Budapest is ready to host a big street party in celebration of its architectural history and everyone is invited! The Budapest100 festival, organised by the Hungarian Contemporary Architectural Centre (KÉK), will host the fourth event of its kind this weekend, 26-27 April, focusing on the city’s buildings that were constructed in 1914 or connected to the date.
Both residential buildings and institutions will participate, by hosting exhibitions, talks, picnics and flea markets in normally closed historic courtyards, along with building tours and more. The Budapest100 event is a citywide arts festival that will celebrate the heritage of the capital in a manner that brings history together with modern community spirit.
The urban festival celebrates the buildings’ centenaries but will also offer connected colourful programs from nostalgia tram rides to phone apps designed to reveal Budapest’s urban secrets. There will be thematic tours, such as games connecting the century-old houses in the district, with events scattered across the city.
While most of the events will be in Hungarian, there are plenty of activities that are open to English speakers.
Each district and building will have its own programme, such as the garden picnic in Attila út 29, District I; Ferenc Kőszeg’s talk on the 1970s titled “Pop up painting in the maid’s room”, which is also available in English, at Ferenciek tér 11, District V; a communal gardening activity at Dózsa György út 106, District VI; and the adventure hunt on the Wekerle Estate at 57 Kos Károly tér, District XIX.
Some events require pre-registration, others you can simply join in spontaneously on the day. Take a look at the programs on offer and see what’s happening in your neighbourhood.
For more information on the programs in each district, check the website: www.budapest100.hu
