Budapest Planetarium redevelopment plans under government review

The Hungarian government is preparing a proposal regarding the future of the Budapest Planetarium, which has been closed since 2017. Zoltán Tanács, the Minister of Science and Technology, announced that officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Transport and Investment are collaborating on the plan, though technical and financial details are still being finalized.

Three development paths 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 complete 21st-century renovation featuring 8K+ full-dome technology, new audio and projection systems, and interactive content. This option is estimated to cost between 15 and 20 billion forints and could take two to three years to complete.

3. The creation of an international-standard Science and Technology Experience Center surrounding the Planetarium. This larger project would include exhibitions on space research, robotics, artificial intelligence, and natural sciences, alongside an outdoor science park and the revitalization of the surrounding Népliget area.

Minister Tanács noted that while the facility's 23-meter dome remains internationally significant, the institution has fallen behind in projection technology, interactive content, and its overall operating model.