Grape harvest festival in Badacsony: program for September 11-13, 2026
Every year in the second half of September, Badacsony on the north shore of Lake Balaton lives and breathes the grape harvest. In 2026, the festival runs from September 11 to 13 and marks its 62nd season (We Love Balaton). Three days at the foot of the basalt hills: local wine tastings, a grape growers' parade, a children's program, and evening concerts.
Mid-September gives Lake Balaton its best travel weather. The heat has eased, the water is still warm, and the vineyards are entering their busiest season. If you're heading there on these dates, your evenings are already booked.
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What the Badacsony grape harvest is
💡 In short:
- The main venue is Badacsony Park by the lake.
- The program includes tastings from local winemakers, a grape growers' parade, and evening concerts.
- Check exact times on the event page (as of 09/2026, We Love Balaton).
Badacsony is known not for a single festival but for an entire wine region on the north shore. The volcanic soil here grows varieties you'll hardly find outside Hungary. The grape harvest festival (szüret) has been celebrated here for over half a century (Csodálatos Balaton). For local winemakers, it's the finale of the working season in the vineyard. For you, it's a reason to try young wine right next to the vine.
Festival program
The three festival days follow the same rhythm. During the day, tastings and family areas are open; in the evening, the music starts. Exact times change every year, so check the program page so you don't miss the concerts.
Day | Main daytime events | Evening |
|---|---|---|
Friday, September 11 | Opening and tastings in winery courtyards | Acoustic concerts by the lake |
Saturday, September 12 | Grape growers' parade and the big tasting day | Concerts and festivities until late |
Sunday, September 13 | Family program and gala tasting | Closing concert by Peter Šrámek |
The highlight falls on Saturday. The festival's central event is the traditional grape growers' procession (szüreti menet): stilt walkers (gólyalábasok), riders, a brass band, folk dancers, and flag bearers march through the streets. In past years, the parade set out from Badacsonytomaj along main road 71 toward the lake. Check the route and start time on site so you don't miss it.
Which wines to try
The Badacsony wine region rests on three varieties it considers its own. Szürkebarát (the local name for Pinot Gris) produces a rounded wine with notes of pear and honey. Kéknyelű only reveals itself after years of aging. Olaszrizling delivers freshness and minerality. At the 2026 tastings, Laposa Borbirtok, the region's large family estate, will show its wines alongside Borbély Családi Pince and Sipos Borház (tasting announcement).
© Thomas Jüngling · CC BY-SAPhoto: Thomas Jüngling, CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), Wikimedia CommonsWine here is sold by the glass, not in sets for the whole group. That way you can calmly try several options and figure out what suits your taste. Buy this season's young wine directly from the winemakers: at the estate shop, the price is lower than at a lakeside restaurant.
What to see in the region
The festival is a good reason to stay an extra day. Above the town rises Badacsony Hill, covered in vineyards, and at its summit stands the Kisfaludy kilátó lookout. On a clear day, you can see almost the entire lake and the volcanic cones of the north shore. The path up winds through the vineyards, and you get the best view of Lake Balaton in the region.
© BáthoryPéter · CC BY-SAPhoto: BáthoryPéter, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe second landmark is Szent György-hegy, a mountain with basalt columns. Between the hills are scattered small wine courtyards where open tastings run on weekends. If you prefer a quiet day without crowds, come on Friday, the festival's first day, before Saturday's parade.
How to get there
Badacsony is easy to reach by train. MÁV trains run along the north shore of Lake Balaton from Budapest, from Déli pályaudvar station, and stop at Badacsony station (MÁV). From the station, you can walk to the park and the pier in a few minutes.
By car, you drive along the north shore on road 71. The route is scenic but not fast on a weekend. Parking lots in the center fill up during the festival, so arrive by morning. During the season, BAHART sightseeing boats call at the Badacsony pier on the lake (BAHART).
Tours and tickets in Badacsony
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How to plan your trip
The festival runs for three days, and it makes sense to arrive on Friday afternoon. That leaves the evening for a relaxed tasting, and all of Saturday goes to the parade and the main venues. Accommodation in Badacsony and neighboring Badacsonytomay for these dates gets booked long before September, so reserve early.
Bring cash. Small winery courtyards mostly take cash, and there are few ATMs in town. At restaurants and larger producers, you can easily pay by card.
Mid-September at Lake Balaton is usually warm, but evenings by the water are cool. A jacket and comfortable shoes for walking through the vineyard will serve you well: some tastings take place on the slope, not indoors.
If you arrive by car, leave it at your accommodation. During the festival, central Badacsony is closed off for the procession, and parking near the venue is hard to find.
The main expenses on the trip are wine, food, and accommodation. Tasting prices vary by estate, and entry to the main venue should be confirmed on site. Accommodation on festival weekends costs more than on regular days.
Bring water and a light snack. By evening, tasting lines grow, so it's best to enter the first courtyard right after opening, while you still have a choice of spots.
When leaving after the evening concerts, allow extra time. Late MÁV trains along the north shore run infrequently, so check the schedule in advance.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
When does the Badacsony grape harvest festival take place?
In 2026, the festival runs from September 11 to 13, Friday through Sunday. The festival is held for the 62nd consecutive time, meaning the tradition is over half a century old (as of 09/2026, 2026 program). The dates stay around mid-September every year, while exact times change.
Which wines should you try on site?
Go for the local varieties, they grow on Badacsony's volcanic soil. You'll hardly encounter them in other regions. Try them in small portions to understand the difference.
How do you get to Badacsony without a car?
By MÁV train along the north shore of Lake Balaton from Budapest, from Déli pályaudvar station. You need Badacsony station (as of 09/2026, MÁV schedule). Check the schedule on the carrier's website before traveling.
Where should you stay during the festival?
Look for accommodation in Badacsony itself or in neighboring Badacsonytomaj. Lakeside hotels are pricier, guesthouses in the vineyards are cheaper, but you'll have to walk to the center.
In short: what to book
If you have only one evening, pick Saturday: the grape growers' parade and the main tastings happen on that day.
- One day: Saturday, the procession, and tastings at Laposa Borbirtok.
- Two to three days: add the hike up to Kisfaludy kilátó and the wine courtyards near Szent György-hegy.
- Getting there: MÁV train to Badacsony station.
Hotels in Badacsony during the festival: prices on Trip.com.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.