Balaton Guitar Festival
Balatonfüred, Hungary · Guitar festival
The 20th Balatonfüred International Guitar Festival celebrates the classical guitar in Balatonfüred, becoming a European center for guitar music. The jubilee program commemorates the successes of the past two decades and presents the best of the instrument's present and future.
- Location
- Balatonfüred, Hungary
- Type
- Festival
- Most recent edition
- 20 June 2026 – 27 June 2026
- Next edition
- Usually each June — dates to be announced
- Frequency
- annual
- Venue
- Vaszary Galéria; Kisfaludy Galéria; Ferencsik János Zeneiskola
- Tickets
- Book your ticket for the concert by clicking the link, or buy your season ticket!
Programme & line-up
CROATIAN GUITAR QUARTET; ZORAN DUKIĆ; PETRIT ÇEKU; CSONKA LEVENTE; SIDOO ZSOMBOR
Workshops & masterclasses you can join
Petrit Ceku nyilvános mesterkurzusa; Zoran Dukić nyilvános mesterkurzusa; Sidoo Zsombor nyilvános mesterkurzusa
Official website
See this festival alongside every other guitar event on the calendar and map.
Open the calendar & mapVisiting? A guitarist's guide to Balatonfüred
Balatonfüred, an elegant resort town on the northern shore of Lake Balaton, hosts the annual Balaton Guitar Festival. Known as the capital of the northern lake shore, Balatonfüred combines Baroque architecture and a traditional old town with the vibrant life of one of Hungary's oldest tourist destinations. Visitors come for its beautiful promenades, tree-lined avenues, and stunning views of the Tihany Peninsula, creating an idyllic setting for a week of classical guitar.
Getting there
Arriving in Balatonfüred is straightforward, especially during the summer months when direct trains run hourly from Budapest-Déli station, a journey of about two hours. Off-season, you may need to change trains at Székesfehérvár. Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is the most common international gateway, with metro connections to the city's train stations. Balaton International Airport (SOB) on Lake Balaton is closer, though with fewer direct flights. Long-distance buses also connect Balatonfüred to Budapest, taking around two hours, and frequent local buses serve nearby cities like Veszprém. For a scenic arrival, consider a ferry across Lake Balaton from destinations like Siófok or the Tihany Peninsula, docking right in the heart of Balatonfüred's new town.
Compare trains, buses & flights to Balatonfüred on Omio →
Hungary runs on Type F sockets, standard across most of Europe, so you will only need a travel adapter if you are coming from the UK, Ireland, or beyond Europe.
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Where to stay
Balatonfüred offers a range of accommodation from modern hotels to charming guest-houses, capable of hosting tens of thousands of visitors in summer. To experience the town's elegant atmosphere, consider staying near the Tagore promenade or within the traditional old town. This central location ensures easy access to the festival venues, the lake shore, and the carbonated mineral springs for which Balatonfüred has been renowned since the 17th century. The town is highly walkable, with excellent footpaths and tree-lined avenues, so choosing a central base allows you to explore everything on foot.
What you'll hear
The Balaton Guitar Festival brings together guitarists and enthusiasts for a week of performances and masterclasses in this beautiful lakeside setting. While the specific programming will vary annually, expect a rich selection of classical guitar repertoire performed by talented artists from Hungary and beyond, reflecting the instrument's diverse traditions. The festival contributes to the town's lively summer cultural calendar.
Balatonfüred has a quiet musical life beyond the festival. The Janos Ferencsik Music School, a conservatory, is a local institution that nurtures musical talent within the community. The town also hosts various choirs and bands, adding to its cultural fabric. In this picturesque Hungarian resort, the sound of the classical guitar resonates against a backdrop of historic elegance and natural beauty.
The local table
The culinary scene in Balatonfüred benefits from its status as a major resort and its location in a renowned wine region. While specific local dishes are not explicitly named in the sources, the area is celebrated for its Olaszrizling grapes, producing crisp white wines that pair well with the region's cuisine. Look for restaurants serving traditional Hungarian fare, often with a focus on freshwater fish from Lake Balaton, which is known for its carp. The town's many fine restaurants and wine cellars, selling house white wines from the hillside vineyards overlooking the lake, provide ample opportunity to sample local flavours.
Fancy a guided taste? Food and wine tours in Balatonfüred →
While you're there
Between concerts, Balatonfüred and its surroundings offer a wealth of activities. Stroll along the Tagore promenade, named after the Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, who was treated at the State Hospital for Cardiology, a site famous for its healing carbonated springs. Visit the Kossuth Spring for a taste of the mineral water, or explore the classicist holiday homes of notable figures like actress Lujza Blaha and novelist Mór Jókai. The Lóczy cave offers a natural diversion. For those interested in lake activities, Balatonfüred is a prime yachting destination, with opportunities for sailing and swimming.
Consider a boat trip across the lake to the stunning Tihany Peninsula, famous for its abbey and lavender fields. The nearby villages of Aszófő, Balatonszőlős, and Csopak are renowned for their wine, land, and beaches, making for pleasant day trips. In winter, if the lake freezes, it transforms into a vast ice rink for skaters and ice boaters, offering a unique experience. Further afield, the city of Veszprém is just a short bus ride away, known for its castle district and Baroque architecture.
Tours, tickets and day trips in Balatonfüred →
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This map centers on Balatonfüred in general, so the venue may be elsewhere in town. Check the competition's official website before booking.
More guitar events in Hungary: Szeged International Guitar Festival and Competition
Also in June: Bale-Valle Armonica Guitar Competition · Baltic Guitar Days International Festival & Competition · Baltic Guitar Festival & Competition · CIGA - Alhambra International Guitar Competition · Concurso Internacional Levino Albano da Conceição · Gandia International Guitar Festival and Competition
Listing data is compiled from official sources and can change each edition. Always confirm dates, deadlines and requirements on the organizer's official website before applying or booking travel. Spotted an error? See our terms or let us know via the About page.