Budapest Is About to Make History — Here’s What Every Tourist Needs to Know Before Hitting the Streets
If you happen to be in Budapest this weekend, congratulations — you’ve accidentally booked yourself a front-row seat to one of the most significant political moments in Hungary’s recent history. On May 9, 2026, Hungary’s new parliament holds its inaugural session, and Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party and the incoming Prime Minister, is set to take his oath of office. And where will this all go down? Right on Kossuth Square, in front of the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building — live, in the open air, for anyone who wants to watch. That includes you.
What’s Actually Happening on May 9th?
Think of it as Hungary’s version of an inauguration day, only with better architecture as a backdrop. The newly elected National Assembly convenes for its founding session, and in the same breath — or at least the same day — Péter Magyar is expected to be formally elected Prime Minister and sworn in. The ceremony is open to the public, taking place on Kossuth Square, which sits right along the Danube in the heart of Pest. If you’ve ever wanted to stand in front of one of the most stunning parliament buildings in the world while witnessing a pivotal moment in democratic history, well, this is your weekend.
The City Is Going to Be Busy — Gloriously, Chaotically Busy
Let’s be honest: Budapest does not do things quietly. When a big event hits this city, the streets fill up, the trams groan under the weight of eager passengers, and everyone suddenly has somewhere to be. This weekend is no exception. Beyond the parliamentary events, there’s also an international Ikarus vintage bus festival happening down in Tapolca near Lake Balaton, which is drawing crowds from all over the country. Put it all together and you’ve got a city buzzing with energy — which is fantastic if you’re a tourist looking for atmosphere, and slightly nerve-wracking if you need to catch a train.
MÁV Is on It — But You Should Be Too
Hungary’s national railway operator, MÁV (Magyar Államvasutak), has rolled up its sleeves and is throwing significant extra capacity at the weekend. Long-distance InterCity trains to and from Budapest are being reinforced with additional carriages and double-deck KISS trains. The iconic Blue Wave InterCity trains heading to the Lake Balaton region will run with at least seven coaches. Trains on the Pécs, Szeged, Miskolc, Debrecen, Sopron, and Szombathely routes are all getting beefed up too, with extra carriages added based on bookings. On the suburban HÉV lines — the ones running to Csepel and Szentendre — trains will run at double capacity throughout Saturday. In short, MÁV is doing its homework. The advice from the railway itself, though, is clear: buy your tickets in advance. You can do so via the MÁVPlusz app or at jegy.mav.hu, and using the app gets you a handy 15% discount on seat reservations and tickets. That’s not a bad deal for doing something you should be doing anyway.
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Watch Out for Track Work at Rákosrendező
Here’s the part where things get a little spicy for anyone traveling by rail into or out of Budapest this weekend. Engineers are repairing a previously damaged switch at Rákosrendező (a major rail junction in northeast Budapest), which means some lines are being rerouted. If you’re traveling on the Esztergom line, your Budapest terminus shifts from Western Railway Station (Nyugati) to Angyalföld. Trains on the Veresegyház line will terminate at Rákospalota-Újpest instead of their usual stops. On the Szob line, certain Z70 and S70 services will still run all the way to Western Railway Station, but international trains during the day will depart from Eastern Railway Station (Keleti) or from Vác instead of Western. It sounds like a lot, but MÁV and Budapest’s public transport authority BKK are actively monitoring passenger flow and will beef up trams — particularly the 12A and 14 tram lines — and night services as needed. The M3 metro line also provides a fast alternative along the affected urban section, so you won’t be left stranded.
Your Friend: The Budapest Public Transport Network
If the train situation sounds like too much to puzzle out, rest assured that Budapest’s inner-city transport network is excellent and ready for the crowds. The M3 metro cuts straight through the city and connects key hubs efficiently. Passenger managers will be on duty all day at Eastern (Keleti), Western (Nyugati), and Southern (Déli) railway stations, as well as at Kelenföld station, from 3 PM to 10 PM. MÁV’s emergency operations center is also deploying extra staff and has MÁV buses on standby across multiple points in the city — including at Rákospalota — ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice if crowds swell. Essentially, an army of transport professionals is working behind the scenes this weekend to make sure you get where you need to go.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit
The swearing-in ceremony and the inaugural parliamentary session on Kossuth Square is absolutely worth showing up for. The square itself is breathtaking — the neo-Gothic Parliament Building reflected in the Danube is one of those sights that genuinely takes your breath away, and watching it serve as the backdrop for a live democratic ceremony makes for a truly unforgettable travel memory. Arrive early to get a good spot, wear comfortable shoes (you may be standing for a while), and make sure your camera — or at least your phone — is fully charged. This is not the moment to run out of battery.
When it comes to getting around, give yourself extra travel time this weekend, especially if you’re arriving from outside Budapest by train. Buy your rail tickets in advance through the MÁVPlusz app to lock in that 15% discount and avoid any last-minute scramble. If your train is rerouted due to the track works, follow the signage at stations and don’t hesitate to ask the passenger managers on duty — they’ll be everywhere and are there specifically to help.
Budapest has a way of making even the most ordinary weekend feel like a scene from a film. This weekend, with a new Prime Minister taking his oath in front of thousands on Kossuth Square, it’s going to be anything but ordinary. Come for the history, stay for the ruin bars — you’ve chosen a brilliant weekend to be in this city.
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