Have Your Say on Budapest’s 2027 Musical Fountain Playlist
What would you like to hear while watching water jets dance on Margaret Island next summer? Budapest is inviting the public to help shape the 2027 programme of the beloved Musical Fountain, with voting open until midnight on 15 October.
The fountain has now closed for renovation, but its pause is far from silent in spirit: the city is preparing a refreshed, more spectacular show for the 2027 season, and visitors can help decide which songs will become part of its soundtrack. The 20 most popular tracks in the public vote will be programmed into new water displays, ready for the fountain’s expected return in May 2027.
A Budapest Favourite Gets a New Soundtrack
Set at the northern end of Margaret Island, the Musical Fountain is one of Budapest’s most enjoyable free attractions. In a usual season, it draws locals and travellers alike between spring and autumn, when choreographed water shows bring music to life on the banks of the Danube.
At the top of every hour, music fills the open space as fountains rise, sweep and pulse in time with the melody. After dark, the experience becomes even more atmospheric, with lights and projected images adding another layer to the performance. The fountain’s 154 smaller nozzles create changing patterns across the basin, while its central jet can shoot water around 25 metres into the air.
There is something wonderfully Budapest about it: couples stopping during an evening walk, families taking a break after cycling around the island, friends lingering with an ice cream, and visitors discovering that one of the city’s most memorable summer experiences does not require a ticket.
Vote for the Songs You Want to Hear
The new vote lets the public choose 20 songs from a 50-track shortlist. The selection moves freely between international pop, indie favourites, dance anthems, nostalgic classics and Hungarian hits, making it a surprisingly good snapshot of the music people want to hear in Budapest right now.
Among the contenders are Taylor Swift’s You Belong With Me, The Killers’ Mr. Brightside, Dua Lipa’s Don’t Start Now, Billie Eilish’s BIRDS OF A FEATHER, Harry Styles’ As It Was, Miley Cyrus’ Flowers, Lana Del Rey’s Young and Beautiful and Rosalía’s Bergain (Techno Mix). There is also room for timeless songs such as The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby, The Stranglers’ Golden Brown, Sting’s Desert Rose and Ricchi e Poveri’s Sarà perché ti amo.
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Hungarian music is strongly represented too. Visitors who would like to discover contemporary local artists can vote for songs by Azahriah, Beton.Hofi, Carson Coma and Dzsúdló. Whether the 2027 water show ends up moving to a global pop hit, a Hungarian alternative favourite or an irresistible late-night dance classic is now partly in the hands of the public.
The voting form works a little differently from a simple favourites list: in each group of songs, participants select one track they want to hear and indicate that they do not want the others included. It may take a moment to complete, but it gives every vote a direct influence on the final programme.
Familiar Fountain Moments Will Remain
The refreshed playlist will not erase the fountain’s best-loved traditions. Its children’s music, classical music and Budapest 150 selections are set to remain part of the programme, preserving the varied character that has made the Musical Fountain appealing to such a wide audience.
That mix is important. One hour might suit families with young children, another can offer a more elegant classical interlude, and the next could turn the fountain into an open-air pop spectacle. The new public vote simply adds another contemporary chapter to a Budapest attraction that has always evolved with the city.
A similar public consultation was held three years ago, when more than 20,000 people took part in choosing new music for the programme connected with Budapest’s 150th anniversary. This time, the city is again inviting people to contribute before the new line-up is transformed into custom-designed water choreography.
A Brighter Return in 2027
The Musical Fountain closed on 1 October for several weeks of works, with the renovation covering much more than the playlist. The water-treatment equipment, parts of the fountain’s aeration system, robotic nozzles, LED lighting, speakers and core multimedia equipment are all being renewed. More than 200 square metres of the basin structure are also due for repair.
For visitors, that should mean clearer sound, sharper lighting and even more impressive water patterns when the fountain returns. The current plan is for an early-May 2027 reopening, although the precise opening date has not yet been confirmed.
Until then, Margaret Island remains one of Budapest’s loveliest places for a walk, with its leafy paths, riverside views, gardens, historic ruins and relaxed, car-free atmosphere. But when the Musical Fountain comes back next spring, it will return with a new look, a new sound system and a playlist shaped by the people who love the city—including travellers who want to leave a small musical mark on Budapest.
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