Hajdúszoboszló throws open the park gates for three days of feasting, tasting, and dancing when the Wine and Gastro Festival returns from Friday to Sunday, September 18–20, 2026. Set in the leafy Saint Stephen Park (Szent István Park) in the heart of the spa town, the free-to-enter celebration lines up a generous spread of Hungarian flavors, pours the best from the country’s wine regions, and keeps the evenings alive with concerts, cultural showcases, and a DJ party that rolls on after dark. All ages are invited, and the promise is simple: show up hungry and leave happy.
Where and when to jump in
The action unfolds at 4200 Hajdúszoboszló, Saint Stephen Park (Szent István Park), over three packed days: September 18–20, 2026. Entry costs nothing, so drop in for a glass, a plate, or an entire afternoon. Organizers note they reserve the right to tweak times and lineups, but the festival’s staples—food, wine, music—are a lock.
What’s on the table (and in the glass)
This is autumn on a plate. Stalls and pop-ups cook up a cross-section of Hungarian favorites, from rustic comfort food to lighter, modern bites. Pair those with pours from standout domestic wine regions—think fruity whites, structured reds, and sparkling picks made for toasting a late-summer sunset. Non-wine drinkers won’t go thirsty: bars shake up lemonades and cocktails, pull proper coffees, and scoop artisanal ice creams to keep the day cool.
Music, dance, and late-night beats
Daytime brings live music and stage performances alongside cultural programs that nod to local traditions, while evening concerts build into a DJ party under the trees. Whether you’re after folk steps, guitar hooks, or a dance-floor release, the program is set to meet the moment. Plan to wander, listen, and let the night take it from there.
Make a weekend of it
Hajdúszoboszló is famed across Europe for its healing thermal waters, and the town makes it easy to pair tasting flights with a spa day. The Hungarospa complex, the Árpád Pool, and therapy facilities sit close to the festival grounds, with treatments on offer for travelers who want to balance indulgence with wellness. Hotels, pensions, and apartments cluster in the resort zone near the baths—many just a few minutes’ walk from entrances—so you can stroll from steam to stage without ever hailing a ride.
Where to stay nearby
Options run the gamut. The tall, landmark Hotel Barátság stands in the green belt on the hotel promenade, serving up panoramic views and a full wellness suite: thermal and alternating-temperature pools, hot tubs, saunas including infrared, and steam rooms built for deep recharge. Family-friendly hotels in the resort district offer a range from classic doubles to large family apartments and suites, many with air conditioning, balconies, in-room safes, and minibars, plus on-site spa zones.
If you prefer apartment living, you’re spoiled for choice. Guesthouses and aparthotels dot Kölcsey and Major streets just 100–200 yards from the beach gates; others are tucked in quiet garden neighborhoods where birdsong replaces traffic noise. Expect separate-entrance units for couples and groups—two-, four-, and five-person setups are common—and easy access to the famed baths, often within a five-minute walk. Free courtyard parking and shared breakfast kitchens appear as thoughtful touches, and bus travelers will appreciate spots as close as 150 yards from the station.
Eat, drink, repeat
When you’re not grazing at the festival, the town feeds you well. Kemencés Csárda channels the Great Plain (Alföld) roadside inn heritage with a modern turn—think tradition, reimagined—while romantic complexes near the spa tempt with a 150-seat covered terrace and an 80-seat panoramic level for long, lazy meals. The Mirage restaurant has reemerged with a glow-up: sleek interiors, a cozy wall of pálinka, and a seasonal menu. Nr. 8 keeps things casual with classic and creative grill plates, plus a big pergola terrace that’s a local favorite for cocktails and warming sips from April through late November.
For quick hits, a crêpe spot one minute from the Hungarospa gates flips sweet and savory palacsinta and pours lemonade, cocktails, and standout coffees beside handcrafted gelato. And if you want a one-stop night out, U-Pub Bar mixes a wide drinks list with pure play: an escape room, bowling, billiards, darts, air hockey, and foosball, all under one roof for a high-energy break between tastings.
Plan, but keep it loose
Pop the dates in the calendar, book a bed close to the baths or the park, and bring a flexible appetite. The festival is free, the mood is easy, and there’s always another tune, bottle, or bite around the corner. Organizers may shift program details as the weekend nears, so keep an eye on updates, then step into Saint Stephen Park (Szent István Park) and let Hajdúszoboszló do the rest.
