If you love food, wine and the buzz of a great outdoor gathering, the Budapest Gourmet Festival is one of the best reasons to visit the city in early summer. Running from 4 to 7 June 2026 at Millenáris Park, it brings together nearly 100 of Hungary's finest restaurants, pastry shops, wineries and bars for one delicious long weekend.
What is the Gourmet Festival?
The Gourmet Festival is Hungary's most prestigious gastronomic event — a four-day celebration where the country's top kitchens set up stalls in one place so you can taste your way across the whole of Hungary without leaving Budapest. Think of it as a giant, refined picnic: confectioneries, wineries, cheese makers, artisan ice cream and some of the most exciting restaurants in the country, all under one roof and across the park's leafy grounds. This year's theme is "Made in Vidék" — a spotlight on the cuisine of the Hungarian countryside. Renowned chefs reinterpret classic rural dishes with a contemporary twist, prepared fresh daily in limited quantities, so tradition and innovation sit side by side on every plate. Several two-Michelin-starred and Michelin-recommended restaurants are among the exhibitors.
When and where
• Dates: 4–7 June 2026 (Thursday to Sunday) • Hours: From 2:00 pm on the opening Thursday, running through to 7:00 pm on the final Sunday • Venue: Millenáris Park, Budapest's 2nd district Millenáris is a beautifully repurposed former industrial complex turned modern park, with garden paths, lakes and open spaces — a relaxed yet refined setting for a foodie weekend. It sits right behind the Mammut shopping mall, near Marczibányi Square.
Getting there
Millenáris is genuinely easy to reach. It's a short walk from the Széll Kálmán tér stop on the M2 metro line, on the Buda side of the city. If you're staying centrally, you'll be there in well under half an hour by metro. As always in Budapest, a travelcard covering metro, tram and bus is the smartest way to get around.
Tickets and what to know before you go
• Day ticket: around €18 • 3-day pass: around €34 • Family Day: Sunday is family day, when under-18s typically enter free • Tasting portions and drinks are bought individually inside the festival • The Gourmet Academy programme offers free lectures, workshops and tastings for those who want to dig deeper into the professional side of gastronomy A local tip worth repeating: however impressive the big-name international stars are, you'll get the most out of the festival by seeking out the local heroes — the smaller rural restaurants and producers who travel in for the weekend and serve food you'd otherwise have to cross the country to taste.
What to eat beyond the festival
The Gourmet Festival is a perfect launchpad for exploring Hungarian food more widely during your stay. If it whets your appetite, make sure you also try the classics out in the city: • Lángos — deep-fried dough with sour cream and cheese, best from a market stall • Goulash — the real thing, a hearty soup rather than a stew • Halászlé — a fiery river-fish soup, especially good in the south • Kürtőskalács — sweet chimney cake, often sold fresh and warm The Great Market Hall on Fővám tér is a fantastic place to taste several Hungarian dishes in one visit, with fresh produce downstairs and ready-to-eat food upstairs. For more on Hungarian cuisine, our Food & Drink guide covers the must-try dishes, wine regions and the best places to eat across the country.
Make a weekend of it
With the festival running Thursday to Sunday, you've got plenty of time to combine great food with the rest of what Budapest does so well: • Recover from all that eating with a soak at one of the city's thermal baths • Spend an evening in the ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter • Take a Danube cruise for the classic views of Parliament and Buda Castle • Pair the food with Hungary's excellent wines — the Tokaj region's sweet wines are world-famous To plan the rest of your trip, see our Budapest destination guide, and browse hotels for your stay using the search on our homepage.
A delicious way to discover Hungary
The Gourmet Festival is the ideal introduction to Hungarian food culture — relaxed, social, and packed with flavour. Grab a day ticket or the three-day pass, come hungry, seek out the countryside producers, and let Budapest show you why its food scene is having such a moment. Visiting for the festival? Explore our Food & Drink guide, our Budapest guide, and search hotels on our homepage to plan your stay.
Practical Info
- Dates
- 4–7 June 2026 (Thu–Sun)
- Venue
- Millenáris Park, District II
- Theme
- Made in Vidék (countryside cuisine)
- Day ticket
- ~€18
- 3-day pass
- ~€34
- Getting there
- M2 metro to Széll Kálmán tér, short walk
Sunday is Family Day — under-18s typically enter free. Tastings and drinks are paid individually inside.