Béla Tarr, one of the most influential figures in Hungarian and international cinema, has died at the age of 70 after a long illness. Renowned for films such as Sátántangó and Werckmeister Harmonies, his work reshaped modern film language.
A new film about a young, ambitious woman suddenly becoming the governor of a state just to be pushed out by the evil scheme of her husband, Ella McCay, grossed just $4.5 million in the box office against a $35 million budget. This prompted Disney to cancel its international premiere in France due to a lack of interest.
The US Embassy in Budapest has commemorated the 48th anniversary of the return of the Holy Crown of King St Stephen, calling the 1978 transfer an important milestone in American–Hungarian relations. The gesture highlighted a moment when diplomacy, history and symbolism intersected at the height of the Cold War.
More than 33 million pilgrims travelled to Rome during the Jubilee Holy Year, exceeding all expectations, as the Vatican prepares to close the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica, marking the end of a year dedicated to hope and renewal.
The song thrush has been named Hungary’s Bird of the Year for 2026 following an online public vote organized by the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society, highlighting the species’ beauty, ecology and conservation challenges.
Ferencváros striker Barnabás Varga, who has scored five goals in five games in Hungary’s FIFA World Cup qualification campaign and four goals in six games for his club in the UEFA Europa League this season, is set to sign with 13-time Greek champions and current league leaders AEK Athens. Media reports claim AEK will pay Ferencváros €4.5 million for his transfer.
Hungary is launching a new phase of its family-focused tax policy from 1 January, expanding tax allowances, widening income tax exemptions for mothers and raising several family-related benefits.
‘Though several borders separate the modern states of Hungary and Lithuania, Hungarian readers will find some common history…’
In February, Adrien Brody took home the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of a Hungarian architect, László Tóth, rebuilding his life in the United States after the Holocaust. However, audiences left cinemas yearning to know more about this great Hungarian American, only to be disappointed to discover that he does not exist…
‘The claim is as follows: conservatives are indeed stupid and lack intellectual curiosity, and the progressives, be they liberals or socialists…have the intellectual firepower on their side.’
Director General of the Center for Fundamental Rights Miklós Szánthó warned that Hungary’s Tisza Party is preparing austerity measures ‘Generation Z has only read about in history books,’ including tax hikes and privatization plans. He also argued that Europe is escalating the conflict in Ukraine while the rest of the world is seeking peace.
‘Progressive reformers often attack inherited institutions without understanding their purpose. They see a custom, find no use, and abolish it.’
The old year has just passed, so, in an effort to reflect on all that happened in the eventful year of 2025, here are the stories that you, our readers, have found the most compelling based on the amount of traffic they received. We hope you enjoy our compilation, and Happy New Year to everyone!
As Britain slides further into Labour-led authoritarianism, free speech is rapidly fading away—unless protestors are shouting about Palestine.
‘Winter hiking is in a category of its own. Not only because mountain lovers should only embark on it if they are well prepared, but also because—especially in snowy periods—we enter an almost mystical wonderland.’
‘From 1974 to the late 1980s, Hungary’s state security closely monitored the Turkish embassy at 45 Úri Street in the Buda Castle, keeping tabs on diplomats, their residences, and even personal correspondence. Newly examined documents reveal how counterintelligence observed NATO diplomats, highlighting both the meticulous methods of the secret services and the routine nature of embassy life.’
‘It isn’t easy to find proper intellectual work here. We talked with the Hungarian ambassador about work possibilities, and it came up that there were more and more Hungarian children in Tokyo, so perhaps I could try founding a Hungarian weekend school—there might be interest.’
Author Adam LeBor gives the Hungarian Conservative his list of must-read thrillers for this holiday season.
For generations, Christmas was not only a time of celebration but also of prediction. Folk traditions held that the weather during the holiday period revealed clues about the coming year’s harvest, summer conditions and overall prosperity.
‘The drinking of wine for social reasons is undeniably a trait of Jesus Christ Himself, as evident when at the Wedding at Cana…’
In his first Christmas address, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope that the parties in the Russo–Ukrainian war would ‘find the courage’ to start engaging in direct and sincere peace negotiations; and reminded all that while peace comes from the Lord, everyone should take on their own share of responsibility in creating it.
‘The comical mercy the victorious mice show the cats makes Cat City the perfect watch with children this Christmas.’
‘On Christmas day in 1944 Hungary, illusion and reality collided. The promise of “liberation” or “redemption” was drowned out by violence, coercion, and fear on all sides. What survives of that Christmas are the testimonies, the fragmentary voices that reveal how ordinary lives were crushed between two brutal systems at the very moment meant for peace.’
The December issue of the National Film Institute’s series has been published, presenting the most important events captured on film in December 1925, including the record amount of snow that fell on Budapest a hundred years ago.
Jesus is the Christ in the flesh, the Son of God who became the saviour of mankind. This is what the Holy Scriptures say about him, and they also affirm that through Mary he became a blood descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Judah and the line of King David. Thus, as an ethnically Jewish man, he fulfilled the Law and died for our sins.
Since Hungary is a landlocked nation in the heart of Europe, some of these Christmas traditions might be found in other countries.
It has become a tradition to hold an outdoor exhibition at Várkert Bazaar during Advent, which is in some way connected to the festive season. This year, a poster exhibition, evoking the atmosphere of winter celebrations in the communist era of the 1970s and 1980s, has been on display in Várkert Bazaar under the title The World of Retro Winters.
While shooting scenes for his new film, Alone at Dawn, in Budapest, Hungary, Oscar-nominated actor Adam Driver visited a concert at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in his spare time. While this took place in November, the Academy did not share it until a few days ago.
Once symbols of festive calm and Christian heritage, Western Europe’s Christmas markets have increasingly become targets of Islamist terror since the early 2000s. From Strasbourg to Berlin and Magdeburg, repeated attacks and foiled plots have reshaped how Europe celebrates Christmas—forcing heavy security, cancellations and a growing sense of fear.
‘Christmas markets were more than commercial centres; they granted place for charitable acts, such as donations for nurseries and children’s shelters.’