Debrecen4U January 16, 2026

Hungarian Culture Day in Debrecen – 2026

On the occasion of the 203rd anniversary of the birth of Himnusz, Hungary’s national anthem, Debrecen is celebrating Hungarian Culture Day with a week-long series of programs.

Details of the upcoming events were outlined at a press conference held at the Déri Museum on January 14, 2026, by Deputy Mayor István Puskás and János Angi, Director of the Déri Museum.

Deputy Mayor István Puskás highlighted that, in line with tradition, Hungarian Culture Day marks the beginning of Debrecen’s new cultural year. The rich programme associated with January 22 once again reflects the vibrancy and diversity of the city’s cultural life. As he noted, residents will not only be welcomed with a wide array of events on Hungarian Culture Day itself, but throughout an entire week of celebrations.

He added that the festivities will culminate in a gala at the Csokonai National Theatre, where audiences can enjoy the stage adaptation of Sándor Petőfi’s János vitéz. The production will premiere earlier that week, on Friday, giving theatre‑goers an early opportunity to experience the work. It was also announced that, as in previous years, the Debrecen Culture Foundation will present its scholarships on January 22, while the Ilona Várhalmi Prize will be awarded for the second time on January 21, the eve of Hungarian Culture Day.

Museum Director János Angi spoke about Ferenc Kölcsey’s many ties to Debrecen, noting that last autumn the poet’s collateral descendants donated three pipes to the museum that had belonged to Kölcsey himself. He emphasized that it is exceptionally rare for an artifact to possess not only literary and cultural significance but also notable aesthetic value.

He also announced that the Déri Museum will curate and open its third exhibition at Hungarian Cultural Institutes abroad, each based on the Antal–Lusztig Collection. The exhibition The Eight and the Activists, opening in Stuttgart, will showcase 22 works by influential Hungarian artists such as Béla Czóbel and Lajos Kassák. He added that, on a national scale, the exhibition expected to draw the greatest public interest will be Attila, opening at the Hungarian National Museum, which partly focuses on memory politics. The Déri Museum will contribute numerous archaeological artifacts to this major exhibition.

Programs Related to Hungarian Culture Day:

January 17 (Saturday)

“Let the pipe burn quietly for me, with blue smoke…” – The pipes of Ferenc Kölcsey at the Déri Museum on the occasion of the Day of Hungarian Culture

Venue: Déri Museum, Dome (1 Déri Square)

The mini-exhibition can be visited from January 17 to 25.

January 18 (Sunday) – 5 p.m.

“Tribute to the Guardians of Hungarian Culture” – 10-year anniversary concert by Heit Lóri and His Band

Venue: Kölcsey Center (1–3 Hunyadi János Street)

January 19 (Monday)

BooKalauz: Book exhibition and puzzles on the occasion of the Day of Hungarian Culture
(January 19–23); Venue: Méliusz Józsai Library (Debrecen-Józsa, 9 Szentgyörgyfalvi Road)

“The Many-Faced Jókai” exhibition (until January 31); Venue: Méliusz Petőfi Memorial Library (13 Víztorony Street)

Further related programs at the Petőfi Memorial Library:

January 20 (Tuesday) – 4:30 p.m.
Jókai on the silver screen – screening of the film The Two Willow Trees of Nagyenyed.
(Film length: 80 minutes)

January 21 (Wednesday) – 4:30 p.m.
Jókai on the silver screen – screening of the film The Yellow Rose.
(Film length: 77 minutes)

January 22 (Thursday)
Jókai through children’s eyes – interactive session for lower primary school classes, making a quill pen from paper.

Registration required in advance.
Phone: 52/413-471, Email: petofi@meliusz.hu

January 20 (Tuesday)

10:00 a.m.

“The Homeland Above All” – Homeland and national consciousness in the poems of Hungarian poets. A musical literary program by Erdélyi Márta, recipient of the Sesztina Jenő Prize for recitation Contributors: Margit Gyarmatiné Kiss, retired librarian-teacher, and Blanka Tornyi, singer of the Debrecen Kodály Choir

Venue: Borsos Villa Community House (1 Borsos József Square)

****

2:00 p.m.

Puzzling Heritage: Quiz for retirees on the occasion of Hungarian Culture Day

Venue: Méliusz Józsai Library (Debrecen-Józsa, 9 Szentgyörgyfalvi Road)

January 21 (Wednesday)

1:30 p.m

With a Pure Heart – Hungarian Culture Day in the spirit of Attila József. Contributor: poet and performer István B. Orosz

Venue: Nagymacs Community House (Debrecen-Nagymacs, 39 Kastélykert Street)

****

1:30 p.m.

THE SPIRIT OF FAZEKAS – Book presentation with the participation of students from Fazekas Mihály Grammar School. The interactive book presentation will be held by the author, Attila Győző Fazekas, Hungarian literature teacher at Fazekas Mihály Grammar School.

Venue: Karakter 1517 Bookshop and Café

****

2:00 p.m

Puzzling Heritage: Quiz for retirees on the occasion of Hungarian Culture Day

Venue: Méliusz Józsai Library (Debrecen-Józsa, 9 Szentgyörgyfalvi Road)

****

3:00 p.m.

Downtown walk presenting memorial sites of Mihály Fazekas, born 260 years ago, guided Nóra Erdei. The walk is free of charge but requires registration: exploredebrecen@gmail.com

Starting point: County Hall, 54 Piac Street

****

4:00 p.m.

Day of Hungarian Culture family afternoon – Quiz games, Hungarian folk tales, handicrafts.

Venue: Méliusz Csapókert Library (3 Süveg Street)

****

5:00 p.m.

“REALITY” – Exhibition of the Jenő Maticska Creative and Fine Arts Circle – Greeting by: Csaba Kiss, head of the Jenő Maticska Creative and Fine Arts Circle. Exhibition opened by: poet Kálmán Kerékgyártó

Venue: Borsos Villa Community House (1 Borsos József Square)

January 22 (Thursday)

Admission is free at all exhibition venues.

10:00 a.m.

Wreath-laying ceremony at the relief of Ferenc Kölcsey at the Debrecen Reformed Theological University
(Debrecen Reformed College, 16 Kálvin Square). Speech by: Vice-Rector Dr. Ferenc Vitéz

****

10:00 a.m.

Opening of the fairy-tale and puppet exhibition by Rebeka Kolozsvári–Dankó; Contributor: storyteller Anikó Rácz; Connecting generations – a joyful circle game shared by the Debrecen Seniors’ Club and children from the Görgey Street Kindergarten

Venue: Újkert Community House (17 Jerikó Street)

*****

10:30 a.m.

Wreath-laying at the statue of Ferenc Kölcsey (Péterfia Street); Speech will be given by Deputy Mayor István Puskás

10:30 a.m.

Born Hungarian – The Legacy of the Hymn – An unconventional literature class with a quiz for secondary school students

Venue: Méliusz Újkert Library (17–19 Jerikó Street)

****

2:00 p.m.

Hungarian inventors – popular science lecture

Venue: Agóra Science Experience Center (Debrecen, 1 Egyetem Square, entrance from Móricz Zsigmond Road)

****

3:00 .m

Next-Day Fresco – jubilee reading in honor of Géza Aczél

Venue: Benedek Elek Branch Library (Debrecen, 68 Piac Street)

****

5:00 p.m.

Award ceremony of the Debrecen Culture Foundation

Venue: Déri Museum, Munkácsy Hall (1 Déri Square)

****

5:00 p.m.

Curator assistant Edward Kovács’s guided tour of the exhibition Bodies and Memories

MODEM (1–3 Hunyadi Street)

*****

5:00 p.m.

In the Footsteps of Our Values – Csapókert cultural walk

Venue: Csapókert Community House (3 Süveg Street)

****

5:30–6:30 p.m. | 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Opening of the light installation exhibition “Rhythmic Layers”, and performance by Ferenc Uzonyi and Tibor Nagy

Venue: Méliusz Central Library, Music Collection (19 Bem Square)

*****

7:00 p.m.

Festive performance of Pongrác Kacsóh’s musical play János vitéz

Venue: Csokonai Theatre (10 Kossuth Street)

Additional Programs:

Commemoration of Hungarian Culture Day – Participants: Kismacs Retirees’ Club and invited retirees’ groups

Venue: DEMKI Kismacs Community House (Debrecen-Kismacs, 16 Napraforgó Street)

****

The Three Faces of Hungarian Culture

Library program for lower primary school classes.

Venue: Méliusz Central Library, Children’s Library (19 Bem Square)

*****

Poetry and illustration exhibition, book presentation, Sziget-kék radio, and creative corner
(until January 25)

From 10:00 a.m.: interactive, creative activities for kindergarten groups

Venue: Sziget-kék Playground (19 Nagyerdei Boulevard)

*****

Mini-exhibition on the occasion of the 145th birthday of sculptor Ferenc Medgyessy

Venue: Méliusz Tócóskert Library (11 István Road)

January 23 (Friday)

2:00 p.m.

The Growing Treasures of Our Art – Exhibition of the Cívis Folk Art Heritage Association on the occasion of Hungarian Culture Day

Greeting by: János D. Halász, Managing Director of DEMKI
Exhibition opened by: Dr. Márta Magyari, ethnographer and museologist

Performers: dancers of the Ferenc Medgyessy Grammar School, Secondary School of Arts and Technical School

The exhibition can be visited until February 11, 2026, during the opening hours of the community house.

Venue: Homokkert Community House (68 Szabó Kálmán Street)

*****

5:00 p.m.

“Sounds in the Silence…” – musical-dance literary performance and exhibition opening

Venue: Youth House – Gallery 21’ (21 Simonffy Street)

January 24 (Saturday)

1:00 p.m.

Carnival of Crafts

Contributor: Bihari Folk Art Association

Venue: House of Crafts (6 Nagy-Gál István Street)

January 26 (Monday)

5:00 p.m

Mihály Endes memorial exhibition

Venue: Exhibition hall of Józsa Community House (Debrecen-Józsa, 9 Szentgyörgyfalvi Street)

January 27 (Tuesday)

5:00 p.m

Our National Prayer in the World – festive program on the occasion of Hungarian Culture Day

Contributors: Tojama Association and the Debrecen Drama Studio
(Recommended from age 14)

Venue: Méliusz Újkert Library (17–19 Jerikó Street)

*****

5:00 p.m

“Happy Vaults”

The value and protection of brick-vaulted rooms in Cívis houses.

Illustrated lecture by local history researcher Attila Harangi, based on examples of the Várady Szabó, Boross Tóby, and Nánássy houses. Reminiscence by Lajos Lakner, Deputy Scientific Director of the Déri Museum, titled “When Imre Bán Wept”. Program of the Déri Museum, the Friends of the Déri Museum, and the Debrecen Association for City Protection and Beautification on the occasion of the Day of Hungarian Culture.

Venue: Déri Museum, Ceremonial Hall (1 Déri Square)

January 29 (Thursday)

10:00 a.m

MIHÁLY FAZEKAS, THE BOTANIST – interactive session led by Zoltán Váradi, Director of Zoo Debrecen

Venue: Karakter 1517 Bookshop and Café (behind the Great Church)

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu