The country is making music again: the Music-Making Hungary 2025 program has been launched

The program has a dual purpose: on the one hand, to preserve and pass on the unique heritage of traditional Hungarian gypsy music, and on the other hand, to stimulate the turnover of venues. According to Primate Miklós Lakatos, a member of the jury, “this program proves that the tradition of gypsy music is not only past, but also future. It is a heritage and a way of life that lives on in the younger generations.”

This year, the professional jury gave special support to young musicians and rural bands, so half of the musicians performing are no longer from Budapest. Music will once again be a defining part of summer hospitality from Esztergom to Szeged, through Bük to Tarcal.

The bands will play four times a week, for three hours a day, in state-supported hospitality venues. The costs are fully covered by the program, so providing quality live music is not an additional burden for the caterers. According to the experiences of previous years, the sound of music heard on the street effectively increases traffic, especially among tourists.

In 2025, the program was expanded to include new locations: we can now encounter live gypsy music at Budapest airport, train stations and water ports. This way, the music will create the atmosphere of Hungarian hospitality from the moment you arrive.

On June 14, venues joining the program in various parts of the country will pay tribute to Dankó Pista’s work with musical specials and thematic performances, recalling the golden age of Hungarian gypsy music.

The Musician Hungary program is thus not only a seasonal cultural project, but also a living example of how tradition can become a modern tool for community formation and economic revitalization. The list of performance venues and program details can be found on the official website of Musician Hungary.