PONT Festival 2025: Discover the Treasures of Serbia in Budapest

PONT Festival 2025: Discover the Treasures of Serbia in Budapest

On October 11, Budapest’s National Museum Garden transforms into a lively celebration of Serbian cultural heritage at the PONT Festival. This free, family-friendly event, part of the Liszt Fest International Cultural Festival, brings UNESCO-listed traditions, interactive workshops, and unforgettable concerts right into the heart of the city. If you want to experience Balkan music, dance, crafts, and hands-on creativity in one day, this is the festival not to miss.

A Celebration of Serbian Traditions

Each year, PONT Festival showcases the cultural treasures of a different region of the world, and 2025 shines a spotlight on Serbia. Visitors can dive deep into the rich heritage of the Balkans, from the swirling rhythms of the kolo dance to the mystical sounds of the gusle, the unique instrument used in epic storytelling.

Families, children, and curious travelers alike will find plenty to enjoy, with workshops and playhouses open throughout the day, while the evening is filled with powerful live music to sweep you off your feet.

Daytime Workshops and Family Fun

From the morning hours, the Museum Garden comes alive with activities for all ages.

  • Crafty Square and Craft Corner (11:00 – 18:00) – Explore traditional crafts and forgotten trades brought to life with the help of theater and interactive play. Perfect for kids with curious hands and families looking to learn together.
  • Primanima Animation Workshop (11:00 – 18:00) – A creative playground where imagination rules. Children can learn about the world of animation while crafting their own characters.
  • Cyanotype Workshop (11:00 – 17:30) – Known as “sun prints,” this 19th-century photographic technique creates stunning blue artworks. The workshop blends photography with Serbian folk motifs, letting you take home a personal, handmade memory.
  • Alice in WonderBand: Bodymusic Workshop (13:00 – 14:00) – No instruments? No problem! Learn how to make music with your own body—your hands, feet, and voice become the rhythm in this fun and inclusive session for all ages.
  • Kolo Dance Workshop with László Halász and Band (18:30 – 19:30) – Join in one of Serbia’s most iconic traditions, the circle dance that connects communities and cultures. Even as a beginner, you’ll be spinning and smiling in no time.

Evening Concert Highlights

As the sun sets, music takes center stage at PONT Festival, bringing the rhythms and melodies of Serbia to Budapest.

  • Džumbus Trio with Branka Básits (17:00 – 18:00) – Blending Southern Slavic melodies with Hungarian influences, this trio creates an intimate yet powerful sound rooted in tradition but rich in freedom and experimentation. Their concert offers a kaleidoscopic view of Balkan music, where chaos transforms into harmony.
  • Bojan Krstić Orkestar (19:30 – 20:30) – End the evening with the award-winning Serbian trumpet virtuoso and his energetic brass band. Known as the “trumpet king,” Krstić comes from a region famed for brass orchestras and will deliver an unforgettable closing performance full of energy, rhythm, and Balkan fire.

Why Visit PONT Festival?

PONT Festival is not only a music and dance event—it is a journey into the living traditions of the Balkans. It invites you to listen, dance, create, and experience cultural heritage in an interactive way. Whether you’re traveling as a family, a couple, or solo, this festival provides a warm and engaging atmosphere where tradition meets innovation.

Practical Information

  • Date: October 11, 2025
  • Location: National Museum Garden, Budapest
  • Admission: Free, open to all ages
  • Program: Family activities during the day, concerts in the evening

Spend the day under the spell of Serbian heritage at PONT Festival 2025 in Budapest. Dance the kolo, create your own cyanotype prints, enjoy playful workshops, and let the powerful sounds of Balkan brass sweep you away into the night.

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PONT Festival 2025: Discover the Treasures of Serbia in Budapest