The Bródy Songs Day event will bring together artists from several generations of Hungarian music, including Levente Szörényi, Zsuzsa Koncz, Judit Halász, László Tolcsvay, Gábor Presser, Charlie, László Földes Hobo, András Lovasi, Csík Zenekar, Franciska Törőcsik, Beton.Hofi, Dzsúdló, Azahriah and many others.
The program will feature some of the best-known songs from Bródy’s career, from his work with Illés and Fonográf to songs from the rock opera “István, a király,” as well as compositions from his solo career and works he wrote for other well-known performers.
Károly Gerendai, founder of Sziget, said the idea for the event came after Bródy announced earlier this year that, having turned 80, he would consider his large-stage performing career in music complete as of April 11, Hungary’s Day of Poetry.
“After the announcement, I felt that we could not simply let this fantastic life’s work go. It would be good to celebrate it in a worthy way together with the performers who were part of Bródy’s career, and to involve the younger generations for whom he remains an inspiration today, or even a role model,” Gerendai said at the press conference introducing Sziget’s Minus One Day.
Gerendai described Bródy as one of the emblematic figures of Hungarian culture and a creator of Hungarian-language beat music. His songs and lyrics, written over more than six decades of active musical work, reflect the major turning points of the past half-century, while his metaphorical reflections on freedom and abuses of power have shaped the outlook of generations.
Bródy said songs remain one of the most ancient art forms because rhythmical sung text stays in the human soul more deeply than almost anything else.
“When they could not yet be recorded in any other way, songs recorded and passed on important information. For me, the message is what matters in every song. The sung rhythmic text is the naked song form, which every era dresses in clothes that arouse interest, and clothing is usually determined by fashionable trends and audiences sensitive to different musical sounds. But the performer’s personality cannot be neglected, because in the end the audience identifies the song with the performer. Authors are mostly noted only by the profession, except when an author also goes on stage,” Bródy said.
Gerendai said the Aug. 9 event will select from more than 800 Bródy compositions, focusing on songs that encourage audiences either to sing together or think together.
“On Aug. 9, 2026, on Sziget’s Minus One Day, we will pay tribute to the life’s work of János Bródy. On Bródy Songs Day, we will select from the author’s more than 800 compositions songs that make us sing together or think together, within the framework of a large shared celebration. Songs will be performed from the Illés and Fonográf periods, from the rock opera ‘István, a király,’ from the fertile period of János Bródy’s solo career, and from Bródy compositions written for individual performers, songs that connect generations and in which personal stories and the imprint of our shared past are present at the same time,” Gerendai said.
He stressed that the event is not a memorial but a shared celebration. It will feature major performers from Bródy’s own generation, outstanding artists of Hungarian pop-rock culture from later decades, and singers and bands popular with today’s younger audiences.
“The line of invited performers naturally had to be limited, as even this way we can expect a continuous five- to six-hour program. However, we tried to invite artists whose names were closely connected to János Bródy already in the early period, those whose careers had a common intersection with the lyricist, and those who, even in the voice of today’s young people, approach Bródy songs in a unique way,” Gerendai said.
He added that some invited performers will be unable to attend due to other commitments, but have been asked to participate at least through a video message. Gerendai also revealed that Bródy has agreed to appear before the audience during the finale.
Péter Novák, director of Bródy Songs Day, said the songs have significance beyond music.
“János Bródy’s songs are not simply musical works, but also creations of significant storytelling and literary value,” Novák said. “That is why we were very happy to invite distinguished actors for this day as well, who will give these iconic songs new shades and personal interpretations through different performing approaches.”
Gábor Závodi, the evening’s music producer, highlighted the diversity of the program.
“When performers coming from different musical worlds reinterpret these songs, their timelessness, multi-layered character and universal validity become clearly visible,” Závodi said.
RTL is the main media sponsor of the event. Péter Kolosi, deputy CEO for content at RTL, said the company believes that good stories and songs bring people together, regardless of age or background.
“János Bródy’s songs are exactly like that: they speak to us across generations, and they still formulate valid thoughts about freedom, community and the fact that we are all different. That is why we were happy to stand behind Bródy Songs Day, which is both a tribute and a great shared musical celebration. Special moments from the event will also be available on RTL and RTL+, but the real experience can be felt live,” Kolosi said.
The performer list, in alphabetical order, includes Azahriah, Bagossy Brothers Company, Beton.Hofi, Blahalouisiana, Carson Coma, Charlie, Boglárka Csemer, Csík Zenekar, Gyula Deák Bill, Laura Döbrösi, Dzsúdló, Pál Feke, László Földes Hobo, Andrea Fullajtár, Péter Gerendás, Petra Gubik, Gypsy JamMAL, Judit Halász, Judit Hernádi, Hiperkarma, Róbert Hrutka, Ivan & the Parazol, Márk Járai, Tibor Kiss, Zsuzsa Koncz, Viki Lábas, András Lovasi, Péter Müller Sziámi, actors of Örkény Theater, Bea Palya, Bence Péter, Bori Péterfy, Gábor Presser, Csilla Radnay, Sena, Columbo of Irie Maffia, the Superar children’s choir, Levente Szörényi, Zsófia Tarján, László Tolcsvay, Franciska Törőcsik and Wellhello.
Ticket sales for Bródy Songs Day have started on the Sziget website, with tickets currently priced at HUF 19,900.
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