# Hungary honors Freddie Mercury with statue > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/hungary-honors-freddie-mercury-with-statue > Updated: 2026-07-31T17:40:17.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 3. In late July 2026 Hungarian media announced the upcoming unveiling of a Freddie Mercury statue in Balatonszemes as part of the Queen Festival, marking the singer’s 80th birthday and the 40th anniversary of Queen’s concert in Budapest. The next day a bronze bust sculpted by András Sándor Kocsis was unveiled at the Music Pavilion on Lake Balaton, becoming the world’s third public Freddie Mercury monument and promoted as a driver of tourism. On 31 July 2026 a full‑body bronze statue was installed in the lakeside village of Balatonszemes. The ceremony was attended by mayor Zsolt Iváncsics and Mercury’s former personal assistant Peter Freestone. Sculptor Kocsis explained that the work seeks to portray Mercury beyond his stage persona. Online reaction was mixed: some critics questioned the likeness of the face, while supporters highlighted its growing popularity among fans and tourists. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-31: Freddie Mercury statue unveiled in Balatonszemes, Hungary A bronze Freddie Mercury statue was unveiled in Balatonszemes, Hungary, the third of its kind worldwide. The ceremony drew local officials, Mercury’s former assistant, and sparked debate over the likeness. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/freddie-mercury-statue-unveiled-in-balatonszemes-hungary-1 ### 2026-07-25: Freddie Mercury bust unveiled in Balatonszemes, Hungary A bronze Freddie Mercury bust was unveiled in Balatonszemes, Hungary, during the Queen Festival, becoming the world’s third public Mercury statue and expected to boost tourism. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/freddie-mercury-bust-unveiled-in-balatonszemes-hungary ### 2026-07-24: Hungary's cultural scene spotlights Krasznahorkai podcast and Freddie Mercury statue July cultural programmes in Hungary featured a podcast on Krasznahorkai’s new novel and a TV show discussing public‑TV changes, a Freddie Mercury statue unveiling, and literary heritage projects. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hungarys-cultural-scene-spotlights-krasznahorkai-podcast-and-freddie-mercury-statue --- Cite as: Hungary honors Freddie Mercury with statue. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/hungary-honors-freddie-mercury-with-statue