Due to overwhelming interest, the University of Debrecen’s Alumni Picnic returns on 19 September 2026, once again bringing University Square to life.

Prepare for a day when you can reconnect with former classmates and colleagues, and immerse yourself once more in the unique atmosphere of university life.

Attendance is free of charge but registration in advance online is required.

PROGRAMME

The event will take place alongside Zamat Festival, which can also be visited with a Zamatos Alumni Picnic wristband on 19 September.

Admission
All participants will receive a Zamatos Alumni Picnic wristband upon admission. Wristbands can be collected between 11.00 and 17.00 at the Registration Point by the Pallagi Road entrance to the Great Forest Water Tower.

KOR Room
Health comes first! The KOR Room, designed for all age groups, welcomes visitors with free health screenings and consultations.

Alumni Gallery Photo Exhibition
Photographs of former university students and/or staff members will be exhibited in the Gallery of the Great Forest Water Tower.

MaDE by Alumni Expo
An exhibition and sale of handicraft products made by former university students and/or staff members in the garden of the Great Forest Water Tower.

Amusement Park at the Northern Event Area of the Great Forest Stadium
Entertaining activities for young and old alike: bouncy castle, skill games, balloon clown and much, much more.

UniPass Alumni Card Application
Apply for your UniPass Alumni Card at the Zamatos Alumni Picnic venue and continue to enjoy, or regain access to, the discounts you were used to as a student or member of staff.

The UniPass Alumni Card is not only a symbol of the DE Alumni Community, but can also be the key to numerous opportunities. Find out about the application requirements and available discounts at the Zamatos Alumni Picnic Registration Cabin.

Bonfire
From 20.30, members of the UD Alumni Community are invited to join us for a communal bonfire.

STREET OF FACULTIES

Faculties will await visitors with exciting demonstrations and activities: making ointments, plant tissue cultures, a sugar rainbow, old photographs and many more surprises. Meet members of the teaching staff, try out the age simulator, learn about the self-driving car project and discover the latest developments in data security. Science, games and experiences all in one place – for all age groups!

Faculty of Law

Discover the past and present of the Faculty of Law through a fun faculty-history quiz, explore degree programmes, browse faculty publications and have an informal chat with lecturers!

The jubilee academic year event begins at 13.00 at the Kassai Road Campus, where alumni will be welcomed with a year-group reunion, picnic, barbecue, old photographs and shared memories. There will also be free access from the event to the central venue.

A joint faculty event will follow in the evening at Lovarda, while alumni looking for more informal entertainment can enjoy the Zamatos Alumni Picnic.

Faculty of Humanities

A little game, a little brain-teasing, a little nostalgia – and, of course, lots and lots of Humanities!

This year, too, the Faculty of Humanities cabin in the Street of Faculties will welcome former students, their family members and all curious picnickers with colourful, playful activities.

Faculty of Health Sciences

Put yourself to the test with hand-hygiene exercises and discover through fun activities how pathogens and the routes of epidemic transmission can be identified using bioinformatics methods!

Solve the nutrition quiz and crossword, learn the basics of first aid, and let’s talk openly about modern contraception.

On stage, the “Conscious Women’s Health” talk will also highlight the importance of regular screening examinations.

Faculty of Dentistry

At the Faculty of Dentistry stand, children and adults alike can put their manual dexterity, logic and dental knowledge to the test!

Fill a giant plaster tooth with colourful “fillings”, complete a dental puzzle, test yourself with Smile Memory, sort healthy and unhealthy foods, or find out: myth or reality?

The braver visitors can also identify diagnoses, try Dental Activity, and work out in the Tick-Tock game when and where to seek help for different dental complaints.

Faculty of Education for Children and Special Needs Education

Visit the stand of the Faculty of Education for Children and Special Needs Education and let’s recall the good old days together!

An “exhibition” of old photographs – can you recognise when they were taken?

Faculty quiz – test how well you know the faculty!

Promotional gifts – a little memento from us to you.

Informal conversation and reminiscing – meet faculty colleagues and share memories together!

Come, have a look around, play, remember and chat with us!

Faculty of Pharmacy

The Faculty of Pharmacy is also joining the Zamatos Alumni Picnic! A favourite from previous years, ointment-making, is back again this year: make your own ointment and put your nose to the test in an exciting essential-oil identification game!

Faculty of Informatics

Try Ki nevet a végén? (“Ludo”) the way an IT specialist would play it, test your knowledge of the world of cybersecurity and see how an AI-powered robotic car thinks!

Playful challenges, spectacular technologies and real experiences await you at the Faculty of Informatics stand – here, you can not only learn about IT, but try it out for yourself!

Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management

Find your own graduation board in digital form, take a virtual tour of the Böszörményi út Campus using aerial and 3D footage, and immerse yourself in memories of the old agricultural faculty!

Jubilee books, old textbooks, faculty publications, traditional “sárgulás” jugs, period photographs and memorabilia will evoke the past – with a special focus this year on the tradition of “sárgulás.”

Alongside nostalgia, the present and future will also have a place: discover the faculty’s range of degree programmes and learn about its educational, scientific and service activities!

Faculty of Engineering

Put yourself to the test in the Sustainability Game and find out which everyday decisions can make the biggest difference for the environment!

Meanwhile, take a peek behind the scenes of industrial automation at the Siemens teaching station: flashing LEDs, moving elements and a spectacular conveyor-belt model will show you how it all works – on a small scale, but in a truly spectacular way!

Faculty of Science and Technology

Find the Faculty of Science and Technology stand in the Street of Faculties, where physics and chemistry are transformed into spectacular experiences!

Physics: make a huge, shimmering giant bubble and discover the fascinating world of bubbles!

Chemistry: make a sugar rainbow, uncover the secrets behind the colours of felt-tip pens, colour, build models and step into the shoes of a real chemist!

Faculty of Music

With the participation of Zoltán Bolyky, members of the Symphony Orchestra and Tímea Kinga Gönczi, the Faculty of Music will welcome families with children by the stage of the Great Forest Water Tower with a magical interactive performance featuring animal sounds. Instrumental animal sounds, a story, creative activities and group games will transport children into the enchanting world of music.

It will also be worth stopping by the ZK cabin in the Street of Faculties, where an instrumental memory game, puzzles and faculty gifts await visitors. In the afternoon, a saxophone flash mob will liven up the event, and anyone can join in!

Depending on interest, the programme will also be enriched by a classical music concert and a special, picnic-style alumni gathering of musicians, where shared music-making, singing and old stories will bring back cherished memories.

STAGE PROGRAMME at the Water Tower

From 14.00 – Peter and the Wolf – A special adaptation of the story incorporating elements of drama education, featuring Zoltán Bolyky, members of the Symphony Orchestra and Tímea Kinga Gönczi, designed to engage families with children and enrich them with memorable experiences. During the interactive “animal-sound story” performance, the symphony orchestra playfully involves children in the shared experience: through instrumental animal sounds, a short story and creative activities, children can become active participants in the story.

From 16.00 – Apacuka Children’s Band – Apacuka is one of Hungary’s best-known and most popular children’s bands, entertaining families for many years. Their songs are playful, catchy and easy to sing along to, so children can join in from the very first chorus.

At their concerts, the audience does not merely listen to the music: clapping, dancing, movement and lots of laughter complete the experience.

The band’s aim is to foster a love of music from a very young age, while offering valuable, cheerful and creative content. Their repertoire includes both original songs and well-known children’s songs, presented with modern arrangements and energetic performances. An Apacuka concert is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face – a truly shared experience where the whole family can sing and dance together.

17.00 Dumaszínház – comedian Ádám Török will perform.

19.00 Budapest Bár concert – Vera Tóth, Misi Mező, Krisztián Szűcs, Dóri Behumi and András Keleti will provide a fantastic atmosphere.

ZAMAT EVENT TENT

19.30 – Kale Lulugyi – The band consists of Roma musicians from Oroszlány, for whom a love of music and learning music are traditions passed down through generations. “We don’t play from sheet music; we learned to play and sing by relying on our hearing,” they write about themselves. This tradition is also reflected in the band, where two generations perform together: father and son (Csaba Molnár and Csaba Molnár Jr). Their music is based primarily on Roma and Hungarian folk songs, but they also perform covers of songs by other artists. Their style fundamentally follows an authentic approach, while they are also happy to collaborate with other ensembles in any genre. They already have a number of original compositions and are continuously working on new songs. The language of the lyrics often varies.

21.00 – Hangfogó Band – The band was formed in autumn 1985 by Péter Mohos (guitar, vocals), Tamás Figeczky (bass guitar), Péter Velkey (violin) and Vanda Hidasi (vocals, guitar), who had left Folk 81. They initially played country music, but the nostalgia for 1960s music that revived in the mid-1980s led Hangfogó towards a big-band sound.

21.30 – Halott Pénz – Halott Pénz is a multiple Fonogram Award-winning Hungarian popular music group performing songs based on hip-hop foundations with a mixed acoustic style. It was formed in 2004, originally as a solo project by Dávid Marsalkó, and became a seven-member, predominantly acoustic band in 2013, characterised by a blend of several genres. Given their nationwide popularity and large fan base, a great atmosphere is guaranteed.

23.00 – Nótár Mary – “I am Nótár Mary. Music has been part of my life since I was very young, so when I came to the attention of the wider public in 2002, the stage was already familiar territory to me, and I confidently embarked on my journey into the Hungarian music scene. I am proud that people know and sing along to my own compositions. My only goal in life is to make my dreams come true – to live happily and do what I love,” writes one of Hungary’s best-known performers of Hungarian nóta music.

UDShop – University Gift Shop

University of Debrecen-branded clothing, accessories and gifts all in one place – get your favourites at SPECIAL PRICES, now and only at the Zamatos Alumni Picnic!

UniFOOD

The university’s own food brand will welcome visitors to the event in the garden of the Great Forest Water Tower with delicious and healthy products, including cheeses, biscuits, flour mixes, sausages, porridge, granola and more.

Source: unideb.alumni.hu | Photo credit: Facebook (Debrecen városa)