Hajdúszoboszló turns into a gourmet playground this autumn as the Wine and Gastro Festival takes over Szent István Park from Friday to Sunday, September 18–20, 2026. Entry is free, which means all the tastings, stage shows, and DJ parties come with zero ticket drama. The three-day program promises a broad sweep of Hungarian flavors, the best bottles from domestic wine regions, and a steady run of concerts and dance acts designed to keep every generation smiling late into the night.
Where and When
The festival takes place at 4200 Hajdúszoboszló, Szent István Park. The gates swing open on September 18, and the celebration carries on through September 20. Organizers reserve the right to change the schedule and timing, but the core concept holds: a big, friendly, flavor-forward bash right in the heart of town. Expect live music on the main stage, daytime cultural programs, and an evening DJ party to cap each night.
Wine, Food, Music, Dance
Hungarian wine regions show up with their greatest hits—think fruity whites, structured reds, and sparkling surprises poured by people who know their terroirs inside out. Food stalls cover a wide gastronomic range, from local specialties to modern spins, plus plenty of sweet bites. Live bands and dance performances keep the tempo high through the day, while DJs turn Szent István Park into an open-air dance floor after dark. It’s billed as the biggest fall gastro festival in the city for a reason: there’s always something happening, and all ages can plug into the good times.
Plan Your Stay
Accommodation options around the park and near the famed baths are plentiful. Hotel Barátság*** anchors the area as the city’s tallest building, offering sweeping views and a full wellness wing. Guests can rotate between thermal and contrast pools, hot tubs, classic and infrared saunas, and a steam bath—ideal recovery after a day of tasting and toasting. The hotel doubles as a venue for events, so if you’re mixing business with leisure, it’s got the spaces and the spa to match.
If you want an apartment vibe, several guesthouses sit minutes from the beach and the Hungarospa complex. One holiday house, about a five-minute walk from the beach, splits its upper floor into four private-entry apartments—two doubles, one for four, and one for five—open year-round. Other new-build apartments line Kölcsey and Major Streets, just 100–200 yards from the beach entrances, with restaurants, markets, and grocery stores right nearby. Quiet, garden-district guesthouses put you within a short stroll of the Medical Spa (Gyógyfürdő) and Peace Bath (Béke fürdő), praised by visitors who want peace, quiet, and proximity to the healing waters.
For easy arrivals, a modern apartment house opened in June 2009 in the resort center, 200 yards from the beach and about 150 yards from the bus station. Another calm pick: a cul-de-sac guesthouse with free yard parking and a shared breakfast kitchen, welcoming guests all year. If you prefer hotel-style service, a 107-room, family-friendly property in the resort zone offers in-room TVs, minibars, safes, some air-conditioned and balcony options, and a full wellness department. Room types range from doubles and triples to 2+2 family apartments, bunk-bed family rooms, and suites.
Eat and Drink Around Town
When you’re not grazing at festival stalls, the local dining scene steps up. Kemencés Csárda champions Great Plain (Alföld) traditions with a refreshed, thoughtful menu and interiors that tip their hat to old roadside inns. A romantic, elegant complex near the baths spreads out over a covered 150-seat terrace and an 80-seat panoramic terrace—perfect for a lazy lunch or sunset dinner. Major Guesthouse and Restaurant (Major Panzió és Étterem) sits in a quiet patch of the bath district, about eight minutes from the winter entrance and two minutes from the summer gate, ideal for rolling in after treatments or pool time.
Mirage Restaurant returns fully renovated with an exclusive look, a cozy pálinka wall, seasonal menus, and guest-first service. Nr.8 offers a relaxed, grill-driven lineup and one of the city’s largest pavilion terraces—open April through November—pouring cocktails and warm-your-soul drinks alongside classics and curiosities. If you’re craving something quick and sweet or savory, a pancake spot a one-minute walk from the Hungarospa Medical Spa (Hungarospa Gyógyfürdő) entrance plates both savory and sweet palacsinta, plus standout lemonades, cocktails, coffee specials, and handcrafted ice cream.
Night Out, Game On
For a post-festival change of pace, U-Pub Bar wraps a full entertainment menu under one roof. Beyond a broad drink list at friendly prices, you can tackle an escape room, knock down pins in the bowling lanes, call shots on the billiards tables, throw darts, slide into air hockey, and kick off a vigorous foosball rally. If your crew can’t agree on a plan, this is the neutral ground where everyone wins.
Good to Know
The festival is free to enter. The park location means you can walk to many places; book accommodation early if you want to stay close to the action or near the baths. Organizers may adjust program details, so keep an eye on updates. With wine regions pouring, food stands fired up, and music rolling from afternoon to late night, September in Hajdúszoboszló is set to taste as good as it sounds.
