Founder Returns To Sziget As It Leaves Superstruct

Sziget confirmed its 2026 return to the island of freedom, Óbuda Island, Aug. 11-15, 2026, as well as its departure from Superstruct, which had acquired the festival in 2017.

As part of the split, Sziget founder Károly Gerendai returns to helm the event going forward.

As local news outlet index.hu reports, Superstruct owner KKR had already made plans to let the agreement between Sziget and the city of Budapest to host the event on Óbuda Island run out – as part of the withdrawal from Central Europe, and because of “billions of losses in recent years,” according to the report.

See: KKR To Acquire European Festival Giant Superstruct From Providence

Two other Hungarian festivals in the Superstruct portfolio, Volt and Balaton Sound, saw their last editions take place in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

Gerendai, who left the festival he founded after the 25th edition in 2017, managed secured a new long-term agreement with the city of Budapest. According to the index.hu report, he agreed that the festival would repay a discount on the licence received from the capital in three instead of seven years, and all Hungarian students would receive the student discount Sziget traditionally offer, not just those from Budapest.

Pollstar will continue to report on this story, as it unfolds.