Whether you are a tourist or on business, you will find a wide range of cultural events and traditional programmes all year round in Kecskemét. This variety is our heritage from the past since the Town of the Golden Sand has been the meeting point of merchants, different religions, and cultures for centuries.
The town lies in the middle of Hungary, in the region of the sand dunes between the Danube and the Tisza Rivers, 86 kilometres south of Budapest. The settlement was established at the crossroads of ancient trading routes, and its location and favourable geographical characteristics brought the town into the limelight from among the neighbouring villages.
The charter of 1368 by King Louis the Great mentions it as a market town. It preserved its market-town character for centuries, and the extensive farming, the trade of cattle, and, later on, the special vine-and fruit-growing culture resulted in the growth of the town. The results of the plant breeders’ work are the famous apricots of Kecskemét, as well as the ”whistling” apricot brandy of unique taste.
Kecskemét has been the seat of Bács-Kiskun County since 1950. It has more than 110 thousand inhabitants, and it is a dynamically developing industrial, commercial, and cultural centre. The town hosts workshops and unique collections of music, fine arts, and animations of international renown and renowned scientific institutions.
In addition to these events, Kecskemét welcomes visitors with a whole range of recurring programs year by year, among which the most outstanding events are the Kecskemét Spring Festival, the Kodály Music Festival, the Kecskemét Wine and Palinka Festival, the Future of Europe International Children’s Meeting Festival, and the Famous Week Festival.