The bridge to Óbudai Island today becomes the gateway to a temporary city of music, art, and freedom. The festival that survived financial collapse returns with a lineup featuring Florence + The Machine, Twenty One Pilots, Skrillex, and Croatian representative Marko Purišić.
The bridge over the Danube connecting Budapest to Óbudai Island, starting today, August 11, 2026, once again becomes the border of a temporary city. Sziget, one of Europe's largest festivals, opens its gates and runs until August 15, with the first full day featuring performances by Sombr, Zara Larsson, Dijon, Wolf Alice, and Underworld.
This year's edition technically began two days earlier. On Sunday, August 9, on Day -1, around fifty local performers celebrated the life's work of Hungarian music legend János Bródy, who himself took the stage at the end of the evening. Yesterday's Day 0, the move-in day, brought back names that have built the festival's sonic memory for decades: Faithless, Morcheeba, and Goran Bregović with his Wedding & Funeral Orchestra. Faithless first played at Sziget back in 1999, and two years later they made history when the "sold out" sign was raised for the first time during their concert.
The story of this year's edition is noteworthy also because it almost didn't happen. Last year, the festival faced major financial difficulties and the departure of an investor, but founder Károly Gerendai managed to find new partners and stated that Sziget's future is now secure. In October, the festival returned to Hungarian ownership, and Gerendai resumed his leadership position. The Island of Freedom has survived, and with a program that ranks among the best in its history.
At the top of the lineup are Florence + The Machine, Twenty One Pilots, Lewis Capaldi, and Bring Me The Horizon. The pop segment features Zara Larsson and Sombr, alongside Skrillex, Skepta, and Jorja Smith. Florence Welch returns after her 2023 performance, this time with songs from last year's album Everybody Scream, and is expected to be the emotional core of the week.
The range Sziget offers sets it apart from most festivals of its size. During the same week, visitors can see Florence + The Machine, Richie Hawtin in a dark tent, Biffy Clyro, and Dom Dolla. This year, electronic music gets a new Delta District with three stages and a night program featuring Peggy Gou, Sara Landry, Argy, Richie Hawtin, Anfisa Letyago, Dixon, Yousuke Yukimatsu, WhoMadeWho, and Joris Voorn. Hip-hop and street culture are housed in dropYard, a space where live music connects with graffiti and skate culture.
The festival now boasts twelve themed quarters, and the network of districts introduced last year continues to grow. The biggest novelty is Wonderland in the north of the island, which unites art, culture, and creative spaces, including Magic Mirror, Lightstage, and Art Garden. Festival classics like Luminarium and the "Before I Die" wall also return, along with Magic Mirror and Magic Runway.
Organizers have also announced a range of off-stage offerings: new gastronomic zones Food Paradise and Farmers' Market, a renovated food court, and a QR ordering system. As for comfort, there's a record-large grassed area, more shaded and air-conditioned spaces, an expanded drinking water network, and a dust suppression system. The Sziget SZociety foundation has been launched to support young people with mental health issues, and as part of it, the SZuper SZociety Awards are presented on the Main Stage. The new Sziget City initiative connects festival-goers with Budapest's cultural and nightlife scene, and the Sziget City Pass includes public transport, airport transfer, thermal bath visits, and additional perks. The detailed festival schedule is available on the official website.
For the Croatian audience, the performance of Baby Lasagna, i.e., Marko Purišić, is particularly interesting, as he takes the biggest stage of his career so far at Sziget. After finishing second and winning the televote at Eurovision 2024 with the song Rim Tim Tagi Dim, and releasing his debut album DMNS & Mosquitoes in February 2025, this is one of his biggest leaps.
"There are no expectations because we've never performed at such a big festival. We're small fish there; most people don't know us. We have a blank canvas. That's what I love most," said Baby Lasagna.
His statement captures the spirit of Sziget, an island that every summer hosts hundreds of thousands of people from around the world. Tickets are still available: a standard day pass for the main days (August 11-15) costs around €105, a three-day pass around €269, and a five-day pass up to €379.
