Mohács Busójárás 2026: Complete Guide to Hungary’s Famous Winter Festival & How to Get There from Budapest
- Betti Tour Guide in Budapest
- Jan 24
- 4 min read
Every February, a small town on the Danube shakes off winter like a dog shaking off water — loud, messy, ancient, and impossible to ignore. That’s the Busójárás of Mohács, Hungary: six days of noise, masks, ritual, and carnival that draw tens of thousands of people from across the country and around the world. If you’ve never been, there’s really nothing else quite like it.
Busójárás in Mohács https://www.tiktok.com/@bettitoursbudapest/video/7460542032801533206?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7313123663162492448
When and Where: 2026 Dates
In 2026, the official festival runs from Thursday, February 12 to Tuesday, February 17 in Mohács, Baranya County, Hungary. Timed with the end of Farsang (carnival) and ending on Shrove Tuesday, it’s the traditional “last hurrah” before Lent begins.
What Is Busójárás, Really?
At its core, Busójárás is an age‑old folk celebration of winter’s departure and spring’s coming. Its roots lie with the Šokci— a South Slavic (Croatian) community that settled in Mohács centuries ago. Legends even tell of villagers donning scary masks and crossing the Danube to chase away Ottoman occupiers — dramatic, symbolic, and unforgettable. The real tradition likely grew from ancient European customs of using noise, costumes, and fire to banish cold and darkness.
Today, Busójárás is a living folk custom: part ritual, part street party, part performance art — and wholly unforgettable.
What You’ll See and Hear
Walking into Busójárás feels like entering another world. Imagine this:
Masked busós in thick fur coats, carved wooden masks, heavy bells, and rattles stomp and jangle their way through the streets, chanting, shouting, and making so much noise. (mohacsibusojaras.hu)
Jankelék — masked tricksters — playfully chase children and adults alike with sacks filled with sawdust or cloth scraps. (mohacsibusojaras.hu)
On the banks of the Danube, busós arrive by boat just like the old legends say, meeting other groups — cannon‑carrying, horn‑blowing, cart‑trotting — before joining the big procession through town.
Street by street, they make their way toward Széchenyi Square, weaving through crowds, clanging bells, stomping feet, and laughing — the whole scene is a sensory overload.
This isn’t a quiet museum piece — it’s loud, visceral, and raw, exactly as the tradition intends.
Festival Highlights — What to Plan For
The official program includes heaps of scheduled events and spontaneous moments alike. Here’s a snapshot from Thursday, February 12, the opening day:
09:30 — Festival opening with school performances, children’s mask‑wearing ceremony
12:00 — Traditional folkcraft and artisan markets open in the town center
14:30 — Commemorative wreath-laying at the Sokaccircle
14:45 — First Farsangi parade through the main streets
15:00 onward — Children’s and busó performances, mask‑making demonstrations, folk dance shows, and more fill the squares and stages
Across all six days, there are around 140+ programs in 27 locations, including concerts, dance halls, exhibitions — and, of course, the crowds themselves.
The Bonfire and the Farewell to Winter
On Shrove Tuesday, the festival reaches its symbolic climax: a coffin representing winter is placed upon a large bonfire and burned amid dancing, singing, and cheers. This is the dramatic moment everyone gathers for — part ritual, part street celebration — and it’s a powerful way to mark the change of season.
Getting There from Budapest
Mohács is accessible by train, bus, or car. Here’s the breakdown:
1. Train (Recommended)
Departure: Budapest Keleti Station
Arrival: Mohács Train Station (~3–3.5 hours, usually via Pécs)
Tips: Buy tickets online at MÁV to avoid sold-out trains. From the station, it’s a 10–15 minute walk to Széchenyi Square.
2. Bus
Departure: Budapest Népliget Bus Station
Duration: ~3.5–4 hours (usually transfer in Pécs)
Tips: Check Volánbusz. Buses can be crowded during festival days.
3. Car
Distance: ~210 km, ~2.5–3 hours
Route: M6 south → Bóly → Mohács. Optional scenic detour through Pécs.
Tips: Parking can be challenging; arrive early. Dress warmly and prepare for muddy streets.
Extra Tips for Travel & Festival Survival:
Arrive early to catch parades, boat arrivals, and artisan markets
Wear layers — February can be -3°C to 7°C
Carry cash for food, souvenirs, and small vendors
Why Busójárás Still Matters
UNESCO added Busójárás to its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing it as a living cultural treasure. It isn’t just a spectacle — it’s a centuries-old community ritual, passed down through generations, combining folklore, artistry, and raw human energy.
The Magic and the Reality
The Magic:
Deeply rooted tradition and intense atmosphere
Crafts, music, feast, history everywhere you look
Truly unforgettable visuals: masks, boats, bonfires
The Reality Check:
Very crowded — tens of thousands of visitors
Loud and chaotic — not for calm cultural outings
Tourism has transformed some aspects of the festival, though the core tradition survives
Even so, for first-time visitors it’s a “see it once” experience — strange, fierce, friendly, feral, and ridiculous all at once.
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I’m Betti, your private tour guide behind Betti Tours Budapest.
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