Posts Tagged ‘entertainment’

Lenny Kravitz Concert @ Papp László Budapest Sports Arena – Hungary

Photo source – Hollywood Hall of Fame

Lenny Kravitz energetic concert on the 2nd. of August on the stage of the Papp László Budapest Sports Arena. One of me beside the thousand others were able to enjoy some Kravitz tunes from the 80’s for a good two hours.

Previous to Lenny Krevitz concert,  came De’Wayne’s 40-45 minute performance. Somehow the sound was not yet real for the first one or two songs, unfortunately, De’Wayne’s voice was muffled  through the air. Those sitting  fa from the stage in the back seats didn’t understand much of what he said.  Overall, said was that his childhood dream had come true, that he could travel the world around and even reach  to Budapest, and the audience welcomed him with a big ovation. With this, De’Wayne immediately set the mood for the evening in his welcoming speech.

According to the unanimous opinion of critics and the audience, the  62 yrs, rock icon is in fabulous shape, and despite the extra heat and the -10% reduced in use of air conditioning, he completely fulfilled the atmosphere and energy of the concert just went higher and higher. Kravitz played, lighted the fire from the first minute to the last, and despite the heat that hit the country, the spread the good mood to the audience. Not only his appearance, but also his voice did not catch up with his pasing time.

Then came Lenny Krevitz on stage, spoke about his sincere love for music. Lenny, inbetween one- an-other song remarked  several times during the evening that he could feel the huge flow of energy from the audience and appreciated it.

He thanked the audience for coming along in this devil heat and we believed him that he loved Budapest and considered each and every one of us presence as being his friend. It is very likely that not only Lenny Kravitz but everyone else was recharged with his 40 years of Fab songs during the two-hour concert in the Budapest Arena.

He introduced his fellow musicians …  Craig Ross who has been with Lenny since 1991, keyboardist George Laks, the wind instruments led by Harold Todd, and the rhythm section was made up of Hoonch “The Wolf” Choi and Jas Kayser. The latter has shown with his playing for two years that he belongs to the forefront among drummers.

As we got closer-and-closer to the finale song-by-song i.e. American Woman, Fly Away, Are You Gonna Go My Way and as an encore Let Love Rule were unmissable. For me,  beside others, the highlight of the evening was the song titled “Low” – you could feel its fantastic rhythm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0525AGe81w&list=RDBilaShsQphM&index=2

In just over two hours, we were able to go back through a four-decade tunes and oeuvre with Lenny Krevitz.

The departing crowd, filled with smiling faces, expressed their joy at being able to attend Lenny’s concert.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to take any snaps at the concert due to the management’s decision, so the pictures  will remain in those mind of those who attended Lenny’s concert.

Riport by Aggie Reiter

 

Mason Thames’ new musical youth road movie Hungary’s cinemas

Nimrods, inspired by Green Day, will be released in cinemas in August, distributed by Pannónia Entertainment Ltd. The basic idea of ​​which was also helped by the members in addition to their production roles.

Mason Thames was able to achieve a box office hat trick in 2025 that was last seen in 1994, the year Jim Carrey became an unstoppable star. However, the main character of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, the Black Phone movies and Ruined Lives had another role last year, Nimrods, which debuted at the Toronto Film Festival, and will be widely released and sceened in cinemas nationwide with Hungarian subtitles.  The lovely story, which is in the genre of Cool Tour, Paper Towns and Sing Street, but with a different motivation. Premiere date, but from Tuesday, August 11th.

Tommy (Mason Thames) and his two friends (Kylr Coffman, Ryan Foust) have big musical ambitions, the three of them form a garage band called Analog Dogs, when one day they receive a phone call asking them to open for Green Day on New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles. Of course, this comes as a surprise to the Kansas City trio, and after Tommy’s mother (Jenna Fischer) is worried about not giving him her own car – well, our protagonist doesn’t even have a license – they finally take Tommy’s brother Wayne’s (Keen Ruffalo) car and set off on a journey that promises the opportunity of a lifetime, during which unexpected situations, humorous twists and experiences that test their friendship await them.

These were inspired by the atmosphere of Green Day’s early travels and the band’s early years, and many details were inspired by their real van stories from years before they joined, but the film itself is not a biographical work. In addition to the band, who make cameos as themselves, well-known faces appear in supporting roles such as Fred Armisen, Sean Gunn, or McKenna Grace, who appears as the indispensable love interest of teen comedies, known from the new Ghostbusters episodes, among others, who is a couple with Thames in real life, and they already worked together with great chemistry on screen in the film that caused their reunion, Ruined Lives.

The title is based on Green Day’s 1997 album “Nimrod”, and they have contributed a new theme song, while the entire soundtrack itself naturally includes fictional compositions by Analog Dogs, a song performed by Grace, and 4 previously unreleased Green Day concert recordings, from the performance that our protagonists are about to be the forerunners of.

The film is also packed with the punk band’s greatest hits, so fans won’t be able to miss the cinema for that reason alone, but 1-1 tracks by some other artists (e.g. The Paradox, Ultra Q) also add to the feel of life reminiscent of the early ’90s.

The a/m piqued your interest save your seat to one of the screenings nationwide from August 11th 2026.  Furthermore, such a sweet coming of age adventure is always endearingly charming …  not to say …  it can be a great alternative to escaping to cool theater hall between two heat waves. Genre lovers, Green Day fans, and fans of the two up-and-coming actors can definitely watch one of the hidden gems of the summer!

Reminder by Aggie Reiter

 

Go On … Choof Off! Sziget Festival within 2 weeks @ Budapest

 

 

7th to 16th August – Budapest

Enjoy the spirit of Óbudai Island offers, whereas  foreigners and locals enloose at the self-contained world campsites, stages, food stalls, and art installations exist side by side, creating a genuine sense of community among attendees. Visitors often describe the vibe as more relaxed and open-minded than comparable festivals elsewhere, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity, environmental consciousness, and creative self-expression.

Yes, every summer, hundreds of thousands of travelers from across the globe descend on this compact island city just north of central Budapest. What began decades ago as a modest gathering of music lovers has grown into a sprawling, multi-stage extravaganza featuring international headliners, immersive art installations, and a genuinely welcoming, inclusive atmosphere. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned festival-goer, Sziget 2026 promises the same blend of unforgettable performances and laid-back island charm that’s made it a bucket-list event for music fans worldwide.

Between August 7th and 16th, dozens of Budapest cultural and entertainment venues will offer exclusive discounts to those arriving with a Sziget wristband. Venues that have joined the Sziget City program and their current offers can be found in the festival’s official app. Venues that have joined the Sziget City program and their current offers can be found in the festival’s official app. Just like Szimpla, Dugattyús, Arzenál, Turbina, Heavy, Atno, Palazzo Permanents, Pontoon, Szatyor and Trafó.
The full range of Sziget City is available in the Sziget City menu of the official Sziget app (external link). With the help of the interactive map, users can discover the venues participating in the program, as well as current recommendations, discounts and programs.

Coinsider a few practical matters: Choosing the Right Ticket: Ticket types vary significantly, ranging from single-day passes to full-week camping packages, so it’s worth deciding early how much of the festival experience you want. Those attending just for a favorite headliner might lean toward a day pass, while music lovers hoping to soak in the full island atmosphere often find the week-long options better value. Prices tend to rise closer to the festival dates, so booking early isn’t just about securing your spot — it’s usually the cheaper route too.

Join the fantastic Sziget Cruisin Boat Party crew and marvel at Budapest’s beautiful sights from the Danube! Make the most of your festival holiday and join us for one of the boat parties during Sziget!

Booking Accommodation Early: Accommodation in Budapest tends to book up quickly during festival week, making early reservations a smart move regardless of whether you’re camping on-site or staying in the city. Central neighborhoods like Downtown or the Jewish Quarter offer easy access to both the festival shuttles and Budapest’s café and nightlife scene, making them popular choices for visitors who want the best of both worlds.

Pairing your visit to the Sziget Festival, worthwhile to take time for a little Budapest City Break. One of the smartest moves for foreign tourists is treating Sziget as part of a broader Budapest adventure rather than a standalone trip. The city’s thermal baths, historic Castle District, and vibrant ruin bar scene all pair beautifully with festival days, offering a way to recover and explore between sets. Many visitors extend their stay by a few extra days precisely to soak in Budapest’s culture beyond the festival grounds.

Reminder by Aggie Reiter

In mid-August @ Budapest bringing Kobra 4K to cinemas!

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Sylvester Stallone’s cult action film is being re-released on the big screen by Pannonia Movie Ltd. to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary.

In Hungary Sylvester Stallone is undoubtedly very popular, he was a defining figure for several generations, and although Kobra does not necessarily lead the many individual rankings, his essential 80s atmosphere is unquestionable. An early piece of the 1986 summer film season originally debuted in our country in January 1988, and quickly became a typical VHS-era cult classic. Detective Michael Cobretti’s one-liners, his arsenal of weapons (including his laser sight), his sunglasses and of course his 1950 Mercury Coupe – of which the star car was the actor’s own, and the broken ones were adapted to it – quickly became iconic.

The charm of the film also includes a script and action dramaturgy that were typical of the era, which never had to be taken seriously, and although Rocky – especially the one year earlier Part IV – and Rambo illustrate the decade even better, Kobra can still provide a rather unique experience on the big screen in the 40-year perspective. The original, Mokép-like dubbing, in which Sly’s Hungarian voice is the great István Bubik, while Brigitte Nielsen is voiced by Eszter Nagy-Kálózy, can contribute to this experience as an extra. Although the work has become more of a VHS icon, nothing shows its cinematic stature better than the fact that it generated more than six times its budget in revenue.

Mind you the Pannónia’s anniversary screenings, will be shown for ONLY a week, starting on August 13th. At the Lurdy Cinema in sync and of course with subtitles in Cinema MOM, so those looking for nostalgia will have to look there for the program. Although the real feeling would perhaps be given by a 4:3, sometimes disintegrating image with some background noise on the tape, our screenings will not be that authentic, which we will hold in digitally restored 4K quality.

Stallone wrote the film from two sources: a novel, which was later adapted in the 90s, and his own early negotiations before he finally gave up the role of Axel Foley. So Cobra is essentially a film history find, with which we can get a little glimpse of what the much darker Beverly Hills cop would have been like without Eddie Murphy.

Finally, let’s not forget the Hungarian aspect of the cinema, as its music was composed by Szilveszter Lévay, born in Subotica.

Fans will of course have an unmissable opportunity to experience the time capsule provided by Kobra in the hall for an hour and a half that promises to be a real time journey, because although the story is forgettable and there are also some great classics from action films set at Christmas, we can find one of the highlights of B-movie radiance in the adventure of detective Cobretti for a week in mid-August.

Tickets available on the spot.

Update by  Aggie Reiter

The 10th Anniversary Zsolnay Light Festival @ the City of Pécs

 

Between 2-5. July. 2026.

Venue: 52. Felsővámház Str. – Pécs

Within a short time the Cty of Pécs shows her face to the 10th anniversary Zsolnay Light Festival  which will once again dress the city in light this year, but the most special experiences await visitors behind closed doors.

The city center’s iconic building projections and outdoor programs are free for everyone, but for those who want to explore every facet of the festival, the Light Festival MAX wristband will open all the doors.

In the spaces of the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter and the Kodály Center, international and domestic works await the audience, which would be a special destination in themselves at any European light festival. These are the experiences that visitors will still be talking about years later.

A laser experience that will move you to tears at the Kodály Center … One of the most special works of the festival is the installation Divine Geometry by the Latvian team Those Guys Lighting, which completely transforms the concert hall of the Kodály Center. Twenty-four lasers create a perfect circle of light in the space, while an original soundtrack composed by a renowned sound sculptor guides the visitor through the experience. The effect of the work is almost inexplicable: in previous presentations, it has moved many viewers to tears, and many of them
remained in the space long after the thirty-minute program ended, simply because they did not want to leave this special state.

Also waiting for visitors at the Kodály Center is the Bodhira, a monumental, flower-like light creature that constantly changes in response to touch. Sometimes it slowly unfolds, sometimes it closes again, while filling the space with light, movement and sound. Here, the visitor is not just a spectator of the work: with every touch, he creates new rhythms, new light drawings and new experiences.

Recommended by Aggie Reiter

Kati Kovács opens summer program series @ CastleGarden Bazaar Festival

Kati Kovács concert at the VárkertFest photo

Venue: District, I., 4. Ybl Miklós Square – Budapest

Event Hall

Ticket: 8900 HUF, 10900 HUF, 12900 HUF
Duration: 2H’s
Date: 6. June, 2026.  –  7 p.m.

Kati Kovács, one of the defining voices of Hungarian popular music, has been on stage for over six decades. With her unmistakable mezzo-soprano voice, remarkable four-and-a-half-octave range, and a catalogue of songs known across generations, she remains a powerful and compelling live performer. This June, her iconic hits return at VárkertFeszt (Castle Garden Bazaar).

Since winning the national television talent show Ki mit tud? (“Who knows what?)  was a Hungarian TV talent show in 1965, she has built a career spanning thousands of concerts and performances across five continents. Her voice moves effortlessly between rock, jazz and classical influences, while her presence on stage continues to command attention. With more than 500 songs and numerous film appearances, her legacy is not only defined by numbers, but by the lasting connection she creates with her audience.

Known for her discipline, stamina and artistic independence, she has always approached performance with intensity and focus. For her, the stage is a space of freedom — every song shaped by experience, instinct and a direct dialogue with the audience.

For  not only the generation “Born the day before Yesterday” a special summer evening awaing  the audience at  the Várkert Bazár (Castle Garden Bazaar)  to experience one of Hungary’s most influential performers live.

Under the Moonlight view above the River Danube the outstanding buildings illuminated surroundings of the Capital.

Worthwhile to mentioned at the  Press Menting Kati talked  about her chapters of the previous days on stage:

Ttraveled the world … had a performance that stands as a special memory for her.
“I have many adventures. I once performed in front of Led Zeppelin at a festival in Hamburg. At the end, the band came out of hiding and “felt” that I was there live from behind the Iron Curtain and singing like that. I sang in Japanese in Japan, the band there liked it, and they asked me to sing it on their album. We were also in Australia for a month. Before one of our performances, they said, “the attendance at Hungarian shows is low.” It ended up being a sold-out show, and an Australian couple fell in love with us so much that they followed us everywhere by plane and learned the songs in Hungarian.”

Mind you … coming by car … 3 hours of free parking
The ticket provides free parking on the day of the performance in the Várkert Bazár underground garage for 3 hours (entrance from Szarvas Square) depending on the availability. Validate your parking ticket for the discount at the counter in the auditorium of the Event Hall!

On the opening day of the festival, Kati Kovács’ concert will crown your day.

Want anything more to comfy your evenings!?!

Recommandation by Aggie Reiter

UIPM Pentathlon World Cup 2026 Budapest

Only 2 weeks left until the UIPM Pentathlon World Cup 2026 starts in Budapest!

Venue: BOK Hall – District XIV., 1-3 Istvánmezei Rd. Budapest

Budapest is preparing for a special event: in June 2026, the world’s pentathlon elite will arrive at the BOK Hall for the UIPM Pentathlon World Cup.

The competition start on the 9th of June, and let  and watch on the spot the world’s best compete again in the BOK Hall!.

UIPM Pentathlon World Cup Budapest, Hungary Women’s Final – Gates open: 3 p.m. – Starting: 4 p.m. Friday, June 12, 2026 -Budapest, BOK ‘A’ Hall

UIPM Pentathlon World Cup Budapest, Hungary Men’s Final – Gates open: 10 a.m. – Starting 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2026 Budapest, BOK Hall ‘A’

As the 3rd stop of the World Cup series, Budapest will host the best in the sport. An unprecedented international field of more than 200 people will gather in the era of the new format to compete in the BOK Hall.

Be a part of the biggest domestic pentathlon competition of the year!

Secure one of the seat today and experience the excitement of the World Cup live! Please note that tickets are for unassigned seats, and seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Children under the age of 14 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult family member with a valid ticket.

Recomendation by Aggie Reiter

Visit Pécs @ the10th Zsolnay Light Festival between July 2nd and 5th 2026.

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Vasarely’s spirit and the limits of imagination: a flood of jubilee light envelops Pécs at the 10th Zsolnay Light Festival Ten years after the streets of Pécs first shone with the magic of contemporary light art, the 10th anniversary edition of the Zsolnay Light Festival is bigger and more spectacular than ever: over four nights between July 2nd and 5th, it will bathe the city in a flood of light with more than 30 works.

In addition, its theme pays tribute to Victor Vasarely, a world-famous native of Pécs, as part of the Vasarely Memorial Year. The event has now grown into one of the most spectacular city festivals in Europe, with more than a hundred thousand visitors annually.

The 2026 anniversary edition is intertwined with two exceptional anniversaries:
Commemorate the 120th anniversary of the birth of Victor Vasarely, a native of Pécs and the father of optical art, and the Vasarely Museum in Pécs celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The theme of the Light Festival this year is therefore Vasarely’s PLASTI-CITÉ // COLORFUL CITY concept – which invites you into the world of optical illusions, to the sensory experience of movement, space and light.

The Cathedral facade is the festival’s biggest canvas …

The most anticipated event of the festival, the Zsolnay Light Art Video Mapping Competition, turns the facade of the Pécs Cathedral into a light canvas every evening. This year, Italian, Chinese and Bulgarian artists will compete for the audience’s votes – their works will be imbued with a visual world drawing from Vasarely’s op-art heritage. In addition to the competition, a special work will also debut: as part of the Irish focus program, the Kiégő Izzók team will pay homage to the oeuvre of Martyn Ferenc with a projection.

The Path of Light: more than 30 stops at the limits of imagination which forms the backbone of the festival, will allow visitors to discover the works of domestic and international light artists at 15 downtown and 19 Zsolnay Quarter-surrounding locations.

Get your feathers hats and fancy cloths to join the Back to the Hippie era of the 70s!

On Theater Square, New York’s Liquid Light Lab evokes the legendary analog light shows of the era.

Imagine the colors of Kandinsky, the vibrations of Jimi Hendrix and early Pink Floyd concerts – this floating, sensual universe will inhale visitors for four evenings.

The Light Path station on Theater Square is part of the USA250 commemorations. The atmosphere is turned up to the maximum by DJs from Tilos Radio: this is not just a projection, but a shared, psychedelic journey into the realm of lights. – According to Vasarely’s credo, art is a common language, which should leave the exhibition spaces and become a part of everyday life. The concept of the Path of Light also resonates with this: it elevates the urban space into an open gallery, where through interactive installations visitors themselves become part of the creative process and the community experience.

The public programs and light works in the city center are free to visit. The closed spaces and the special installations in the Zsolnay Quarter and the Kodály Center can be visited with the Light Festival MAX wristband, which can be purchased on thr SPOT from May 7th.

Recommendation by Aggie Reiter

Historical drama namely “The Choir” staring Ralph Fiennes

Premiere on the 23rd of April 2026.

The historical drama The Choir opens in cinemas on Thursday. Nicholas Hytner’s (The Salem Witches, King George) new film is a moving drama about the power of music and collective creativity, starring Ralph Fiennes (Schindler’s List, Conclave, In Bruges).

In 1916, the choir of the Yorkshire town of Ramsden loses almost all of its male members due to conscription. Despite the difficulties, the choir’s management wants to continue working together: they decide to recruit local young men who are not eligible for conscription due to their age. A new choirmaster arrives alongside the young people: the unyielding, self-willed, and working with strange methods Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes). As the draft orders arrive one after another, the entire community realizes that the best defense against the chaos that is upending their lives is to play music together.

The choir tells a story of solidarity and empathy through the fate of a diverse community, while emphasizing that art can be a source of support even in times of greatest crisis.

Update by Aggie Reiter

Wine enthusiasts didn’t miss the Badacsony wine region tasting @ New York Palace Budapest

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Yearly, Badacsony Region Wineries are coming to New York Palace – Budapest holding big early spring celebration with their wines. The wine tasting offer was on the spot by the top wineries around the Badacsony region, whom opened the opportunity to get a complete panoramic picture … mean by tasting … of where the wine offer of the Badacsony Wine Region are in our days.

The Badacsony in New York tasting was held for the fifteenth time at the New York Palace in Budapest. The event was doubly historic, as Weissenkirchen, one of the centers of the Wachau wine region, and Badacsonytomaj signed a twinning cooperation agreement at the event, which could be the basis for a fruitful relationship between the two wine regions. As for the tasting, in addition to the record-breaking 42 Badacsony wineries, 10 wineries from Weissenkirchen were also represented as special guests, and seven Austrian producers personally accompanied the wines, it was possible to meet average – good – excellent wines, but the quality is definitely improving year-by-year. So now the tasting items could only be grouped into the good – excellent – top wine categories. So now the tasting items could only be grouped into the good – excellent – top wine categories.

Those who attended the tasting could taste an incredibly wide selection to choose from.

Roll through the snaps taken at the event … Let the photos from the event do the talking.

Riport and snaps by Aggie Reiter