Debrecen4U
October 2, 2026
Debrecen to Commemorate 70th Anniversary of 1956 Revolution and War of Independence with Weeks-Long Event Series
On the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence, Debrecen will be commemorating the events throughout more than just 23 October this year. From September to the end of October, exhibitions, film screenings, talks, quizzes and community programmes will be available for those interested. The programme offers both younger and older generations the opportunity to learn about or revisit the history of 1956, including the events that took place in Debrecen.
On 23 October, the Municipality of Debrecen will hold a commemoration and wreath-laying ceremonies to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence and the 37th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Hungary. The commemorative events will begin in Kossuth Square with the ceremonial raising of the National Flag with military honours, followed by the laying of a wreath at the memorial plaque on Kossuth Street commemorating the victims of the ÁVH gunfire. At the 1956 memorial in Egyetem Square, Mayor László Papp will deliver a commemorative speech.
Events in the programme:
September to October
The memory of 1956 in books – Mini exhibition and quiz
Venue: Méliusz Central Library (19/D Bem Square, 4026 Debrecen)
9 October
Semi-final of the “Aludj máskor” secondary school quiz. The focus is on the events in Debrecen in 1956.
Venue: Oláh Gábor Street Sports Hall (5 Oláh Gábor Street, 4032 Debrecen)
13 October
“HE IS THE LORD OF THE MORNING STAR” – Musical literary commemorative event inspired by the spirit of GYÖRGY FALUDY, Kossuth Prize-winning poet, writer and literary translator. Featuring: Márta Erdélyi, Sesztina Prize-winning poetry performer, and Judit Soós, singer and performing artist
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: Borsos Villa (1 Borsos József Square, 4027 Debrecen)
Music Hit Museum ’56
The Hit Museum recalls the singers, songs and melodies that were popular during the period of 1956.
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Venue: Józsa Community Centre (9 Szentgyörgyfalvi Street, 4225 Debrecen-Józsa)
14 October
Mirror Fragments – film discussion
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: Méliusz Central Library (19/D Bem Square, 4026 Debrecen)
15 October
Music Hit Museum – not just for older people
Popular Hungarian and international songs will evoke everyday life and the atmosphere of the 1950s.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Újkert Community Centre (17–19 Jerikó Street, 4032 Debrecen)
19 October
A selection of archive documentaries from the Józsa Film Archive
Time: 2:15 p.m.
Venue: Józsa Community Centre (9 Szentgyörgyfalvi Street, 4225 Debrecen-Józsa)
Report from a Revolution by Mario De Biasi – Hungary 1956
The exhibition features photographs taken by Mario De Biasi in Budapest between 28 and 30 October 1956, preserved in the CRAF archive in Spilimbergo.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Déri Museum (1 Déri Square, 4026 Debrecen)
“Is Freedom Such a Great Thing?” – Exhibition of 1956 documents and memorabilia
Time: 19 October – 2 November
Venue: Újkert Community Centre (17–19 Jerikó Street, 4032 Debrecen)
20 October
“Is Freedom Such a Great Thing?” – History quiz for primary school pupils
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Venue: POFOSZ headquarters (16 Iparkamara Street, 4024 Debrecen)
“56” – Opening of a documentary exhibition and commemorative programme
A talk by Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) László Oláh and a performance by the Debrecen Military Choir. From 2.30pm, an interactive quiz will be held for young people and adults.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Józsa Community Centre (9 Szentgyörgyfalvi Street, 4225 Debrecen-Józsa)
KÉP-HANG-TÉR Youth Workshop – ’56 commemoration with secondary school students
On the anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence, screenings of the documentary film series Mirror Fragments and Hungary 1956.
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Venue: Újkert Community Centre (17–19 Jerikó Street, 4032 Debrecen)
Exhibition of works by Árpád Bényi and Lajos Bíró at the Kiss-Nagy Contemporary Gallery
Welcome address by art historian György Sümegi
Featuring: conductor and cellist Tibor Bényi
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Kiss-Nagy Contemporary Gallery (22 Batthyány Street, 4024 Debrecen)
21–22–23 October
’56 Film Festival: thematic historical film week and retrospective screening series
The film screenings will be accompanied by moderated round-table discussions.
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: Apolló Cinema (1 Miklós Street, 4025 Debrecen)
22 October
The events of ’56 through the lens of documentaries
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Venue: Kismacs Community Centre (16 Napraforgó Street, 4002 Debrecen-Kismacs)
“1956, YOU STAR!” – Commemorative event, musical literary programme and exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence.
Welcome address by: Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) László Oláh, president of the Hajdú-Bihar County organisation of the Imre Nagy Society
Featuring: actor István Papp
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Venue: Borsos Villa (1 Borsos József Square, 4027 Debrecen)
Opening of the exhibition “Famous and Unknown Heroes of the 1956 Revolution”
Welcome address by: Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) László Oláh, president of the Hajdú-Bihar County organisation of the Imre Nagy Society
Featuring: MFG-Art Dance Workshop
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Venue: New City Hall Gallery (11 Kálvin Square, 4026 Debrecen)
Festive performance by the Hangfogó ensemble
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Venue: Csapókert Community Centre (3 Süveg Street, 4033 Debrecen)
23 October
Raising of the National Flag with military honours
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Venue: Kossuth Square
Commemoration and wreath-laying ceremony at the 1956 memorial in front of the University Church
Commemorative speech by: Mayor László Papp
Venue: 1 Egyetem Square
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Wreath-laying at the memorial plaque to the victims of the ÁVH gunfire
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Venue: 8 Kossuth Street
Ceremonial lowering of the National Flag
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Venue: Kossuth Square
Candle-lighting at the 1956 memorial on Kossuth Street
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: 10 Kossuth Street
Festive concert by the Kodály Philharmonic (tickets required)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Kölcsey Centre (1–3 Hunyadi J. Street)
Snowdrop – a joint production by VSS FILMS, the student filmmaking and drama group of the DSZC Mechwart András Technical School of Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology, and the Csokonai National Theatre
Writer-director: Roland Silye; starring Levente Szilágyi
Time: 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Csokonai Forum, Latinovits Hall (30 Csapó Street, 4024 Debrecen)
Csokonai Társalgó Extra – “What Does It Mean to Be Free? – Stories of ’56”
The memory of 1956 in Debrecen. Its events live on in our memories, in the stories that have been told and left unspoken, in lines of poetry, on the pages of diaries and in memories passed down through families.
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Csokonai Forum, Ottó Simor Orpheum (30 Csapó Street, 4024 Debrecen)
Time Stitching – parallel exhibition by Mariann Imre and Sára Richter
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Venue: MODEM Centre for Modern and Contemporary Arts (1 Baltazár Dezső Square, 4026 Debrecen)
24 October
Free to Dance! – techno rave with DJs from Lublin and Debrecen
Time: 10:00 p.m.
Venue: MODEM Centre for Modern and Contemporary Arts (1 Baltazár Dezső Square, 4026 Debrecen)
25 October
Exclusive panel discussion with the creators of the American historical drama Ashes to Iron
Based on real events, the film follows the harrowing survival story of a Hungarian-Jewish family from the Holocaust through to the 1956 Revolution.
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Apolló Cinema (1 Miklós Street, 4025 Debrecen)
27 October
“Hit Museum” – Hits and performers of the 1950s
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Venue: Borsos Villa (1 Borsos József Square, 4027 Debrecen)
Remembering ’56 – in community, with dignity
A commemoration with the Debrecen Senior Citizens’ Club marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Újkert Community Centre (17–19 Jerikó Street, 4032 Debrecen)
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
