Sziget 2026

[SzigetEire]

It’s done. Thanks for the memories, you will be missed. 
 

poor leaks, maybe in the future they can enlighten us what happened and what may have been…

[thetime]

53 minutes ago, SzigetEire said:

It’s done. Thanks for the memories, you will be missed. 
 

poor leaks, maybe in the future they can enlighten us what happened and what may have been…

 

Been going to fests for over 30 years, no festival hit the mark like Sziget. Fell in love with the fest and city since the first day I went.

 

Will certainly visit Budapest again, hopefully with a fest tied in. 

 

Those who liked the vibe and length of Sziget, should try Roskilde. 

 

Choices next year for me, will be Primavera and Rock en Seine. 

 

 

[FestivalJamie]

From the statement it seems like they do not have a line up booked and if the sales can’t begin this month (October- which is extremely unlikely at this point), then the festival isn’t financially viable.

 

It sadly seems like it’s not going to go ahead.

[FestivalJamie]

4 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

Been going to fests for over 30 years, no festival hit the mark like Sziget. Fell in love with the fest and city since the first day I went.

 

Will certainly visit Budapest again, hopefully with a fest tied in. 

 

Those who liked the vibe and length of Sziget, should try Roskilde. 

 

Choices next year for me, will be Primavera and Rock en Seine. 

 

 

Thank you I will keep an eye on Roskilde as I’ve never been there before 

[thetime]

1 minute ago, FestivalJamie said:

From the statement it seems like they do not have a line up booked 

 

Its crazy to even think they have. As I said the other day, how can you negotiate a lineup when you don't run the festival. 

 

Its a multi billion pound industry, no major artist is going to deal with you in that situation. 

[49Lawson]

Wow, that's rough. Do we think this is possibly the end of Sziget altogether then?

 

Only ever managed to get there the one time in 2019 (the Summer of 2020 saw to that) and I couldn't agree more with @thetime.  Don't know if it was the location, the mystique of the island, the fact that there was so much to do around every corner, great crowds, great bands but it had this feeling like no other festival I've been too. 

 

Will be great shame and a big miss to the festival calendar if it's gone.

[SzigetEire]

5 minutes ago, 49Lawson said:

Wow, that's rough. Do we think this is possibly the end of Sziget altogether then?

 

Only ever managed to get there the one time in 2019 (the Summer of 2020 saw to that) and I couldn't agree more with @thetime.  Don't know if it was the location, the mystique of the island, the fact that there was so much to do around every corner, great crowds, great bands but it had this feeling like no other festival I've been too. 

 

Will be great shame and a big miss to the festival calendar if it's gone.

 

I think so. They won't cancel the old contract, which the US have backed out of, and won't risk having to create a new one and find new investors. They seem happy enough for the US investors to keep paying for the island space for whatever is left of the fixed term, even if no event takes place. Its sad, I really will miss the festival.

Edited October 22, 2025 by SzigetEire

[thetime]

4 minutes ago, 49Lawson said:

Wow, that's rough. Do we think this is possibly the end of Sziget altogether then?

 

Only ever managed to get there the one time in 2019 (the Summer of 2020 saw to that) and I couldn't agree more with @thetime.  Don't know if it was the location, the mystique of the island, the fact that there was so much to do around every corner, great crowds, great bands but it had this feeling like no other festival I've been too. 

 

Will be great shame and a big miss to the festival calendar if it's gone.

 

I can see it coming back in 2027.

 

Its not like they were making money anyway, so a year off financially isnt going to be a big deal.

 

For me that would be the correct decision, rather than put on a half arsed festival. That would perhaps finish the festival off permanently, rather than take a year off. 

[SzigetEire]

4 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

I can see it coming back in 2027.

 

Its not like they were making money anyway, so a year off financially isnt going to be a big deal.

 

For me that would be the correct decision, rather than put on a half arsed festival. That would perhaps finish the festival off permanently, rather than take a year off. 

They could do that but after advertising 2026 for some time, only not to do it, change ownership and come back a year later is a very big ask for peoples trust.

[thetime]

6 minutes ago, SzigetEire said:

They could do that but after advertising 2026 for some time, only not to do it, change ownership and come back a year later is a very big ask for peoples trust.

 

Yes true.

 

Although they didn't release tickets or even dates. Which is lucky really, as i usually buy flights, as soon as dates are released. 

 

 

[billybigballs]

I'd be grateful if someone with a more business-minded brain than my own could explain why, if Superstruct (or whatever their name is nowadays) still have the license to hold the festival on the island in 2026, the 'new' owners couldn't just negotiate an informal agreement with them to use?

 

If, for example, Superstruct are due to pay £1m for use (or non-use) of the island in 2026, couldn't the new owners 'sub-contract' it from them just for a year and pay them £500k.

 

Does that all make sense?

 

 

Edited October 22, 2025 by billybigballs

[So Sad Simon]

31st October was a false deadline. I give them at work all the time. You never reveal your true deadline, as people will take the p!ss and push beyond it. Maybe it's the eternal optimist in me, but I'm not going to be convinced it's over until someone with more credibility than a politician says it is.

[Kebabcz]

what the hell is going on? what else am i supposed to do now? there no such great place as sziget there might be but they seem over the budget or the dates ar not very suitable

[activean]

Shame. 

Hope it's not over. 

[bunnyv]

I will not lose all hope till we get an official announcement just bc KariGeri said so.

[Yelo, the Parmiggiana]

15 hours ago, billybigballs said:

I'd be grateful if someone with a more business-minded brain than my own could explain why, if Superstruct (or whatever their name is nowadays) still have the license to hold the festival on the island in 2026, the 'new' owners couldn't just negotiate an informal agreement with them to use?

 

If, for example, Superstruct are due to pay £1m for use (or non-use) of the island in 2026, couldn't the new owners 'sub-contract' it from them just for a year and pay them £500k.

 

Does that all make sense?

 

 

 

Good idea in theory, but probably unachievable, otherwise, they’d have already done it (it’s a win-win on paper).

A few things come to mind:

• The leasing or concession rights might simply not to be transferable.

• The city might refuse any sub-contracting, especially since this is (predictably enough) turning into a political battleground.

• Costs and operational risks are still too high to justify investing in “one discounted edition,” only to risk being unable to secure a sustainable deal for 2027.

At the end of the day, what scares investors isn’t the ability to make one edition, rather the inability to make it sustainable long-term.

And with the current political mess in Hungary, I wouldn’t touch that with a toe, let alone invest hundreds of millions in it.

 

Also, October 31 might have been a general deadline, but it’s starting to look unrealistic. Bands are already being booked, attendees are making plans, and this is definitely not the kind of party you want to show up late to.

 

I don’t know, guys... it never really smelled right, even before Orban’s stupid fascist agenda came into play.

 

[billybigballs]

[CS2110]

I’ll believe it when I see it!

[activean]

Just now, CS2110 said:

I’ll believe it when I see it!

 

 

A PR guy knows nothing and is paid just to calm everyone down at this point, i wouldn't take this as a credible source at all.

[Kebabcz]

yeah but he said "trus us" he must not lie 😄 

[Nikky]

Bon Jovi after years of absence is touring next summer. Only NYC 4 dates mid July and end of August UK. If they can somehow convince them to come as continental Europe exclusive from this position of being behind everyone else Sziget would instantly go ahead. They don't really do festivals but at this stage of career I think they may start.

[So Sad Simon]

4 hours ago, Nikky said:

Bon Jovi after years of absence is touring next summer. Only NYC 4 dates mid July and end of August UK. If they can somehow convince them to come as continental Europe exclusive from this position of being behind everyone else Sziget would instantly go ahead. They don't really do festivals but at this stage of career I think they may start.

That woukd truly be my idea of hell. I didn't like them much to begin with  but his voice is like a parody of his former self nowadays. 

[charlierc]

5 hours ago, Nikky said:

Bon Jovi after years of absence is touring next summer. Only NYC 4 dates mid July and end of August UK. If they can somehow convince them to come as continental Europe exclusive from this position of being behind everyone else Sziget would instantly go ahead. They don't really do festivals but at this stage of career I think they may start.

I'd be surprised if they committed to much more than what they're doing. A few extra MSG shows, maybe a second night at Wembley, but I think it would be based around their own production rather than festivals. 

[CCester]

Round 3 of voting about the agreement between the city and Sziget will happen tomorrow. Finally the mayor published his proposals: 

- next agreement should last for 10 years

- 90% discount in the first 3 years, which can be reduced by the discounted tickets’ price sold to residents of Budapest

- After the 4th year the original fee for occupying public space increased with inflation would apply. If the festival turns into profit, they will have to pay the discounts from the first 3 years during the remaining 7 years.

- Reduced ticket price for the youth of Budapest.

 

They invited Gerendai to the meeting as well. Although it’s not clear if he’s invited for the general meeting on Wednesday or for the voting on Thursday.

[CCester]

2 hours ago, CCester said:

Round 3 of voting about the agreement between the city and Sziget will happen tomorrow. Finally the mayor published his proposals: 

- next agreement should last for 10 years

- 90% discount in the first 3 years, which can be reduced by the discounted tickets’ price sold to residents of Budapest

- After the 4th year the original fee for occupying public space increased with inflation would apply. If the festival turns into profit, they will have to pay the discounts from the first 3 years during the remaining 7 years.

- Reduced ticket price for the youth of Budapest.

 

They invited Gerendai to the meeting as well. Although it’s not clear if he’s invited for the general meeting on Wednesday or for the voting on Thursday.

Additional info: The general meeting is today, and the voting will be held tomorrow. Gerendai registered a new company that is supposed to take over Sziget. Owners of Budapest Park(biggest open air venue in Central Europe) will join him in his effort to continue Sziget, if the council decided to accept the terms. There are a few quite wealthy individuals amongst them. He's still not sure if it will go ahead in 2026. Obviously it depends on the city council's decision. (and after that if it's possible to organise it properly this late.)

 

Update: The council rejected the major's proposal. Quite a long article: https://hang.hu/belfold/baranyi-krisztina-sziget-gerendai-karoly-penzugyi-bizottsag-fovaros-181925