, Ncuti Gatwa, and Hugh Skinner.
October brings two heavyweight productions. First, a boldly reimagined staging of Shakespeare’s Hamlet on October 6, directed by Robert Hastie and led by Hiran Abeysekera. Then, on October 20, arguably the most anticipated title of the season: Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the stage adaptation of Laclos’s scandalous novel of seduction and manipulation, directed by Marianne Elliott and adapted by Christopher Hampton, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind the 1988 film with Glenn Close and John Malkovich. This production stars Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner.
Best deals of Budapest
The autumn lineup wraps up with two more powerhouse shows in November. On November 3, acclaimed director Ivo van Hove brings Arthur Miller’s All My Sons to the screen, filmed at Wyndham’s Theatre and starring Bryan Cranston and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. Finally, on November 24, the season closes with J. M. Synge’s uproarious satire The Playboy of the Western World, featuring Nicola Coughlan and Siobhán McSweeney in a production recorded at the Lyttelton Theatre.
Where and When to Watch
All six screenings take place on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm in the Díszterem hall at Uránia Budapest, one of the city’s most beautiful and historic cinema venues, known for its ornate interior that adds an extra touch of occasion to a night at the movies. Running times vary by production, from the tightly wound 85-minute The Fifth Step to the sweeping 180-minute Hamlet and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, so it’s worth checking individual show lengths when planning your evening.
Tickets and Practical Tips
Standard tickets cost 5,100 forints, while a discounted rate of 4,500 forints applies to students, people under 26, pensioners, those over 65, and teachers. Since these screenings draw a loyal following of both locals and visiting theatre enthusiasts, booking ahead is a smart move, especially for the highly anticipated Les Liaisons Dangereuses screening in October. The series is distributed in Hungary by Piece of Magic Entertainment, and because every performance is presented in English with English subtitles, it’s an easy and rewarding addition to any Budapest itinerary for travelers craving a taste of London’s West End without the trip across the Channel.
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