Debrecen4U September 3, 2026

Debrecen’s Most Beautiful Kitchen Gardens in 2026

The Municipality of Debrecen has joined the nationwide programme titled “Hungary’s Most Beautiful Kitchen Gardens.” The local results of the competition were announced as part of an awards ceremony, by Deputy Mayor Ákos Balázs and Chief Horticultural Officer András Kuhn in the courtyard of the City Hall on 2 September 2026.

In his welcome address, Ákos Balázs spoke about how gardens attract people of all ages, from the youngest to the oldest, and inspire them to create something good and beautiful, while also bringing genuine communities together. As he explained, he learned from his parents that gardening is part of everyday life, and he still tends the kitchen garden at his family home himself. Recently, for example, he picked pears, which were made into compote for Sunday lunch.

The Deputy Mayor emphasised that one of the Municipality of Debrecen’s aims is to create opportunities for communities whose members value eating healthy food and, wherever possible, growing it themselves at home or in the city’s community gardens. The number of community gardens in Debrecen is steadily increasing, while the city is also encouraging residents to ensure that their home gardens contain not only lawns and ornamental plants, but also space for traditional kitchen-garden cultivation. As Ákos Balázs highlighted, he is convinced that growing food at home promotes healthy eating while also helping to combat food waste: we value much more highly everything we produce in our own gardens through our own efforts, and make use of as much of it as possible – just as our grandparents once did. The gardeners who have entered the competition Hungary’s Most Beautiful Kitchen Gardens” are therefore playing a pioneering role, as they are collectively spreading the message that gardening is a worthwhile and rewarding activity. Not to mention that working in the garden is an excellent way of relieving stress and provides regular opportunities for physical activity, making it an occupation that benefits people both mentally and physically. Debrecen joins this programme year after year in order to work towards achieving these goals together.

Ákos Balázs thanked his colleagues, environmental managers Veronika Szentpéteri-Nagy and Veronika Csurgay, for their work in mentoring the community gardens professionally and for their contribution to the competition for the European Green Capital 2027 title. In 2025, Debrecen was selected among the three best sustainable cities in Europe in this competition, and as a result, it may use the designation “European Green Capital 2027 finalist” in its official communications and image-building activities.

The Deputy Mayor noted that Debrecen would, of course, enter the European Green Capital competition again in the future, while continuing to strengthen its expertise in nature conservation and environmental protection in the meantime. The Green Codex summarises these objectives, with one of its key elements being the promotion of locally produced healthy food and gardening, as well as the creation of new community gardens. These developments were also recognised by the evaluators in Debrecen’s European Green Capital 2027 application.

In the 2026 local competition of the nationwide programme “Hungary’s Most Beautiful Kitchen Gardens,” the jury decided that:
In the Standard category, Mrs Gábor Szemán took first place, while Mrs Miklós Boros, as well as Emerencia Kártik and Amira Jázmin Kártik, jointly received second place.
In the Community category, Tócóskert Community Garden took first place, while Újkert Community Garden, Vénkert Community Garden, Görgey Street Nursery School, the Dandelion Group of Nagyerdő Nursery School, and the Pöttöm Garden of Táncsics Mihály Street Nursery School received second place.
In the Mini category, Angéla Milei took first place.

At the event, a letter of thanks from Szilvia Sári Kovács, the originator and programme director of the programme “Hungary’s Most Beautiful Kitchen Gardens,” was also presented. Every award winner received a copy of the letter. As a gift from the Municipality of Debrecen, the award winners will also receive rainwater collection containers, and they were presented with packs of flower bulbs.

The local supporters of the programme were presented with certificates of appreciation.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu