Sziget Festival faces tougher market and generational shift in Hungary

Founder Gerendai Károly has taken back ownership of the Sziget Festival, saying he felt he had no choice if the event was to survive. He notes that the festival market, once booming before Covid, now contends with heightened competition from other entertainment options, rising performer fees, technical and infrastructure costs, and higher labour expenses.

The audience is also changing. Generation Z prefers comfort, well‑being, and experiences that can be documented and shared online, often choosing non‑alcoholic drinks and private sleeping arrangements over traditional camping. Organisers say these shifts, combined with the broader financial strain on festivals, threaten profitability.

Cultural state secretary Nagy Ervin has called for a overhaul of the state’s festival‑support system, arguing that a new structure is needed to help festivals survive and revive local tourism and community building across Hungary.