SZIGET FESTIVAL: the perfect summer getaway for music, art, and culture lovers. From August 6 to 11, Budapest will host a diverse selection of artists from across Europe in the picturesque setting of the Sziget Festival, held on the island of ‘Óbudai-sziget’ in the Danube River—also known as the “Island of Freedom.”
After the great success of last year’s edition (check out our coverage), Sziget Festival is set to open a new chapter in 2025, preserving its unmistakable atmosphere and broad range of content, while embracing a major push toward innovation. The program structure has been completely redesigned, continuing to offer a 24/7 immersive experience, with reorganized spaces and new themed areas that will define the festival.
Tamás Kádár, CEO of Sziget Festival, explained that the festival’s core values—emotion, experience, and culture—remain unchanged, but are now tailored to meet the needs of an evolving audience, always with the goal of delivering a memorable experience. The iconic K Bridge, the main entrance to the festival, will be transformed into a spectacular visual gateway, featuring a multitude of colorful birds flying above its arches, welcoming visitors to a newly designed hospitality area. Historic venues like Cirque du Sziget, the Magic Mirror, and Vándor Vurstli will also be relocated.
The most visible element of this renewal is the division of Sziget Festival grounds into thematic districts. The Delta District will become the new nightlife hub, alive from sunset to sunrise with the revamped Yettel Colosseum, the Bolt Night Stage replacing the historic Arena, and a new indoor venue called The Club by Don Julio, promising the most powerful electronic lineup in Sziget’s history.
The Szoho District, inspired by the multicultural and artistic vibes of Soho in London and New York, will be a creative hotspot. It will host The Buzz stage, showcasing indie, alternative pop, and world music, and dropYard, dedicated to urban scenes with hip-hop, drum & bass, reggaeton, and more genre-blending styles.
Paradox will be the realm of illusion, motion, and performing arts—a space for circus shows, contemporary dance performances, and street theater, blending genres in unexpected ways. Movement and illusion will become expressive languages here. The North Field will host the renewed Magic Mirror, with queer performances from day to night, an ArtGarden with interactive installations, and the LightStage, offering concerts and DJ sets including performances by international artists and Italians such as Anna Castiglia, Whitemary, Savana Funk, Materazi Future Club, Eva Bloo, Lurayana, and many more.
On Impact Island, TEDx Budapest will take place alongside numerous NGOs and civic initiatives. Among the most anticipated shows are the return of the Superar Children’s Choir, the Spanish aerial ballet Sylphes, and the Troula Street Theatre, with visual and sound performances inspired by environmental themes. Cirque du Sziget will feature companies from Japan, Canada, and Hungary, while Magic Mirror will present acrobatic and comedy shows with strong female representation, including the YUCK Circus.
The theater and dance program will include “Rave Lucid” by French group Mazel Freten and “La Confluencia,” a flamenco performance blending European, Jewish, Romani, and African cultures.
As for the lineup, the Main Stage headliners include global stars such as A$AP Rocky, Post Malone, and Shawn Mendes. They’ll be joined by rising acts like Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and Anyma, along with established names like Nelly Furtado, Michael Kiwanuka, and FKA Twigs, and, for the first time ever, a K-pop artist at Sziget: Kiss Of Life. Hungarian artists will also take the stage, including Pogány Induló with Parno Graszt and Дeva with Napfonat, both highly anticipated by local fans.
On the Revolut Stage, music will be even more eclectic with performances by Empire of the Sun, Justice, Papa Roach, Caribou, Blossoms, and Refused, among others. The top names in electronic music will headline the Delta District, where the Yettel Colosseum will feature artists such as I Hate Models, Dixon, The Blessed Madonna, and Chris Liebing. The Bolt Night Stage will host acts like Armin Van Buuren, Don Diablo, Amelie Lens, and Steve Angello, while The Club by Don Julio will deliver a more intimate underground electronic experience.
In the Szoho District, The Buzz will present a mix of emerging talents and local stars not yet known internationally, hailing from France, Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium, with urban, rap, and street culture vibes. Acts include Fast Animals and Slow Kids, EKKSTACY, Casey Lowery, and locals Ivan & The Parazol at dropYard. The Jukebox Stage will offer tribute bands covering legends like ABBA and Queen, themed DJ sets, and the best bands from the European GrassrEUts project.
Once again, Italy will play a key role at Sziget Festival, one of the most beloved music events for the Italian audience, always among the top countries in attendance. The Italian presence reflects the festival’s eclecticism—from alternative rock to electronic, indie-pop, urban, and hard techno. Artists from Italy at this year’s edition include: Anyma, Fast Animals And Slow Kids, Whitemary, Anna Castiglia, Beba, Materazi Future Club, Savana Funk, Comrad, Kyoto, Gobbi, Aurevoir Sofia, 999999999, Agents Of Time, Mathame, Vomee, Zatox, Carlo Chicco, Eva Bloo, Kiras, Fab Mayday, AmA DJ, Stefano di Matteo, Lurayana, Chroma Sound System, and 18K.
Sziget Festival 2025 Daily Lineup:
August 6:
Charli XCX, Don Diablo, Empire of the Sun, Little Simz, Papa Roach, Steve Angello, 999999999, Alessi Rose, Alok, The Dare, Fatima Hajji, I Hate Models, Julien Granel, Kenya Grace, Kiss Of Life, Lavern, Oguz, Palaye Royale, RØRY, Winson
August 7:
Shawn Mendes, Boris Brejcha, Justice, Nelly Furtado, Alex Wann, Balu Brigada, The Beaches, Benwal, Cera Khin, Co Lee, DJ Gigola, Horsegiirl, In Parallel, Killowen, Layla Benitez, Malugi, Massano, Noga Erez, Ocean Alley, Partiboi69, Pegassi, Sio, Salute, Sound Rush, Zatox
August 8:
A$AP Rocky, Amelie Lens, Caribou, Michael Kiwanuka, Ahadadream, Ash Olsen, Beton Hofi, Blawan, Blossoms, Carlita, Ekkstacy, Francis Mercier, Honeyluv, Hot Since 82, Josh Baker, Juicy Romance, The Joy, Krúbi, Len Faki, Mele Brown, Mita Gami, Pogány Induló, Rene Wise, Scarlet Pleasure, DJ Seinfeld
August 9:
Anyma, Adriatique, FKA Twigs, Sevdaliza, Âme live, Agents of Time, Analog Balaton, Bedouin, Дeva feat. Napfonat, Dixon, Elderbrook, Elefánt, Helado Negro, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Kölsch, Korolova, Mathame, Miss Monique, RAVEN, Ry X, Shimza, The Wellermen
August 10:
Post Malone, Armin van Buuren, Riles, Chris Liebing, Ecca Vandal, Ela Minus, Elli Acula, Estella Boersma, Fat Dog, FJAAK, Frenna & The Gang, Hanabie, Isabel LaRosa, Krept & Konan, Laura van Dam, Maddix, Nicole Moudaber, SAMA’ Abdulhadi, Sofia Isella, STRANDZ, Vini Vici, Zaho de Sagazan
August 11:
Chappell Roan, The Last Dinner Party, Portugal. The Man, 1991, Bartees Strange, The Blessed Madonna, Brutalismus 3000, Casey Lowery, DESIRE, Eptic b2b Space Laces, Eliza Rose, Fatima Yamaha, Hedex b2b Bou, Holi, Hollow Coves, Hunee, Joey Valence & Brae, Kneecap, LSDXOXO, LUVCA†, Refused, Sally C, Subtronics, Young Marco
Travel and Logistics
Budapest is easily accessible from Italy, with multiple direct flights from most major Italian cities. For those preferring to travel by organized bus or by car, the highway offers a well-served and convenient route. The organized bus will depart on the evening of August 5 from Bologna, Padua, and Trieste. A parking area is available near the festival grounds and can be reserved via the official website.
The festival takes place within the city, less than 20 minutes from downtown, and is well connected by public transport and partnered taxi services. You can also purchase the Sziget City Pass by Budapest Card, which includes free access to thermal baths, a shuttle service to and from the airport, unlimited public transport, and discounts at museums, restaurants, and tourist attractions. This all-round organization makes it easy to enjoy the Hungarian capital’s artistic beauty and vibrant nightlife, including boat parties and events in enchanting locations like the castle.
Tickets are selling fast, with the last remaining festival and single-day passes still available on the official Sziget Festival website.
