Keszthely is gearing up for an action-packed 2026 with festivals, exhibitions, concerts, theater shows, film screenings, museum activities, foodie events, sports, and tons of guaranteed and optional leisure fun. From March 23 to 29 and beyond, multiple spots across 8360 Keszthely and nearby areas like Vonyarcvashegy promise something for everyone by Lake Balaton.
100% Vonyarcvashegy Gala – March 27
Kick off with Vonyarcvashegy’s cultural and art gala on March 27. Exhibition opening at 5 p.m. in Balaton Theater’s upstairs corridor, Básti Room, and theater hall. Vonyarcvashegy municipality, Balaton Art Creators Community, local culture house circles like Csillag Eszter Ceramics Group, and individual artists showcase their work. Opened by Farkas Ildikó, NMI Zala County director, and Mayor Pali Róbert. Vonyarcvashegy primary school choir and Festetics György Music School wind instrument students perform. At 6 p.m. in the theater hall, a two-act theater gala immerses the audience in emotion. Performers include Vonyarcvashegy Chamber Choir, Zalai Balaton-part Concert Wind Band, Vonyarcvashegy Nyitnikék Kindergarten, Eötvös Károly Primary School dancers and 5th graders, soloists Miklós Rozália, Németh Lili, Ferenczy-Nagy Bátor, Babos Dóra, Babos Lajos, Piller Balázs, Tóth Péter, Sági Béla, plus Imre Sándor Love Theater and SzínMűHely Vonyarcvashegy. Keszthely ties in too.
Marica grófnő (Countess Maritza) Operetta – March 28
Rátonyi Róbert Theater presents the operetta Marica grófnő on March 28 at 6 p.m. in Balaton Theater hall. Tickets: $32. Count Tasziló, an impoverished nobleman, takes a job as farm manager on an estate near Cluj. He hides his family’s financial ruin from his sister to protect her dowry. The owner, Marica, bored with fortune hunters, invents a fiancé, Baron Zsupán Kálmán. Tasziló and his friend Késmárky Pista overhear. A gypsy predicts she will fall for a nobleman. She stays with aunt Lotti and Liza. Stars: Vörös Edit as Marica, Domoszlai Sándor as Tasziló, Kiss Zoltán or Kovács Szilárd as Zsupán, Haraszti Elvira as Liza, Halász Aranka as Lotti, Gyurity István or Bardóczy Attila as Dragomir, Rátonyi Hajni or Kalmár Magda or Udvarias Katalin as Cecília, Kokas László or Molnár Erik as Kudelka, Molnár Erik or Bor Viktor as Alfréd, Rikker Mária or Denk Viktória as Manja.
Outdoor Adventure Games – March 23-29 & 30-April 5
Dive into “Játék a szabadban,” a thrilling adventure game exploring Keszthely’s top sights. Runs March 23-29 and March 30-April 5.
Rokonok (Relatives) Play – March 31
Hevesi Sándor Várszínház stages Rokonok, a two-act play of social criticism, on March 31 at 7 p.m. Season tickets $59 or $70 for 4 shows; singles $18 or $20. Fourth in Festetics subscription. This key work of Hungarian literature goes beyond mere pamphleteering to explore the pitfalls of power and the depths of the soul—hidden loves, marriage games, family blackmail on the path to self-assertion and ruin. Young Kopjáss István becomes Zsarátnok prosecutor against corrupt rivals. He is idealistic, with empty pockets but his head full of world-saving plans. But power brings old and new “relatives.” Twisty plot and character depth make it rich fun.
Pierrot és Prigozsin – April 1
Free 110-minute show from Kettőspont Színház’s national “manhunt” tour on April 1 at 7 p.m. Philosophers and clowns seek humans, supported by Kétfarkú Kutyapárt’s fund and venues. Pierrot and Prigozsin push art limits to touch souls, missing a third for meaning. Inspired by François Truffaut’s Jules és Jim (Jules and Jim), written/directed by Formanek Csaba using Ács Tamás ideas. Stars Ács Tamás as Pierrot, Formanek Csaba as Prigozsin. Ages 14+.
Little Singers Japanese Kids’ Choir – April 2
Free concert April 2 at 5 p.m. in Balaton Theater. Hyogo-based choir formed in 1990, with 90 kids aged 4-21 in child/junior/senior groups. Repertoire ranges from Renaissance composers like Palestrina and Lasso to modern works, Japanese composers Michio Mamiya and Rou Ogura, and folk songs. Toured Korea and the US in the early ’90s, Europe since ’96, hosted foreigners. 30-year bond with Keszthely’s Életfa School. Won three straight national gold medals. Pure sound, top-tier.
Keszthely Boat Tours & Kis-Balaton Hikes
Keszthely sightseeing boat tours (sétahajózás) March 29, April 3-5. Guided Kis-Balaton Visitor Center tours April 2-12 to Diás-sziget Fekete István memorial and Matula hut—by car, golf cart, or canoe.
Sold Out: A színházcsináló (The Theater Maker) – April 10
Orlai Produkció’s Thomas Bernhard play, all tickets gone. April 10 at 7 p.m., Balaton Theater. Second in Spring Subscription. Nemzet Színésze Bruscon (Alföldi Róbert) arrives with troupe, chaos ensues pre-show. Bernhard’s rants on Austria/modern life via obsessive heroes. Like a painful stand-up. Cast: Alföldi Róbert, Buza Tímea, László Lili, Németh Áron Valentin, Ficzere Béla. Adapted Bíró Bence, set Kálmán Eszter, costumes Juristovszky Sosa, poster Csáfordi László, assist Skrabán Judit, director Pelsőczy Réka.
English Speakers Club – April 6 & Monthly
Casual chat group every first Monday 6-8 p.m. at GKMK Népmesepont (Kossuth Lajos 28, Keszthely). All welcome, any level/nationality, native English speakers too. No fluency needed—many just listen first. Prep a topic to speak up.
