Sziget 2026

[Benji1]

I’d hope for the cure, nick cave, Robbie Williams, etc type headliners.

 

i think prodigy and skunks ansie or placebo would make a good coheadline day.

[dhtjmnd12]

2 minutes ago, Benji1 said:

I’d hope for the cure, nick cave, Robbie Williams, etc type headliners.

 

i think prodigy and skunks ansie or placebo would make a good coheadline day.

I’d love for the cure and Robbie, the cure being one of the bands I want to see but not sure I’ll be able to see this year otherwise

[CCester]

There’s a new interview with Gerendai about Sziget in Blikk:https://www.blikk.hu/sztarvilag/hazai-sztarok/gerendai-karoly-visszaterese-sziget-fesztival/d02htvy

 

 

English translation:

Interviewer: It was announced in mid‑October like a bolt from the blue that the foreign owner, Luxembourg’s Superstruct Entertainment, no longer wants to deal with organizing Sziget Festival, leading to two options: shut it down, or have the founder, Károly Gerendai, return to run it. Was it true you had no choice—did you really have to come back to save Sziget?
Gerendai: I didn’t “mourn” Sziget—I decided it was time to step back after 25 years. At the time, I thought it would be best for both me and the festival. I never expected to come back, so it was a total shock when I learned Sziget was about to close. Even more surprising was being told I’d be responsible for deciding its fate. They said they’d close it for sure, unless I stepped in to continue it. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: Didn’t they try to sell it to someone else?
Gerendai: No. They made it clear they wouldn’t sell it on the open market or offer it to the management—that would set a bad precedent. The only acceptable solution was for the founder to take it back. It was a difficult position: I might have had to accept the closure of Sziget, like Volt and Balaton Sound, but thanks to a proposal from the Hungarian management, the decision was put into my hands. I didn’t want the festival’s end to be because of me. With this decision came many business and professional risks, and my life has changed completely—I’m only now beginning to truly grasp what I took on. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: How much time did you have to think it over?
Gerendai: From the first discussion to a letter of intent took about two weeks—we agreed I would buy Sziget Organization if terms were finalized. It took another month after that for the deal to complete, as we needed the city’s official approval. Meanwhile, the area-use contract was terminated, and media got wind of negotiations. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: Did that public spotlight make it harder?
Gerendai: Definitely—it would’ve been much easier without everyone asking questions while even I didn’t yet know the answers. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: Can you explain the negotiation process?
Gerendai: I did reacquire Sziget Zrt., but I regained the event’s organizing rights via a license agreement. Securing a long-term license was important, so I could find co-investors and plan the festival’s future. First, I need to understand what went wrong and what we should do differently. I’ve had plenty of opinions from the sidelines, but implementing them is another matter. It’s like football: many can criticize Hungary’s players, but very few can build a top team. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: You mentioned feeling out of touch with youth culture.
Gerendai: Eight years ago, I stepped down because I felt I’d grown old and couldn’t relate to young people’s online world. I haven’t become younger since then, and I still don’t fully understand what young people need. But this is a crisis—I want Sziget to continue, so I’ve accepted responsibility. I must find professionals to cover my gaps. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: What mistakes were made?
Gerendai: The biggest strategic error was viewing Sziget as part of a large portfolio, driven by a unified model for all festivals. Sziget’s strength lay in its uniqueness. Others tried to run it like their other festivals, diluting its character—which faded its international appeal and distinctive charm. They focused too much on securing big-name headliners, which turned out to be a dead end. Today’s music fans often prefer solo concerts over festivals, which makes headliners less reliable crowd-pullers. We need to sell the overall festival experience instead—its multicultural community, cultural variety, and vacation-like feel. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: Critics say Sziget now aims just at the young. What do you think?
Gerendai: During my 25 years, Sziget was a multi-generational gathering. Most attendees were 18–30, of course, but we never targeted only them. We’ll shift focus back—more emphasis on Hungarian acts and cultural diversity, while still welcoming international visitors. Hungary’s population alone isn’t enough to sustain Sziget; it remains one of the world’s top ten festivals thanks to global attendance. We must continue attracting international guests—even if that includes older visitors—because younger teens aren’t always able to attend alone. That’s why we’re negotiating with the city for half-price student passes. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: What are your concrete plans?
Gerendai: We're still finalizing details, but the plan is clear: widen the festival’s appeal across generations; enhance the visual identity; revive non-musical offerings; broaden musical genres; and give more space to Hungarian artists. While blockbuster artists like Eminem or Metallica are out of reach, we’ll still have strong main-stage acts. New acts including rock and world music will join the lineup. 2026’s festival is tight schedule-wise due to the three-month delay, but in future years, change will be more apparent. We’re also partnering with Budapest Park to create a dedicated Hungarian main stage and a retro space. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: You assumed full financial responsibility. How are you going to fund it?
Gerendai: I took over a heavily loss-making festival. We’ll find money by negotiating costs—like renting the site—then reallocate savings to development. That’s why Sziget will be five days next year: to save on fees and program costs and reinvest in improvements. If people feel the next Sziget, though shorter, is significantly better, attendance will rise, enabling us to advance further with financial stability. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: What about investors?
Gerendai: I’m inviting major subcontractors and partners to invest. Six companies have already expressed interest. This investment is in Sziget, not in me personally. They know the risk, but profit-sharing means they benefit if the festival succeeds—and lose less if it fails. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: Could Sziget move from Óbuda Island given continued city tensions?
Gerendai: That’s a tough question. On one hand, it’s possible; on the other, would it still be Sziget anywhere else? The festival was built for this location and was even threatened twice before during previous mayors' terms. Offers came from Bratislava, Vienna, Belgrade, and even Hungarian provincial towns—all proposing free or low-cost venues. But thankfully, we resolved the problems and retained Budapest’s cultural event terms. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: How do you feel dealing with constant political battles?
Gerendai: Initially I thought saving Sziget could remain above politics. But during this election campaign, politics took center stage. Sziget always had a consistent value system—it was an “island of freedom.” We never intended to politically align, but stood firmly for openness, diversity, and acceptance. Attempts to ban or politicize the festival backfired on politicians. The dramatic shift after the municipal vote shows how politics feared losing Sziget due to voter backlash. With over 11 million visitors so far—30% Hungarian—that’s emotional pride and shared stories for countless families. Much like the Rubik’s Cube, Sziget is not only a renowned product, it’s an emotional national treasure. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: You mentioned pop culture comeback—what about Janklovics Peti?
Gerendai: When it was clear I’d taken back Sziget, we joked, “Here we go, the pop scene back in inexperienced hands.” I told the team we should reach out to Peti about making it fun again. Then I ran into him at Kádár restaurant and asked in person. The team that made the original commercial jumped at it—they improvised everything, and I loved the self-irony. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: How was your return to the Sziget office?
Gerendai: It felt strange—I hadn’t been inside for years. At first, I couldn’t enter the island by car, so I parked outside and walked in. Then I needed a code to open the door—I didn’t even have that! Luckily, someone inside saw me and let me in. That was my first moment of triumph. Then I had to reintroduce myself to half the staff, and most of my time is now spent understanding who does what and why. I’m relearning everything—and fast, because we’re severely behind schedule. [blikk.hu]

 

Interviewer: You’ve built restaurants and other ventures in the past eight years—how does Sziget fit your life?
Gerendai: Yes, I’m definitely tired—but I structured my businesses so I only handle strategy and new projects, not daily operations. That let me travel a lot and take on new ventures. It’s fortunate none of my businesses depend on me day-to-day. I promised to spend Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Sziget office, but I’m having meetings many other days too. Unfortunately, I won’t be traveling for a while, though I used to fly at least once, often twice, every month. [blikk.hu]

 

[kristofm]

So... Robbie Williams to Sziget, here we go? If they really need to get basically anyone who's available then it's pretty likely to happen.

[iamdebrii]

Looks like Sombr headlining Day 1 according to his website, and then Aug 14th at Oya

 

 

then TOP either 11 or 12 because they have Bittersweet Festival on the 14th

Edited January 11 by iamdebrii

[Yelo, the Parmiggiana]

Quote

Interviewer: Didn’t they try to sell it to someone else?
Gerendai: No. They made it clear they wouldn’t sell it on the open market or offer it to the management—that would set a bad precedent. 

Man, I do hate late stage capitalism

 

Quote

nterviewer: How do you feel dealing with constant political battles?
Gerendai: Initially I thought saving Sziget could remain above politics. But during this election campaign, politics took center stage. Sziget always had a consistent value system—it was an “island of freedom.” We never intended to politically align, but stood firmly for openness, diversity, and acceptance.

Man, I do hate when people say something political and then affirm "we want to remain above politics", especially in times where a political stance may be significant against the authoritarian drift zeitgeist of these days.

 

Quote

Interviewer: You’ve built restaurants and other ventures in the past eight years—how does Sziget fit your life?
Gerendai: Yes, I’m definitely tired

I know this will be meaningful only ot a handful of italians, but this gives Sergio Mattarella vibes like nothing else 

[#1SzigetFan]

On 10/01/2026 at 13:50, CCester said:

While blockbuster artists like Eminem or Metallica are out of reach, we’ll still have strong main-stage acts. New acts including rock and world music will join the lineup

 

I get that they don't want to spend the money in bringing very big artists but I hope that the interest in rock artists means that in the future they'll try to bring some "biggish" rock bands like Green Day, Blink-182, My Chemical Romance etc. Even The Offspring + Simple Plan had an almost sold out MVM Dome arena show in Budapest last year.

[Yelo, the Parmiggiana]

44 minutes ago, #1SzigetFan said:

 

I get that they don't want to spend the money in bringing very big artists but I hope that the interest in rock artists means that in the future they'll try to bring some "biggish" rock bands like Green Day, Blink-182, My Chemical Romance etc. Even The Offspring + Simple Plan had an almost sold out MVM Dome arena show in Budapest last year.

Also, mentioning Eminem and Metallica as blockbuster in 2026 is a living proof of how "out of the loop" he must feel.

 

I'm not saying they are not blockbuster, but just ask 100 people in 2026 who they think of when asked about a "blockbuster" headliner, and I hardly believe anybody will mention Eminem or Metallica. 
It's like mentioning U2 10 years before: sure, relevant, but why would your mind go there

[#1SzigetFan]

18 hours ago, Yelo, the Parmiggiana said:

Also, mentioning Eminem and Metallica as blockbuster in 2026 is a living proof of how "out of the loop" he must feel.

 

I'm not saying they are not blockbuster, but just ask 100 people in 2026 who they think of when asked about a "blockbuster" headliner, and I hardly believe anybody will mention Eminem or Metallica. 
It's like mentioning U2 10 years before: sure, relevant, but why would your mind go there

 

They might not be blockbuster anymore but Metallica are still selling out stadiums all over Europe and I guess Eminem would sell as well as them.

 

However, I agree with Gerendai when he's saying that most of their fans might not be interested in spending money for the entire Sziget "experience".

[billybigballs]

Saw Biffy Clyro last night on their UK tour. We are in for a treat in August, they were exceptional.

 

 

[gfa]

On 11/01/2026 at 15:24, iamdebrii said:

Looks like Sombr headlining Day 1 according to his website, and then Aug 14th at Oya

 

 

then TOP either 11 or 12 because they have Bittersweet Festival on the 14th

21P could do the 13th or 15th at Sziget, Poland is not too far. They did hurricane and southside back to back before which is only an hour shorter drive.

[billybigballs]

39 minutes ago, gfa said:

21P could do the 13th or 15th at Sziget, Poland is not too far. They did hurricane and southside back to back before which is only an hour shorter drive.

Can't see them playing the 15th as that's the Saturday night, when they tend to have an EDM headliner.

[activean]

16 hours ago, billybigballs said:

Can't see them playing the 15th as that's the Saturday night, when they tend to have an EDM headliner.

 

I guess you are right, EDM day is always on Saturday, probably due to price as well but mostly because of the volume, electronic music echoes far across the city.

[Ads1]

I have just checked and I bought the 3-day pass at the end of January last year. Do we think it could be the same this time? Would that mean another announcement could happen in the next 2-3 weeks?

[Sziget2025_Leaks]

U2Vjb25kIGFubm91bmNlbWVudCBjb21pbmcgaW4gYSBmZXcgd2Vla3Mu ☔️

[dhtjmnd12]

1 minute ago, Sziget2025_Leaks said:

U2Vjb25kIGFubm91bmNlbWVudCBjb21pbmcgaW4gYSBmZXcgd2Vla3Mu ☔️

OMG

[dhtjmnd12]

2 minutes ago, Sziget2025_Leaks said:

U2Vjb25kIGFubm91bmNlbWVudCBjb21pbmcgaW4gYSBmZXcgd2Vla3Mu ☔️

 

[dhtjmnd12]

And is ☔️ BMTH?? Or The Cure 

[CCester]

17 minutes ago, Sziget2025_Leaks said:

U2Vjb25kIGFubm91bmNlbWVudCBjb21pbmcgaW4gYSBmZXcgd2Vla3Mu ☔️

Finally! Can you give us some clues or is it still too early for that? 

Edited January 16 by CCester

[sandorbeni]

12 minutes ago, dhtjmnd12 said:

And is ☔️ BMTH?? Or The Cure 

Rihanna /s

[dhtjmnd12]

1 minute ago, sandorbeni said:

Rihanna /s

I did use AI but apparently that is the exact coding that BMTH use in their messaging and the umbrella is the album cover, I’d prefer Rihanna personally though

[kakaovnik19]

48 minutes ago, dhtjmnd12 said:

I did use AI but apparently that is the exact coding that BMTH use in their messaging and the umbrella is the album cover, I’d prefer Rihanna personally though

I mean both would be totally firee 🔥🔥

I hope its really gonna be either them or her

[sandorbeni]

1 hour ago, dhtjmnd12 said:

I’d prefer Rihanna personally though

She's pretty much retired from music at the moment so zero chance

[dhtjmnd12]

There’s more rumours she’s coming back this summer but I agree it’s not as likely 

[#1SzigetFan]

I'm pretty sure it's not Rihanna because:

 

1. She would be a "blockbuster" booking

2. Gerendai and most Szitizens really hated her show in 2016