Balázs Szabó of the research team attended the 31st Budapest Pride march on June 27, 2026, conducting participant observation as part of the ongoing project.
Following 16 years of political repression, this year’s event was perceived by many participants as significantly more open and liberating. Although attendance was lower than at the historic 2025 march — which drew more than 300,000 people — nearly 50,000 participants still chose to brave the extreme heatwave affecting much of Europe and take to the streets in support of human rights.
Compared with previous years, the atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed, festive, and confident. One of the most remarkable moments was the participation of the Hungarian Defence Forces, which distributed drinking water to marchers for the first time. Only around 20 counter-protesters were present and caused little disruption; a few attempted to preach religious messages or threw vegetables at participants, but police intervened quickly to prevent any escalation. Relatively few children and elderly people attended, likely due to the exceptionally high temperatures. The event concluded in a large park, where the Civil Village welcomed participants with tents, information booths, and a main stage. After speeches by civil society organizations and activists, the celebration continued with live concerts.
