Hungary’s annual Night of Museums returns on 21 June, promising a magical evening for hundreds of thousands of visitors across the Carpathian Basin. In 2023, more than 330,000 people took part, and organizers are hopeful this year will attract even more.
At a press event in Gödöllő, Minister of Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó called the event a ‘wonder’ and emphasized its role in uniting generations through shared cultural experiences. He noted that families, children, and young people are among the most active participants, all discovering the heritage that binds the Hungarian nation together.
This year’s event ties into the Jókai 200 commemorative year, marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hungarian writer Mór Jókai. Exhibitions and programmes will explore not just his literary work, but also the broader culture of his era—including music, theatre, fashion, and even cuisine.
The minister recalled that Queen Elisabeth of Hungary was an avid reader of Jókai and likely kept several of his books at Gödöllő Royal Palace. Hankó encouraged the public to attend in numbers matching or exceeding the palace’s 2023 visitor count of over 356,000.
As in previous years, the event will feature a highlight city—this time, Miskolc, whose cultural life will be showcased throughout the evening. Actress Gabi Gubás will serve as the event’s official ambassador.
Programming begins early in the afternoon, extending late into the night, with concerts, film screenings, interactive exhibits, guided tours, workshops, and family activities. Among the highlights: botany walks inspired by Jókai’s passion for gardening, culinary explorations of the classic Jókai bean soup, and lessons in his favourite card game, tarokk.
The Jókai 200 initiative is also providing an additional 10 million forints in funding to support these themed events.
In total, 470 public collections are taking part this year, offering around 2,700 programmes—ensuring that the 2025 edition of the Night of Museums will be as vibrant and unforgettable as ever.
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