In Hungary, students take a so-called ‘érettségi’ (maturity) exam at the end of their high school education, which serves as both their SAT and GED in the American context. These exams take place in early May every year—students are taking their exams as we are writing this article.
On Transport Culture Day this Sunday, BKV and the Hungarian Transport Association invite visitors to the Szentendre Urban Public Transport Museum for a free event featuring simulators, rare vehicles, and educational programmes highlighting safe and sustainable mobility.
‘As Alasdair MacIntyre warned in After Virtue (1981), when moral language collapses, only emotion remains. Uncomfortable Truths is a call to restore clarity and courage. Travis Brown’s film reminds us that resisting falsehood begins not with outrage, but with the quiet strength to speak truth when it is most unwelcome.’
Visit Hungary has shared that the 5 millionth foreign tourist of the year arrived in Hungary on 6 May, which is the earliest date to cross that milestone on record. Overall, there has been a 6 per cent increase in the number of foreign tourists year-on-year.
Hungarian schools must now display information about the NMHH’s Internet Hotline, helping students and families report harmful online content. The initiative aims to expand awareness of the service through posters and digital resources in institutions.
Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday night, signalling that the first round of voting in the papal conclave failed to elect a new leader for the Catholic Church. Thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square to witness the outcome.
From 22–24 May, the 9th Night of Artefacts Festival will offer over 100 programmes at 70 locations in Budapest, giving visitors rare access to restoration labs, artist studios, and science-themed exhibitions blending art with innovation.
‘Talentum Hungaricum is not merely a talent programme, but a cultural mission: its goal is to present and preserve Hungarian musical and dance traditions, while also making them attractive to younger generations and international audiences in a modern form.’
Former President János Áder emphasized the importance of showing not only environmental problems but also solutions, as the 10th Planet Lens International Nature Photo and Film Festival prepares to showcase global perspectives on biodiversity and ecological change.
‘From India to Tunisia, Madagascar to Sri Lanka, young scholars are engaging with Hungarian institutions to address global challenges. Hungary’s higher education and research communities are increasingly international—a quiet but real testament to the enduring value of Hungarian academic and cultural diplomacy.’
‘Kornis’s approach to education reform reflected his belief that the state had a moral obligation to cultivate civic virtues and a sense of community among its citizens. His influence extended to the establishment of rural schools, which sought to bridge the educational divide between urban and rural Hungary, thereby strengthening national cohesion.’
‘The Fundamental Law of 2011 defines 2 May 1990 as the reinstatement of the sovereign status of Hungary, which was broken by the German occupation on 19 March 1944 and continued by the Soviets when they soon invaded and, in turn, Sovietized the country.’
‘Having chosen to both forgo the traditional papal attire of his predecessors and to take up residence at the Casa Santa Marta—the five star hotel within the Vatican City walls—instead of the papal palace, Francis presented himself as a populist pope—or, as he was characterized after he died, the “people’s pope”—, vowing to drain the swamp of corruption in the Holy See and revolutionize the Church.’
1 May, known as International Workers’ Day, is recognized worldwide—but its roots reach far beyond modern labour movements. From ancient fertility rituals to mass protests for workers’ rights, the date carries a layered, often contradictory legacy.
‘In Hungary, unique master narratives have emerged over the centuries that live with us to this day. We can run into them everywhere in the most diverse segments of life: in culture, in education, even in politics. What exactly does the term master narrative mean and why is it so crucial to our lives and identities? What are the defining Hungarian master narratives?’
American conservative author Rod Dreher joined the Danube Institute’s new podcast, where he shared personal insights into his long-standing friendship with JD Vance and discussed the recently premiered documentary based on his 2020 book Live Not by Lies.
A new website launched for the Buda Castle District offers visitors an interactive and user-friendly way to explore the historic area, complete with cultural programs, maps, ticketing options, and personalized recommendations in both Hungarian and English.
Players, coaches, agents, sporting directors, scouts, and many more from the world of football gathered to share their respective expertise and exchange ideas about the game at the third annual Football Forum Hungary, held at the Gruopama Arena, home of reigning Hungarian champions Ferencváros, in Budapest. The Hungarian capital will also be hosting the UEFA Champions League Final next year.
Hungarian teens under 18 will no longer be able to buy energy drinks starting this summer, as Parliament has unanimously passed a law aimed at curbing excessive consumption and protecting youth health, with the ban taking effect 30 days after publication.
Tibor Kapu, Hungary’s researcher-astronaut, will launch to the International Space Station on 29 May as part of Axiom Mission 4. He will carry out 25 Hungarian experiments, marking a historic return of the Hungarian flag to space after decades.
‘As the speakers warned, cultural memory, constitutional identity and sovereignty will only endure if deliberately defended. Memory without action is amnesia by another name.’
Two Siberian tiger cubs were born at the Budapest Zoo on 13 April, the first such birth in nearly 12 years. While the cubs remain out of public view for now, the zoo will share regular updates until visitors can meet them in person in a few weeks.
Emirates and Visit Hungary have launched a joint campaign to promote Hungary as a travel destination, focusing on the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The initiative aims to boost tourism through coordinated marketing and expanded flight connections.
‘We persist in fighting for life wherever opportunities arise. Likewise, we should applaud the conservative government of Hungary for its efforts rather than criticize them. It holds a proven record on life through pronatalist incentives, not just anti-abortion restrictions. In a West fading to demographic dusk, Hungary stands as a partner and a beacon worth defending.’
Canadian rock band Three Days Grace will launch their European tour in Budapest on November 14. The concert at Papp László Sport arena will feature the band’s biggest hits alongside new tracks, kicking off a 21-stop tour across Europe.
Budapest has opened WEMOVE, the city’s first integrated mobility exhibition and training centre, offering visitors a hands-on experience with the future of urban transport, from electric vehicles to micromobility solutions.
With their 5–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool FC are now officially the champions of the 2024–2025 English Premier League season. Dominik Szoboszlai contributed two assists to the victory, and he is now the first Hungarian player to win the Premier League.
‘It’s equally important to recognize…that at the local level…Arrow Cross members participated in internments, entered ghettos to loot and torture Jews. The author also outlines new directions for both research and remembrance by pointing out that the Jewish victims who had converted to Christianity (the “converts”) are rarely remembered, even though they, too, were often deported and killed.’
‘Zsolnay was special because, in addition to its aristocratic and wealthy foreign customers, it always thought of the ordinary person, too. In the last century, there was hardly a household without at least one Zsolnay white bowl or a milk jug, wine bucket, or baking mould from the distinctive pink collection. Here, high quality was matched by an amazing quantity.’
‘We are moving towards the so-called “Hothouse Earth” at an extraordinary pace. There is only one explanation for this: the operation of global industrial civilization has thrown the Earth’s climate systems out of balance. In short, it is not that we are facing processes and consequences the likes of which the Earth has never seen, but that weather events are becoming more extreme…with potentially very serious consequences for our daily lives.’