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András Batta, managing director of House of Music Hungary, outlined the institution’s priorities for its fifth season, with a focus on reaching new audiences across the country.
“The team will reach new audiences through nationwide programs and launch new online content,” Batta told journalists.
Beginning in 2027, the institution plans to expand its educational activities across Hungary through free music programs, workshops, and teacher training courses. New online content will also make its educational resources and expertise accessible to a wider audience.
Márton Horn, the institution’s operative director, highlighted its concert series and talent development initiatives. Since opening on Jan. 22, 2022, HoMH has welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors, while its permanent and temporary exhibitions have attracted more than 600,000.
A major initiative for the 2026–27 season is a nationwide outreach program designed to bring music education to communities beyond Budapest. Activities will include free events, traveling workshops under the title “The Song is Ours” (A dal a miénk), and professional development courses for teachers.
“Supporting teachers has always been a key part of our music education activities, and we are now expanding this area further. We offer professional development opportunities for a wide range of educators, from students training to become early childhood practitioners to kindergarten teachers and primary and secondary school teachers,” Horn said.
The courses aim to help educators make musical experiences more engaging and enjoyable for children and young people. The institution is also developing an additional teacher training program that it hopes to have officially accredited, allowing participants to earn professional development credits.
Zoltán Tarr, head of the music education and outreach department, introduced Hangadó, a new online platform featuring long-form educational videos. Aimed at both teachers and young people, the series explores big questions about music in an accessible, entertaining format.
András Halmos, the program editor, presented highlights of the fall-winter concert season, which spans jazz, experimental music, electronic sounds, and Hungarian folk traditions.
Among the featured artists is world-renowned violinist Alexander Balanescu, performing alongside Tara Khozein and Attila Gyárfás. The season will also feature the launch of a collaborative album by American jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel and Daveform Quintet, the Hungarian contemporary jazz ensemble founded in 2022 by drummer and composer Dávid Szegő.
Jazz and hip-hop artist Kassa Overall will bring his genre-defying sound. The program also features Danish saxophonist Mette Rasmussen, known for her work with the experimental group OKSE.
American musicians Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore will present music from their collaborative album “Tragic Magic,” released in January 2026. Combining Barwick’s layered vocals with Lattimore’s experimental harp playing, the album creates an atmospheric sound world shaped by improvisation and emotional depth.
British acts Get Down Services and Scott Lavene will appear alongside Son Lux, a longtime favorite with Hungarian audiences. The season will also feature experimental electronic duo Autechre, performances by Stegreif blending Baroque music and jazz improvisation, and a joint concert by Géza Bereményi and János Másik.
Hungarian folk music will take center stage at a special evening celebrating the Téka Ensemble, founded in 1976 and marking its 50th anniversary this year.
The House of Music’s Fringe program will continue to offer performance opportunities to emerging artists, amateur musicians, street performers, music schools, and creative music workshops. The initiative supports new voices and experimental approaches, complementing the institution’s established concert program and giving performers at different stages of their careers a chance to reach new audiences.
The exhibition program also looks back at a landmark moment in Hungarian music history. Léna Szirmai-Kalos, head of international exhibitions, is overseeing a temporary exhibition called “Freddie” marking the 40th anniversary of Queen’s legendary 1986 Budapest concert, which has already attracted more than 40,000 visitors to date. Alongside it, HoMH has published “Freddie: Beyond the Curtain,” a richly illustrated photography book available in both Hungarian and English, exploring the career of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of October 19, 2026.
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