Budapest Planetarium set for possible reopening after nine‑year closure

Hungarian Science and Technology Minister Zoltán Tanács announced that expert consultations will start in early August to devise a long‑term proposal for the Budapest Planetarium, which has been closed since 2017 after roof damage and storm‑related leaks. The government is weighing three options: a temporary reopening of the existing building, a complete reconstruction, or replacement with a new science museum and interactive experience centre.

The planetarium, originally opened in 1977 by the Society for Dissemination of Scientific Knowledge (TIT), attracted up to 150,000 visitors a year before structural problems forced its shutdown. Funding and ownership issues have delayed a full renovation.

Mayor Gergely Karácsony linked the planetarium’s fate to the broader revitalisation of Népliget, Hungary’s largest historic public park. The park’s redevelopment plan, pending EU funding for its first phase, includes green‑area renewal, improved transport links, and new recreational facilities. Karácsony stressed that the park and planetarium projects are inseparable and view the current government change as a historic opportunity to advance both initiatives.