The Sziget Festival doesn’t start when the main stage roars to life — it starts long before. In the golden hours of the morning, the festival pulses with anticipation: the first basslines echoing through the trees, dancers kicking up dust, the scent of the first sizzling hot dogs hanging in the air. This is the true overture. If you only show up by sundown, you won’t just miss a few programs — you’ll miss the spirit of Sziget: that specific, art-wrapped sense of freedom where all great stories begin.
This year, daytime programming takes on a more curated, coherent role than ever before — and that’s no coincidence. For the first time, the festival’s artistic and experience programming is led by Jenna Jalonen, who took over the reins from longtime director József Kardos earlier this year. A dancer, choreographer and producer based in Hungary with Finnish roots, Jenna is no stranger to the Sziget stage — but in her new role, she’s introduced ideas and performances that don’t just entertain, but challenge, surprise and invite a deeper kind of memory-making.
New rhythms of the day
At the core of this new vision is the freshly launched Paradox zone — a mind-bending intersection of movement, illusion and visual art, where circus, dance and interactive installations melt into one another. Here, the sky becomes a stage in Sylphes – Aerial Ballet, a hypnotic aerial performance set to Vivaldi, and the Troula Street Theatre stirs ecological conscience with their beehive-inspired, pyrotechnic-powered giant puppet parade.
A new cultural microdistrict, North Field, hosts the relocated Magic Mirror, the ever-evolving ArtGarden, and the live-focused Light Stage, with acts like Whitemary and Anna Castiglia from Italy, Austria’s Palffi and UK’s Spyres. Meanwhile, Cirque du Sziget moves to a new home with extended outdoor stages and an exciting lineup: Japan’s visual-electronic spectacular Yoah, the world-renowned 7 Fingers with a Romeo and Juliet adaptation (Duel Reality), and OneTwoMany Collective’s participatory circus experience. Female-fronted YUCK Circus brings feminist acrobatics and satire, while Dutch group Lady Joker delivers dance music fused with explosive performance art.
And then there’s Sziget Moments — a new daily 10-minute takeover of the Main Stage between acts, featuring surprise performances from the Superar Children’s Choir to global culture-bending artists.
Mornings on a swing, afternoons with a brush, nights in trance
The pace of the day is more flexible than ever. Arrive by ferry and kick things off with a cold drink on Sziget Beach, and you might catch a pop-up performance or light installation before joining one of the creative workshops. At ArtGarden, festivalgoers can drop in to paint portraits or make zines in a laid-back, open-air studio — often alongside strangers, which might be the best part of all.
Street theatre is also leveling up this year: beyond the giraffes and stilt dancers of Teatro Pavana or the wheeled acrobatics of Duo Gancho, expect large-scale works responding to climate change and social questions — like Troula’sepic beehive intervention.
Music beyond the Main Stage
While headliners like Kid Cudi, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone, Charli XCX, and Nelly Furtado dominate the spotlight, the festival’s programming is built so you can find something fresh at any time of day. FKA Twigs, Rilès, The Last Dinner Party and even K-pop sensation Kiss of Life join the main stage bill, alongside standout local acts like Дeva, Pogány Induló and Parno Graszt.
At the Revolut Stage, you’ll catch Empire of the Sun, Justice, Papa Roach, Caribou, Krúbi, Elefánt, Co Lee, Blossoms, and Refused (on their farewell tour) — plus noise-punk duo Brutalismus 3000.
But the HYPE favorite? That’s SZOHO, a new city district of music and culture inspired by the rawness of London and New York’s underground. The Buzz stage brings together fresh global names (EKKSTACY, Casey Lowery) with Hungary’s sharpest artists: Analog Balaton, Hundred Sins, Platon Karataev, Ivan & the Parazol, and Beton.Hofi. Meanwhile, dropYard fires up hip-hop, grime, dubstep and DnB with Bawo, Mula B, Davodka, KiLLOWEN and more.
From dusk to dawn – Delta District
Sziget’s newest nighttime quarter, the Delta District, pushes the boundaries of electronic music across three immersive venues. The reimagined BOLT Night Stage returns bigger than ever with Armin Van Buuren, Amelie Lens, Vini Vici, Boris Brejcha, Steve Angello, and Miss Monique.
In the amphitheater-style Yettel Colosseum, expect genre-defying sets from The Blessed Madonna, horsegiirL, Dixon, Partiboi69, 999999999, Chris Liebing, I Hate Models and OGUZ.
For a deeper, darker mood, head to The Club by Don Julio, a fully enclosed indoor space focused on intimate club vibes and deep-underground grooves.
Sustainability, care and comfort
Beyond music and art, Sziget 2025 introduces next-level sustainability and festival services. This includes a new “No Tent Left Behind” deposit system, full compostable packaging at food vendors, and zero price hike for beer — all while expanding vegan, vegetarian and allergen-friendly food options. Premium dining doesn’t overshadow budget offerings either, with every food court required to provide affordable menu items.
The Sziget Ville Premium returns with glamping-style accommodations, from stylish tents to larger luxury lodges — complete with yoga, massage, aromatherapy, and a dedicated wellness area.
Meanwhile, the expanded Szitizen Care network supports both physical and mental well-being — offering on-site professional help, trauma support and information hubs for all, including LGBTQIA+ visitors, families, and guests with disabilities.