Taste Balaton Festival - from 6 to 15 March 2026

From 6 to 15 March 2026, the shores of Lake Balaton in Hungary will once again host the Taste Balaton Festival, a ten-day celebration of gastronomy, culture and meaningful human connections. Designed to showcase the region beyond the summer season, the festival invites visitors to discover a more intimate, authentic side of Balaton.

With over 100 curated programmes, the festival brings together the region’s best year-round restaurants, wineries and hospitality venues, offering experiences that go far beyond traditional dining.

At the heart of Taste Balaton are interactive culinary experiences. Visitors can join hands-on workshops such as sourdough bread baking, fermentation, chocolate making and creative cooking sessions, while special tasting menus, pop-up collaborations and chef-led dinners provide deeper insight into contemporary Hungarian gastronomy. International guest chefs and cross-border collaborations further enrich the programme, making Taste Balaton a truly European culinary meeting point.

Culture plays an equally important role. Throughout the ten days, concerts, literary talks, artist encounters and thought-provoking discussions take place in atmospheric locations including wineries, lakeside venues and unique cultural spaces. These events create a natural meeting ground for locals, creators and visitors from abroad.

The festival unfolds across more than 20 locations around Lake Balaton, many of which open their doors especially for this occasion. For international travellers, this offers a rare opportunity to explore the region in early spring—when the landscape is calm, welcoming and far removed from the crowds of peak season.

Why Taste Balaton is worth the journey:

A refined springtime festival in one of Central Europe’s most beautiful regions

Authentic Hungarian cuisine and wines in a relaxed, uncrowded setting

Interactive, experience-based programmes rather than passive tasting

A perfect blend of gastronomy, culture and local stories

Date: 6–15 March 2026
Location: Lake Balaton region, Hungary

Taste Balaton is not just a festival—it is an invitation to slow down, connect and experience the true flavour of Balaton, long before summer begins.