Hungary to revert to ‘megye’ administrative terminology in 2026

The Hungarian Parliament has passed a legislative amendment to revert official administrative terminology. Starting October 1, 2026, the term ‘vármegye’ (county) will be replaced by ‘megye’ (county), and the title ‘főispán’ will return to ‘kormánymegbízott’ (government commissioner).

The law, which passed with 134 votes in favor and 52 against, is based on the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law of Hungary. The change affects approximately 180 different laws. While the terminology in official documents, public signage, and digital platforms will change, the underlying administrative structures, territorial boundaries, and official duties remain entirely unaffected.

For citizens, the transition requires no direct action regarding ongoing administrative processes or applications. Visible changes will include updated public transport passes and official stationery. The estimated cost for implementing these nomenclature changes is approximately 577 million forints, though the total cost for full integration across all systems is not yet fully determined.