Szarvas Plum Festival 2026: A Three-Day Gastro Celebration in the Heart of the Körös Region
From 11 to 13 September 2026, the 28th Szarvas Plum Festival (Szarvasi Szilvanapok) opens its gates again, hosting one of southeast Hungary's largest and most distinctive gastro-cultural celebrations. Three days, three stages, more than twenty plum-based culinary specialities and the cream of Hungarian pop and rock music await you in Szarvas.
When and where?
- Dates: 11 (Friday), 12 (Saturday) and 13 (Sunday) September 2026
- Venues: Templom tér (Church Square), Várkert (Castle Garden), Szent István park
- Organisers: Cervinus Teátrum and the Municipality of Szarvas
The plum: a Hungarian treasure
The festival's main mission is to celebrate the Szarvas plum and the traditions surrounding it. In the heart of the Körös region, this remarkable fruit appears in countless forms:
- Plum jam slow-cooked in copper cauldrons in the traditional way
- Secret plum recipes and live demonstrations led by master chefs
- Certified plum brandies (pálinka) and craft plum beers
- Plum cakes, plum dumplings (szilvásgombóc) and plum doughnuts in abundance
A signature moment of the three-day festival is the Harvest Blessing (Termésáldás), held on Sunday at 10:00 in the Szarvas Evangelical Old Church.
Competitions and tastings
- Recipe contest: Organisers are searching for "Szarvas's favourite plum cake", with each contestant allowed to enter several recipes.
- Pálinka assessment: Plum and other fruit brandies compete in separate categories. Entries can be submitted in half-litre bottles.
- Élesdi mics: As part of the twin-town partnership, the famous Transylvanian grilled sausage returns once again, served with original mustard and bread.
Live concerts and headline acts
The ticketed main stage on Templom tér features the biggest names in Hungarian popular music:
- Friday evening: Dánielfy and Parno Graszt
- Saturday evening: Fiesta live in concert, plus UFO, Sterbinszky and Mynea, Náksi and DJ Spigiboy
- Sunday: Legendary rock band Karthago closes the festival with a free concert
The stages at Várkert and Szent István park are completely free to attend, so anyone can join the festivities.
Family programmes
The Várkert and the Kacsatanya area transform into a family paradise:
- Kalap Jakab puppet concert
- Csillagszemű juhász dance fairy tale
- Costumed characters, sugar cannon and bubble show
- Evening LED show and fire show
- Funfair throughout the day
Tickets and prices (Templom tér main stage)
Book early, as availability is limited!
- Day ticket: HUF 2,000
- Two-day pass: HUF 3,000
- Children under 6: free entry
- In person: Cervinus Teátrum (no booking fee)
- Online: via Cooltix.hu
Secure your tickets in advance via szilvanapok.hu before they sell out!
Where to stay during the festival: Csendzug Guesthouse, Békésszentandrás
Accommodation in and around Szarvas fills up quickly during the Plum Festival weekend. Csendzug Guesthouse is just a short drive away in Békésszentandrás, on the banks of the Holt-Körös oxbow lake, offering a peaceful waterside retreat after the buzz of the festival. It is the ideal choice for families and groups of friends:
- Waterside location on the Holt-Körös, with rowing and angling on the doorstep
- Quiet, nature-rich setting to unwind after the festival's lively days
- Short drive to Szarvas, making concerts and gastro events easy to reach
- Excellent base for exploring the Körös-Maros National Park and the wider region
The Plum Festival weekend is one of the busiest periods of the year in the region, so it is worth booking your stay as early as possible.
Book your stay at Csendzug Guesthouse now
Round off your festival experience at a tranquil waterside guesthouse, where you can recharge on the quiet banks of the Holt-Körös after the lively days of the Plum Festival.
Sources
- Newjság: Szarvasi Szilvanapok 2026: Koncertek, gasztronómia és fergeteges fiesta vár Szarvason!
- Official festival website: szilvanapok.hu