Debrecen4U October 2, 2026

9th MagdaFeszt Begins in Debrecen

Six days, 21 events – the 9th MagdaFeszt has begun, once again focusing on the legacy of Magda Szabó and contemporary female artists. The multidisciplinary event offers exhibitions, literary walks and theatre performances.

This year’s MagdaFeszt once again puts Magda Szabó’s work and contemporary female artists centre stage. The multidisciplinary festival offers something of interest for every age group.

Literary scholar Anna Juhász said at the opening that Magda Szabó herself was the Hungarian language – and that this was one of the secrets of her ability to use language in a way that reached straight to our hearts. “She explores eternal themes, themes that always have something at stake. What she writes becomes a mould, a mould for the way in which we are able to live our lives,” she said.

At the opening, Dániel Vadász, Director of the Csokonai National Theatre, said that the performances would take many different forms, from workshops and literary walks to staged readings and productions in the main theatre, including both spoken-word and musical performances.

The way Szabó Magda loved Debrecen can serve as a model for everyone, István Puskás said at the opening of the festival. The Deputy Mayor added that, even as an internationally acclaimed artist, the city remained, in the writer’s words, her ‘home for life.’ “She maintained a very close emotional bond with Debrecen until the last moment of her life and remained a Debrecen woman. For us, she is an example of how to love Debrecen,” he said.

On the opening day of the festival, the Kolozsvár State Theatre brought its musical adaptation of Abigail to Debrecen. MagdaFeszt will conclude on 5 October, Magda Szabó’s birthday. On the 109th anniversary of the writer’s birth, Svetits Catholic Grammar School will host a 12-hour reading marathon featuring Old Well. In the evening, this year’s Magda Szabó Awards will be presented as part of a gala performance.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu