Budapest Festival of Folk Arts

Every August, Budapest’s Buda Castle is filled with the colors, sounds, and scents of the Festival of Folk Arts. For four days, hundreds of artisans from all over Hungary and neighboring countries gather to showcase traditional crafts, music, and cuisine. In this “living museum,” you can watch, touch, taste, and experience skills that have been passed down for centuries.

As you stroll through the castle grounds, you’ll hear the rhythm of blacksmiths’ hammers, the whir of spinning wheels, and the melodies of folk music. The aroma of freshly baked bread, roasted meats, and honey cakes wafts through the air. Touching embroidered linens and hand-carved wooden spoons, you’ll experience the living breath of Hungarian folk culture with all your senses.

Artisan Demonstrations & Workshops

Folk Music, Dance & Parades

Traditional Food & Drink

The Budapest Festival of Folk Arts was founded in 1987, at a time when Hungary’s traditional crafts and folk culture were at risk of disappearing due to rapid modernization and globalization. Many young people were moving to cities, and there was a growing fear that handcraft and folk art techniques would not be passed on to the next generation. In response, artisans from all over Hungary and neighboring countries gathered at Budapest’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage Buda Castle to demonstrate their crafts and offer hands-on experiences to the public.

From the very first festival, artisans, families, and culture lovers came together to showcase pottery, weaving, woodwork, embroidery, leatherwork, egg painting, and more—techniques and designs passed down for centuries. The festival has grown every year, now welcoming craftspeople from Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, and beyond. The castle’s courtyards and ramparts are divided into “villages” or themed areas, allowing visitors to experience the diversity of regional crafts and folk traditions.

What makes this festival truly special is not just the displays and sales, but the direct interaction between artisans and visitors, and the chance for children and young people to get hands-on in workshops and truly experience “living tradition.” For Hungarians, it is a source of pride and identity, and a cherished summer tradition with family and friends. For international visitors, it’s a rare opportunity to encounter authentic folk culture and craftsmanship, and to experience the meeting point of history and the present.

I come every year with my children. We paint eggs, make candles, and try folk dancing—there’s no better way for them to connect with their roots.

The Budapest Festival of Folk Arts is held every August at Buda Castle. Join a workshop or parade and create summer memories surrounded by the colors, sounds, and flavors of Hungarian folk culture.