The BábSzínTér Company is back in Kaposvár for 2026, filling Vaszary Park with puppets, laughter, and traveling shows that hop between schools, kindergartens, and nearby towns. The program centers on classic Hungarian puppet heroes and fresh stagings, with a mix of closed school performances, subscription shows for students, and community pop-ups that turn classrooms and courtyards into tiny theaters. The headquarters for the listed events is 7400 Kaposvár, Fő utca 65–67, and the schedule runs through May with select dates beyond the city limits.
May in motion: the core lineup
Mid-May fires up with a string of intimate, closed performances under the Lázár Ervin Program, a national initiative that brings culture to students. On Tuesday, May 12 at 9:00 and 11:00, Wednesday, May 13 at 9:00 and 11:00, and Thursday, May 14 at 9:00 and 11:00, plus Friday, May 15 at 9:00, János Pályi leads the perennial favorite Vitéz László és az elátkozott malom. This legendary glove-puppet rogue — Hungary’s answer to a quick-witted trickster — heads straight into an enchanted mill, spinning chaos into comedy. The same show hits the road on Sunday, May 17 at 11:30 for a touring stop in Tatabánya, then again on Thursday, May 28 at 10:00 in Kadarkút, keeping the folk tradition alive well beyond the park gates.
Subscription treat for schoolkids
On Tuesday, May 19 at 14:00, MárkusZínház brings The Wings of King Matthias (Mátyás király szárnyai) to local school audiences in a subscription performance. Expect a playful take on the much-loved King Matthias, whose fairness and disguise-filled adventures have fueled Hungarian storytelling for centuries. In MárkusZínház’s hands, the legend lifts off — with wings. It’s a rare chance for students to see a reimagined classic that still nods to the moral heart of the tales.
PuppetMobile lands in kindergartens
The PuppetMobile exhibition and play sessions turn kindergartens into pop-up discovery zones. On Wednesday, May 27 at 10:00, the PuppetMobile rolls into the Nemzetőr Sori Tagóvoda, then on Friday, May 29 at 10:00 it sets up at the Tallián Utcai Tagóvoda. Kids get hands-on time with puppets and mini sets — a tactile gateway to theater that’s as much about curiosity as it is about performance. Both events are in Kaposvár.
Where to find it all
Most of the May program is centered in Kaposvár, with performances anchored around Vaszary Park and the address Fő utca 65–67. Touring dates branch out to Tatabánya and Kadarkút, ensuring families nearby can catch Vitéz László’s antics without a long trip. Dates to note in Kaposvár: May 19, May 27, May 28, and May 29.
Make a day of it: stay, eat, explore
If you’re planning to linger, freshly revamped stays line the historic center. The classic Borostyán Panzió has reopened after a full refurbishment, adding a kids’ play corner, a fitness room, and bike rentals. Downstairs you’ll find a bar, restaurant, and a summer courtyard terrace, with another dining room on the first floor. A few blocks away, Fogadó a Bárányhoz, a first-class inn in the heart of Kaposvár, offers spacious, accessible rooms, a specially equipped room for guests with disabilities, and free spots in a camera-monitored underground garage.
For a green escape on the city’s edge by Route 67, the Gyertyánosi Gyöngyvirág Kulcsosház is a key-house hideaway with two separate rooms for four and three guests plus up to five on extra beds, and a well-equipped kitchen-diner. In the city center, Hotel Dorottya stands steps from the pedestrian street, placing you within minutes of top hangouts, shopping, and landmarks. Another central hotel offers 80 rooms with TV, phone, minibar, private bath, Wi‑Fi, an on-site guarded parking garage, solarium, café, a restaurant with a summer terrace, and flexible event spaces — all opening onto a panoramic view of the historic core. Prefer a Mediterranean vibe? A family guesthouse–turned–plush hotel delivers 29 rooms, a leafy atrium garden restaurant, Italian flavors, and optional half board.
Food-wise, the city center is stacked. There’s a traditional Hungarian kitchen in a beautiful downtown setting; a friendly, family-style restaurant at the start of the pedestrian street; a sleek, business-lunch-ready spot with a refreshed interior; and the Connect Specialty Café (Connect Specialty Kávézó), a kid-friendly third-wave coffee hub where quality beans, roasting, machines, and barista craft take center stage. Those with a sweet tooth can settle into Gard’Ann Confectionery (Gard’Ann Cukrászda) for artisanal coffee, signature cakes, and gluten-free and lactose-free treats. Craving a kick? A Central American–style joint dishes up soups, steaks, tortillas, enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, plus Mexican beers and tequila specials. Many hotels double as dining spots, so you can drift from lobby to lunch without leaving the building.
More culture on the calendar
While the puppets take over May, Kaposvár’s broader cultural lineup stays busy all year. The Csiky Gergely Theater (Csiky Gergely Színház) runs performances throughout late May and June, with tickets typically ranging from about $4.10 to $23.60. Candlelit concert series bring the music of Harry Potter, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, and Hans Zimmer into intimate glow, often priced around $35 to $41. Other one-offs dot the months: a Socrates oration evening, a tribute to Ludovico Einaudi, Queen & ABBA by candlelight, a Chernobyl-focused exclusive talk by Tvrtko, the NDC 20 Jubilee Dance Gala, and a late-December night with the Stars of Neoton Família (NEOTON Família Sztárjai).
Good to know
Organizers reserve the right to change times and programs. For details or last-minute updates, local contacts include Tímea Tünde Csíkvár. The Kaposvár Program Tourism (Kaposvári Programturizmus) listings and the national events calendar are reliable go-tos for schedules, contact numbers, and new announcements. If you’re mapping a family day, Vaszary Park plus a puppet show, a downtown dessert stop, and a stroll past the Flower Bath (Virágfürdő) make a neat circuit — and the city’s compact core means most of it is an easy walk from Fő utca 65–67.
