Hungary prepares for August 20 national holiday celebrations

August 20 national holiday State Foundation Day fireworks displays heatwave warning cultural festivals

Hungary is preparing for extensive celebrations for the August 20 national holiday, marking the State Foundation Day. Major events include a military air parade over the Danube featuring JAS-39 Gripen jets, and various cultural festivals across the country. Budapest will host audiovisual shows, drone displays, and free museum exhibitions, while the Balaton region will feature coordinated light and firework shows in towns like Tihany, Balatonfüred, and Zamárdi.

Public transportation in Budapest will be extended, with metro services running until 2:30 AM to accommodate holiday crowds. To manage the festivities, several bridges, including the Chain Bridge and Margaret Bridge, will face closures during the evening fireworks.

Health authorities have issued a second-degree heatwave warning for much of the country, effective from August 20 through August 23. With temperatures expected to reach between 33°C and 38°C, officials advise citizens attending outdoor celebrations to stay hydrated, avoid heavy meals, and limit physical exertion during peak sun hours. There is also an increased risk of outdoor fires due to the prolonged heat.

Entities

BKK · Balaton · Balatonfüred · Budapest · Dávid Vitézy · Fidesz · Hungarian Defence Forces · Hungary · Keszthely · Magyar Honvédség · Magyar Péter · MÁV

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Northwesterly winds will be lively and occasionally strong across the country. www.agrarszektor.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] Rain or showers may occur in the northeast and Transdanubia, with potential thunderstorms in the southwest. www.agrarszektor.hu
[● 3 SOURCES] A cold front is bringing an end to the heatwave in Hungary on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. www.agrarszektor.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] The weather change may cause health issues such as headaches and blood pressure fluctuations. www.agrarszektor.hu
[● 3 SOURCES] Temperatures are forecast to rise again on Wednesday, reaching between 28 and 33 degrees Celsius. www.agrarszektor.hu
[○ 1 SOURCE] Ragweed pollen concentrations are expected to reach high levels due to windy conditions.
[● 2 SOURCES] Tuesday's high temperatures are expected to range between 23 and 29 degrees Celsius. www.agrarszektor.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] MÁV has modified its schedule to accommodate passengers arriving at Budapest stations between 23:00 and 02:00. hang.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] Online registration for the Szent István Square program has closed, though limited on-site registration may be available. gondola.hu
[● 3 SOURCES] The cost of the celebrations is significantly lower than previous plans which allocated approximately 17 billion forints. hang.hu · refresher.hu
[● 3 SOURCES] Minister of Transport and Investment Dávid Vitézy announced that the August 20 celebrations will cost approximately 4.9 billion forints. refresher.hu · hang.hu
[● 2 SOURCES] Relief trains will run from Budapest to Békéscsaba, Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Eger, Miskolc, Pécs, and Sopron via Győr. hang.hu · refresher.hu