The Sziget Festival closed early Tuesday morning with 416,000 visitors over six days, marking a 5 per cent rise from last year. According to chief organizer Tamás Kádár, the growth reflects the success of renewal efforts, a strong lineup, and a resurgence of interest in festivals across Europe.
He noted that this was the first time in years that attendance had increased, reversing a gradual decline. The festival’s redesign included the introduction of themed ‘quarters’ such as Szoho, a multicultural hub for music, street culture, and creativity; Delta District, showcasing every genre of electronic music; and Paradox, dedicated to the performing arts with an emphasis on movement, visual spectacle, and illusion. Kádár emphasized that the aim was not simply to group genres together, but to give festivalgoers experiences beyond concerts, and that these new areas performed well.
Despite the larger audience, the festival still did not turn a profit this year, though financial results improved. Kádár said the event is emerging from the difficult period that lasted until the end of 2022. The main stage featured global stars including Charli XCX, Shawn Mendes, FKA Twigs, Anyma, Rilés, Post Malone, and Chappel Roan, with nearly full capacity on multiple days. The audience was slightly younger than last year, which Kádár welcomed as a positive sign for the festival’s future.
Two Hungarian acts took the main stage in 2025: Pogány Induló with Parno Graszt, and Deva with Napfonat. While Sziget once had a stage exclusively for Hungarian performers, this year local artists appeared on every platform, creating what Kádár described as a ‘good mix’ for attendees.
The organizer praised the peaceful atmosphere, noting that there was no visible tension at the festival despite some pre-event criticism. He also addressed future developments, including a large-scale project to create a cultural centre on the southern part of Óbudai Island. The plan, coordinated with the festival’s team, could see this area integrated into Sziget as early as next year.
Kádár also stressed the importance of repairing the long-neglected K-Bridge, which serves as a main access point to the festival. Responsibility for the bridge lies with the Budapest municipality, which he said is preparing a renovation plan, though funding remains uncertain.
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