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Sziget Festival, one of Europe's biggest festivals, is back in Hungarian hands, and the date for next year's event has already been set.
One of Europe's biggest festivals is back in Hungarian hands. Sziget is starting the 2026 event with its current management and organizing team, under the strategic leadership of its former founder, Károly Gerendai. This will allow Sziget to once again become an independent festival, further strengthening its position as a unique event on the international market, emphasizing its uniqueness and previous values. The organizers announced that next year's Sziget is planned to be held between August 11-15, 2026.
After the positive stance of the capital’s factions removed the obstacle to Sziget being able to move forward with a long-term lease, an agreement was reached whereby Károly Gerendai will take over Sziget Zrt., the festival’s operator, from London-based Superstruct Entertainment. Gerendai said: “The ownership structure of Sziget Zrt. will be continuously evolving in the coming weeks, because in addition to the management’s participation, negotiations are also underway with the event’s major subcontractors and partners, with whom we plan to jointly finance the festival. Budapest Park will be the first to join as a professional investor, and we will certainly be working closely with them.”
Károly Gerendai returns "with definite ideas on strategic issues"
According to Tamás Kádár, the company's CEO, the arrival of the founder, Gerendai, is another major milestone in the life of Sziget: "Sziget can continue to be one of the most significant festivals in Europe, preserving the values it has represented for more than three decades, strengthening the special appeal that elevates Sziget to another league in the entire European festival market. Karcsi's return and the professional collaboration he wants to bring to life can give new impetus to this with the unique approach with which he dreamed of Sziget back then and actively shaped its first 25 years," said Kádár.
Gerendai - although he retired from festival life eight years ago - has been observing this market from afar and is returning with definite ideas on strategic issues, in the implementation of which he counts on the work of the current management and the professionals working in the company in the joint thinking, and he would like to involve additional knowledge for this. “Listening to outside opinions, to experts who look at the festival market from different perspectives, can add a lot to the renewal,” said Gerendai, who, for example, greatly values the professional experience accumulated by Budapest Park over the past decade.
A new cooperation: Sziget Festival and Budapest Park
András Pálffy, the founder of the Park, said in this regard: “The cooperation between Budapest Park and Sziget is a kind of community of values. Both brands retain their autonomy, while at the same time we exploit the professional and operational synergies with which we can make the Hungarian festival market more stable and future-proof. We would like Sziget to be a source of pride for Hungary not only because of its iconic past, but also because of its long-term sustainable future,” emphasized Pálffy.
In Gerendai’s view, the foundation for a long-term future can be secured if we succeed in highlighting the uniqueness and values of Sziget more emphatically, in strengthening the cultural footprint of the festival, and in better utilizing the synergy between Budapest and Sziget. “I don’t want Sziget to be confined to an age group, and although our strongest target group will of course remain today’s young people both at home and abroad, I also consider it important to address older visitors,” he added. “Our goal is to organize a festival with new momentum that is lovable for everyone and unique on the international market,” said the old-new owner of Sziget.
When will Sziget Festival be organized in 2026?
Finally, Kádár revealed: “According to our plans, we will organize Sziget between August 11-15 in 2026, and you can even write this in your calendar with a pen. And now that the obstacles have finally been removed, we will start selling tickets within a few days with a 48-hour discount. The exclusive advance festival pass sale - held at last year’s price - will start at noon on November 7, for which you can register in advance until November 5 on the festival's website,” Kádár added.
What do you know about the 48-hour pass sale?
The 48-hour discount sale starts at noon on November 7th and runs until noon on the 9th. If you want to take advantage of this discount, it is worth registering as soon as possible so you don't miss out.
The discount sale offers the cheapest 5-day and VIP passes for the entire festival period, as well as the 21&U pass. The latter can be purchased by those who will not be 22 years old by the start of next year's Sziget.
Source and photos: Sziget Festival
