Keszthely is packing the calendar with festivals, talks, theater, exhibitions, family days, and lakeside adventures. From May 4–10, 2026, multiple venues across the lakeside town turn into stages, galleries, and playgrounds, with plenty of free programs and ticketed shows to choose from. Accommodation, food and drink tips, and timing info are all tied to this weekly rollout of events.
Talks, meetups, and guided nature escapes
May 5, 18:00 – Balaton Theatre, Simándy Hall: Kedd-Velem welcomes actor Gergő “Sajt” Farkas for an open, free conversation about the person behind the profession. Host: Zoltán Csányi. Admission is free.
May 5–10 – Lake Kis-Balaton Visitor Centre: Guided excursions to Diás Island’s István Fekete Memorial and the Matula Hut, with options to go by private vehicle, golf cart, or by water in a canoe. Repeats weekly: May 12–17, May 19–24, May 26–31, June 2–7, June 9–14, June 16–21, June 23–28.
May 11, 18:00 – Balaton Theatre, Simándy Hall: World Traveler Club – “Strange stories from around the globe,” a photo journey from Oceania through Asia and Africa to South America with storyteller-photographer Roland Markó. Free entry.
May 13, 17:00 – Balaton Theatre, Básti Hall: Psyché Workshop with counseling psychologist and animal-assisted therapist Nóra Angyal-Szilvás. Topic: “They live with us – they affect us: The role of companion animals in mental health from infancy to old age.” Free entry.
Theater, drama, and post-show chats
May 6, 19:00 – Nathan Ellis: “Too Sharp” (“Túl éles”) performed by LOUPE Theatre Company. Tickets 7,500–9,000 HUF (about 20.1–24.1 USD). Sold out. The Spring Pass’s third show runs 120 minutes without intermission. The story follows Anna, a 31-year-old doctor, and four other women navigating a system that erodes private life. Cast: Dóra Sztarenki, Eszter Földes, Dorka Gryllus, Katalin Takács, Alíz Szatmári, Dániel Brezovszky. Translator and director: János Antal Horváth; dramaturg: Réka Ágnes Tóth; set: Anna Fekete; costumes: Nina Kaszás; music: Virág “Zazie” Farkas; choreography: Márton Csuzi; visuals assistant: Janka Nagy; director’s associate: Letícia Papp.
Post-show on May 6 – Free audience meetup with the cast, moderated by film and theater director Károly Ujj Mészáros. Start time may shift slightly.
Art, heritage, and hands-on craft
May 7, 16:00 – Balaton Theatre, Simándy Hall: “The harmony of reason and imagination – 555 years since Albrecht Dürer’s birth,” a free lecture by art historian and chief museologist Laura Kardos for the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Club.
May 8, 17:00 – Balaton Theatre, Kacsóh Hall: Straw Weaving Exhibition opening under the “ASzakkör” program, free to visit May 8–June 4. Showcasing the craft circle’s traditional techniques and community creativity. Opening by Renáta Dervalics (National Institute of Culture, Zala County Directorate, Keszthely–Zalaszentgrót coordinator); welcome by Bálint Osvald (director, Goldmark Károly Cultural Centre). Musical contribution: Sheila Judit Varjassi from Életfa Primary and Art School.
Musicals, mentalism, and stand-up
May 9, 19:00 – Balaton Theatre, Main Hall: “The Girl with Pearly Hair – OMEGA musical” (“Gyöngyhajú lány – OMEGA musical”). On stage: ExperiDance, starring Léna Kóbor. Tickets 12,900–14,900 HUF (34.6–39.9 USD). A coming-of-age fairy tale for grown-ups set on Lake Balaton’s mythic shores, guided by Trombitás Frédi, powered by 21 Omega hits. Creative team: writer-director Zsolt Pozsgai; music director Zsolt Gömöry; costumes Ildikó Debreczeni; set János Mira; LED animation Zénó Mira. Features 22 Re-Production dancers, five musical actors, and songs like Trombitás Frédi, Régi csibészek, Ezüst eső, Petróleumlámpa, Ha én szél lehetnék, and Gyöngyhajú lány. The show honors Omega legends János “Mecky” Kóbor, László Benkő, and Tamás Mihály.
May 14, 19:00 – “The Secret – An evening with Danny Blue” (“A titok – Danny Blue estje”), Hungary’s best-known mentalist. Tickets 8,990; 10,990; 12,990; 14,990 HUF (24.1; 29.5; 34.9; 40.2 USD). Intimate, mind-bending feats that “freeze you in your seat,” as guests rave.
May 28, 19:00 – “I Messed That Up!” (“Ezt benéztem!”) stand-up by Dávid Dennis Musimbe, host Orsolya Sipos. Tickets 6,890–7,890 HUF (18.5–21.2 USD). Stories of mistaken certainties, fathers, UFOs, and life’s curveballs.
May 30, 18:00 – “Love Is No Shame – Songs from Old Films” (“A szerelem nem szégyen – Dalok a régi filmekből”), by Rátonyi Róbert Theatre. Tickets 8,900 HUF (23.9 USD). A chamber show with live music tracing 1930s–40s Hungarian film hits—charleston, shimmy, foxtrot, swing—through two young hearts. Composers include Mihály Eisemann, Alfréd Márkus, Pál Ábrahám, Károly De Fries, and Szabolcs Fényes. Cast: Edit Vörös, Sándor Domoszlai, Tamás Heller, László Gonda, and the Palermo band.
Family days and kids’ theater
May 13, 10:00 – Batyu Theatre: “Witch’s Kitchen” (“Boszorkánykonyha”), a prop-and-puppet cooking-and-tales show where everyday utensils become heroes. Tickets 3,000 HUF (8.0 USD). Features classics like Zsigmond Móricz’s Iciri-piciri, the folk tales A medve és a macska and Kőleves, and Elek Benedek’s A só. Cast: Nelli Kontha, Krisztina Borbély; music Péter Csák; puppets Csilla Vizi; props Nicolette Aranyos; directed by Nelli Kontha. Duration 40–45 minutes.
May 31 – City Children’s Day on Keszthely’s Lake Balaton shore. Stage program: 14:00 Tüsi the Clown; 14:40 Maminbaba babywearing Latin fitness; 15:00 Goldmark Károly Cultural Centre dance groups; 16:00 ÜSTökös Family Company with “The Old Fisherman and His Ambitious Wife”; 17:00–18:00 HandaBanda interactive kids’ concert. Extras 14:00–18:00: obstacle course with Kölyöktorna Sport Association; 16:00–18:00 flashing police car showcase; 10:00–18:00 lifeguards’ and volunteer firefighters’ play stations, stamp hunt, demos along the shore.
Music nights and city celebrations
June 3 – Lilla Orbay Quintet at Balaton Theatre. Tickets 4,000 HUF (10.7 USD).
June 5–7 – Keszthely City Day on the Main Square: outdoor shows, crafts, concerts, dance house, and official ceremonies. Detailed program to come.
June 25 – Áron Táls Trio at Balaton Theatre. Tickets 4,000 HUF (10.7 USD).
Boating, games, and summer camps
Ongoing: Keszthely sightseeing boat trips run most weeks (May 4–10, 11–17, 18–24, 25–31; June 1–5, 6–7 as “boat excursions,” 8–12, 13–14, 15–18, 19–21, 22–28). Outdoor city adventure games also recur weekly, mixing sightseeing with puzzles (May 4–10, 11–17, 18–24, 25–31; June 1–7, 8–14, 15–21, 22–28).
June 22–26, 9:00–12:00 – Summer Break Dance Camp at GKMK, Great Hall. For kids 5–10, led by Zsuzsanna Dézsenyi. Min 10, max 15 participants. Fee 19,000 HUF (51.0 USD). Sign up by May 29. Info: +36 30 137 0613 (8:00–16:00).
June 29–July 3 – Summer Break Folk Tale Camp. Details to follow.
Musical time travel
May 21, 18:00 – “How I Would…” (“Hogyan tündék…”) A musical time-travel with the ZsigmondLala Musical Studio amateur group through the greatest hits of the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s. Balaton Theatre, Main Hall. Tickets 4,500 HUF (12.1 USD). Duration 2 hours 20 minutes with one intermission. Recommended from age 10.
