Budapest Planetarium future under government review

The Hungarian government is preparing a proposal to determine the future of the Budapest Planetarium, which has been closed since 2017. Zoltán Tanács, the Minister of Science and Technology, stated that officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Transport and Investment are collaborating on the plan.

Three development directions are currently under consideration:

1. A temporary reopening by 2027 involving building repairs and projector maintenance, estimated to cost several hundred million forints.

2. A full modernization to 21st-century standards, including 8K+ full-dome projection technology, new audio systems, and interactive exhibits. This option is estimated to take two to three years and cost between 15 and 20 billion forints.

3. The creation of a larger Science and Technology Experience Center featuring exhibitions on space research, robotics, artificial intelligence, and natural sciences, alongside a scientific park and the renewal of the Népliget area.

A final government decision has not yet been made.