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1st December-20th March, 2006: Van Gogh Exhibition, Museum of Fine Arts
 Two years after its show ‘Monet and His Friends’, the Museum of Fine Arts is organising an exhibition on the oeuvre of the Post-Impressionist master Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), another fascinating figure in the history of art.
Works by this disturbing genius of nineteenth-century Dutch and French art will be borrowed from some of the most important museums of the world. As a ‘prelude’ to the exhibition, we shall present masters who influenced the development of Van Gogh’s art (e.g. Wolf Huber, Rembrandt, Delacroix, Caspar David Friedrich, Jean-François Millet, and Charles Daubigny). By way of conclusion, we shall outline, showing parallels, the influence exerted by the Dutch master on Hungarian art in the early twentieth century – on the Hungarian Fauves and on the painting of such artists as Gyula Derkovics and Gyula Czimra.
In the scholarly catalogue, which will be published in Hungarian and in English, a section presenting the reception of the works will – as in the case of the Monet exhibition – be accompanied by a selection of critical analyses. And in connection with some of the pieces exhibited from his large oeuvre, interesting extracts from Van Gogh’s correspondence will also be included. Further information: www.szepmuveszeti.hu
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2007
February
Till the 25th of February: Hungarian Symphonic Panorama The Palace of Arts is delighted to be hosting a series of concerts entitled “Hungarian Symphonic Panorama.” The series runs from 6th January to 25th February, 2007, and this year welcomes for the first time the Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra from Székesfehérvár, the Danube Symphony Orchestra and Budapest Strings.
15-18 February: Budapest Boat Show Taking place at the Hungexpo Budapest Fair Center, the city's 16th annual boat show promises to be bigger and better than ever, with exhibits that will include windsurfing, surfing and kite surfing equipment, jet-skiing, boat building materials, boat trailers, plus nautical gifts, books and maps. Daily tickets cost 1100 HUF for adults, while family tickets: (2 adults + 2 children) are 2200 HUF. Concessions apply to students and pensioners, while those over 70 gain free admission.
March
 5th March Shakira Concert Love or loathe her voice, there's no doubt that Latino songstress Shakira (hailing from Columbia) has made a huge impact on the pop scene of late, thanks to her multi-platinum selling albums Laundry Service and Oral Fixation. Dropping into Budapest in early March, her show is likely to be one of the hottest tickets in town and a guaranteed sell-out.
16th March - 1st April : Budapest Spring Festival As ever, this year's annual Budapest Spring Festival will cover a broad spectrum of the arts including ballet, classic music, opera performances, choir evenings and art exhibitions.Taking place at the city's principal arts venues, including the fabulous Palace of Arts, programmes are also staged in other Hungarian towns and cities, including Gyõr and Szentendre.As the largest annual cultural event in Hungary, the festival boasts a fine international reputation, attracting the likes of violinist Nigel Kennedy (who will perform as part of a quintet), conducter Eliahu Inbal, folk artist Márta Sebestyén and the Russian National Orchestra (RNO).
Other highlights are sure to include a Kodály evening with the National Philharmonic Orchestra performing twenty Hungarian folksongs, a thirteen hour Mozart marathon and a stage adaptation of Homer's epic the Odyssey.
For dance/ballet lovers, a world première of Maria Serrano's "Flamenco meets Gypsy music" sounds intriguing, whilst Les Ballet de Monte Carlo will be staging a modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet.
15th March: Revolution Day A public holiday to commemorate the failed 1848-1949 Revolution and War of Independence against the Habsburgs. Celebrations take place at the Sándor Petofi statue on Belgrád rakpart (the Danube embankment).
Titanic International Film Festival (Spring 2007) The 14th Titanic Budapest Film Festival will likely feature over 40 feature films and documentaries, as well as providing local video and TV directors with a platform in which to show their talent. As the country's only international film event, screenings take place at some of the city's most famous venues (including the Toldi and Uránia cinemas
April
Not available yet
May
1st of May: Labour Day/May Day Before 1991, May Day was always earmarked by the then ruling Communist Party for some rather stoic celebrations. Nowadays, however, the non-political festivities centre around the city parks of Budapest - namely the Népliget and Margit Island.
June
Danube Dance Carnival Organized by the Danube Art Ensemble, the Carnival is a gathering of both Hungarian and overseas folk/contemporary dance groups who perform at venues around the city, including the Vajdahunyad Castle (in the city park) and a Gala Event also taking place at the Margitsziget Open Air Theatre
8th - 17th June: Danube Water Carnival Having attracted over 220,000 visitors to last year's Water Carnival, 2007's event - which takes place between Margaret Bridge and the Chain Bridge - should be a riot of colour on the river. Culminating in a flotilla of boats (with candles also being floated down the Danube) visitors will enjoy a spectacular fireworks display on the evening of the 17th June.
16th - 17th June: Bridge Festival An annual event that takes place on the Lánchid, Budapest's first permanent span across the Danube (built between 1842-1849). Despite the protestations of drivers, the bridge is closed to traffic for the whole day, thus becoming the main vantage point for a spectacular show that also takes place along the Danube embankment and on the river below.
23rd - 24th June: Budapest Farewell - Celebration of the Withdrawal of Soviet Troops in 1991 A weekend of themed festivities which include one-off music and theatrical performances in public spaces and smaller venues around the city (see also Bucsu Festival below)
23rd - 24th June: Budapesti Bucsu Festival As part of the celebrations to commemorate the departure of Soviet soldiers from Hungary, the festival features everything from top-notch pop acts to folklore performances, entertainers and a carnival. Takes place in and around the City Park and Vörösmarty tér
July
6th July - 24th August: BudaFest Summer Opera and Ballet Festival While Budapest's established concert season runs from the end of September to early June, July and August see some of the best opera and ballet during Budafest. Staged at the magnificent State Opera House, tourists and locals alike are able to enjoy first class performances from both foreign and home grown stars. What's more prices for even the best seats are ridiculously low. Performance schedules for 2007 are yet to be confirmed
23rd July - 29th July: WTA Budapest Tennis Grand Prix Although far off from being a Grand-Slam event, the Budapest Tennis Grand Prix may be of interest to those with a penchant for the game even while overseas. Played outdoors on red clay.
August
 3rd - 5th August: Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix At the beginning of August, Bernie Ecclestone's Formula 1 circus comes to Budapest, with the Hungarian Grand Prix at Mogyoród (to reach the circuit take the M3 motorway east out of Budapest). Although the track has rightly been criticized as being too slow - facilities for spectators are very good. Ticket prices (especially for those wishing to attend for the full weekend) are quite high.
16th - 20th August : Celebration of Crafts/Festival of Folk Arts Numerous craft and art fairs in and around the Castle District's Disz tér are accompanied by music and dance from some of Hungary's best traditional folk artists (and overseas artists too). Workshops are held to demonstrate traditonal crafts of the countryside, while other entertainment includes street performers and puppet shows. On St. Stephen's Day, the master craftsman have their own parade, along with one celebrating the 'blessing of the bread'. A colourful spectacle with the best backdrop in town.
 8th - 15th August: Sziget (Island) Festival 2007 While the first Sziget festival in 1993 saw just over 40,000 music fans attend for a week of entertainment and music, numbers have swollen over the years to well-over 300,000. Sponsorship from Pepsi (and coverage by MTV) have also ensured that famous names such as Lou Reed, David Bowie, Oasis, Foo Fighters, Fun Loving Criminals, Faithless and the Prodigy have appeared at previous festivals.
20th August: St.Stephen's Day The most important public holiday in the nation's calendar, Hungarians celebrate their patron saint (Szent István) and the founding of the Magyar State by staging numerous cultural events around the country. In Budapest, folk dancing usually takes place on Castle Hill, while most spectacular of all is the fireworks display on Gellért Hill (best viewed from the opposite side of the Danube next to the Marriott Hotel).
8th Budapest Parade (Date NaY) Traditionally taking place at the end of August, the Parade serves as a finale to the summer season in Budapest. Following a route between Andrássy u. and Hõsök tere, over 250,000 people are expected to attend for 2007. Great for ravers - as floats are sponsored by local radio stations - it's also a rather hedonistic experience (and not one for the kids).
26th August - 2nd September: Jewish Summer Festival The 9th festival of its kind, the Jewish Summer Festival is a week long programme of colourful events that give visitors a taste of Jewish Budapest. Highlights for 2007 are likely to include international klezmer and cantor festivals, while for a more lighthearted evening out there's a Jewish cabaret. For classical music fans the operetta gala should also prove to be a rewarding experience
September
5th - 9th September: Budapest International Wine and Champagne Festival The 16th Budapest International Wine Festival will make available over five hundred native and foreign wines as part of the jolly, alcohol fuelled tasting sessions. The country's leading distributors and vineyards will be there, along with a fair share of local connoisseur's sporting large, red noses.
MOL 5th Jazz Festival Sponsored by Hungary's largest oil company, the MOL Jazz festival takes place at various venues within the Ferencváros district of Pest. As well as guests spots from world renowned artists, the festival also serves to showcase the best home grown talent. As with the 2006 festival, opening and closing concerts are likely to take place at the excellent Palace of Arts, boasting as it does, first rate acoustics.
October
14th - 23rd October: Budapest Autumn Festival Details of performance schedules have yet to be confirmed.
November
Not available yet
December
Not available yet
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