The 15th-anniversary Autumn Margó Literary Festival opens on 15 October at Millenáris and the National Dance Theatre. According to the organiser’s official programme, the edition running through Sunday brings together Hungarian book premieres, international guests, signings and three distinct literature-and-music evenings.
A prize at the opening, a gala for the anniversary
The Margó Prize for the best first work of prose will be presented for the twelfth time on the opening day. With Erste’s support, one finalist will also receive the Margó x Erste BELIEVE IN YOURSELF special award. International guests include Beatriz Serrano, Bernardo Atxaga, Steinunn Sigurðardóttir and Ragnar Ólafsson, while the Hungarian programme brings together dozens of authors.
Book launches are free, seats are allocated in order of arrival, and signings follow the talks. The evening events require tickets: MORDÁI performs on Thursday; on Friday, music created for Kiss Tibor Noé’s novel Olvadás will be heard live for the first time; Saturday brings a gala celebrating Margó’s 15 years.
The partner structure is part of the story
The festival is presented within Liszt Fest and organised by Müpa Budapest. The official page lists Bookline, Volvo and Libri Talent as supporters and Könyves Magazin as media partner. The mix shows how a cultural festival can combine retail, mobility, talent development and content partnerships.
For visitors, the practical distinction matters: daytime book events do not require tickets but capacity is limited; evening events need separate admission. Check the detailed daily programme on the official festival site before travelling.
This article uses an archive Margó photograph from 2022; it was not taken at the 2026 edition.
Summary
Autumn Margó Literary Festival takes place at Millenáris and the National Dance Theatre in Budapest from 15 to 18 October 2026. Book launches are free; evening literature-and-music events from 15 to 17 October require tickets. The 12th Margó Prize is presented on opening day.
Frequently asked questions
- When and where is Autumn Margó 2026?
- From 15 to 18 October 2026 at Millenáris and the National Dance Theatre in Budapest.
- Is Autumn Margó free?
- Book launches are free, with seating allocated in order of arrival. Evening literature-and-music events require tickets.
- What happens on opening day?
- The Margó Prize is presented for the twelfth time, along with a Margó x Erste BELIEVE IN YOURSELF special award for one finalist.
