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Sziget’s ‘Spectacular, Vibrant & Diverse’ 30th Anniversary
Sziget festival in Budapest, Hungary, concluded its epic 30th anniversary party, which took place Aug. 7-12 on Óbuda island, the Island of Freedom, right on the Danube river, counting between 60,000 and 70,000 daily guests, who saw some 1,000 shows spread across 50 stages to choose from.
The lineup was worthy of a big birthday celebration. Day one featured Tom Odell, Marc Rebillet, Fisher, Richie Hawtin, Loco Dice, and many more, and was headlined by Kylie Minogue.
Over the course of the following five days and nights, Halsey, Janelle Monáe, Becky Hill, Sam Smith, Liam Gallagher, Stormzy, Bebe Rexha, Louis Tomlinson, MØ, Neil Frances, Martin Garrix, Aurora, Honey Dijon,, Nova Twins, Meute, Yves Tumor,, Fontaines D.C., Sven Väth, Editors, Modeselektor, Fred again, Skrillex, RAYE, Four Tet, Yard Act, and many more performed – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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Aside from the diverse offering on stage, Sziget also puts on theatre, comedy, art, insightful panels, art workshops, and more. And the crowd was just as diverse as the programming, with guests arriving from 100 countries to take part in this cultural extravaganza.
As Sziget CEO Tamás Kádár had told Pollstar ahead of last year’s edition, the festival stepped up its game in terms of campsites, showers, toilets, hospitality, and general infrastructure of the festival.
Commenting after this year’s 30th anniversary, he said “We wanted to end our first 30 years with a spectacular, vibrant and diverse festival to everyone’s satisfaction, and we seem to have succeeded.
“More than 30 years ago, we had a dream: a place where we could be together for a week, where everyone could experience the personal freedom, atmosphere and ‘flow’ that a lively festival can offer, where different styles, programs and cultures can coexist. Sziget quickly became a symbol. An ideal world where we leave the worries of everyday life behind us when we enter.”
And he concluded, “Our goal is to further strengthen this attractive ‘Sziget vibe’ for domestic and international visitors.”
Tickets for Sziget 2025, which returns to the Island of Freedom, Aug. 6-11, 2025, are on sale. Six-day GA tickets start at €249 ($272); six-day VIP tickets cost €469 ($514). Visitors aged 21 and younger pay €199 ($218) for six days. Instalment plans are available.