This autumn, Szeged is gearing up for a vibrant season of culture once again as the 29th Autumn Cultural Festival kicks off on October 1. Organized by the Cultural Office of the Directorate for International and Public Relations at the University of Szeged, the nearly two-month-long festival offers 300 diverse events at 70 locations across the city – from music and visual arts to sports, community programs, and a spectacular light show. The lineup was announced by Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategy; Gabriella Tajti, Head of the Cultural Office; and György Fekete, Rector and Chancellor’s Representative for Sports Affairs.
Legacy, sport, and poetry
This year’s Autumn Cultural Festival features not only a rich and varied cultural lineup, but also a series of special events marking key anniversaries. Among the highlights is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kuno Klebelsberg, a pivotal figure in Hungarian cultural policy and in the founding of scientific institutions. In tribute to his legacy, the University will host commemorative evenings, book launches, and exhibitions celebrating his lasting intellectual influence.
For the first time in the festival’s history, sport will also play a prominent role. The opening day’s program will include events linked to the International Day of University Sport (IDUS), spotlighting the growing importance of physical activity.
Meanwhile, the much-loved Poetry at Noon series returns for its tenth season, weaving literature into the rhythm of everyday life. Each weekday, members of the university community will read a poem in front of the University’s main building – offering moments of reflection and delight for Szeged residents and visiting poetry lovers alike.
György Fekete, Rector and Chancellor’s Representative for Sports Affairs; Professor Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategy; and Gabriella Tajti, Head of SZTE’s Cultural Office
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
Shining stars: Students take center stage
“Each year, the organizers of the Autumn Cultural Festival work to bring truly outstanding and widely recognized artists to the public. At the same time, it’s just as important to us that the festival serves as a platform for our students as well to showcase their diverse talents, since – alongside their academic studies – many of them also excel in the arts. I’d especially like to highlight the first solo evening of Nóra Nagy, a student at the University’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, which will take place on October 9. Her beautiful voice has already drawn acclaim at several popular-music competitions,” said Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategy.
György Fekete, Rector and Chancellor’s Representative for Sports Affairs, and Professor Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategy
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
Celebrating sports
György Fekete, Rector and Chancellor’s Representative for Sports Affairs, emphasized that the opening day takes on added significance this year: for the first time, the program includes events celebrating the International Day of University Sport, with the intention of instituting a new tradition. Established by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and officially recognized by UNESCO in 2015, this special day draws attention to the value of physical activity and encourages university communities to make sport part of their everyday life.
“Sport is an integral part of universal culture. It is not simply about displaying strength or skill, but about cultivating a true passion for it – until it becomes woven into everyday life, almost second nature. And we should never forget the vital role it plays in fostering community and bringing people together,” the Representative added.
György Fekete, Rector and Chancellor’s Representative for Sports Affairs
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
György Fekete also called attention to the fact that some of the most influential figures in the University’s history – such as Kuno Klebelsberg and Albert Szent-Györgyi – were deeply committed to promoting sport. Klebelsberg, for example, was not only Minister of Religion and Public Education, but was often referred to at the time as a “Minister of Sport” as well. As a result, his ideas and decisions continue to shape how we think about sport and education today.
“Few people know that Szeged hosted the very first-ever conference on sports affairs back in 1930. At the event, Albert Szent-Györgyi – invited back to Hungary by Klebelsberg to do research – delivered a memorable lecture. His words left such a powerful impression that they inspired his audience to take action for the future of sports,” he recalled, adding that Szent-Györgyi himself was an avid sportsman, who he played tennis, swam, and had a passion for motorcycling.
“Today, the University community proudly carries on this legacy in sports. And when we speak about the University of Szeged’s sports strategy, we always emphasize that sport is an inseparable part of university life. In fact, our goal is for every student to take part in sports – and inspire others by doing so,” he said.
Program booklet for the Autumn Cultural Festival
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
György Fekete pointed out that numerous Olympic, World, and European Championship titles have been – and continue to be – linked to athletes currently studying at the University of Szeged. To shine a spotlight on this thriving sports community, a special afternoon of sport-themed performances and activities will take place on October 1 in Dugonics Square, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The event will feature appearances by SZTE Olympians, including Bence Nádas – Olympic silver medalist, world and European champion kayaker, and student at the Faculty of Engineering. Attendees will also have a chance to meet members of the Szeged Boxing Club and the SZTE Fencing Club and enjoy performances by the SZTE PomPom Girls as well as the Pavane Historical Dance Ensemble and Flag-Spinning Group. In addition, highlights of the afternoon include a dazzling jump-rope show by the Szeged Jump Rope Sports Association and an ergometer challenge hosted by the MVM Szeged Water Sports Association.
Nature on display
Gabriella Tajti, Head of the Cultural Office at SZTE’s Directorate for International and Public Relations, highlighted the wide-ranging cultural and science-focused events planned for the nearly two-month-long festival. She noted that the opening day will feature an exhibition of stunning nature photography by János Török, set in the atrium of the university’s main building. Complementing the exhibition, a light show projected onto the building’s façade on October 1 will bring the beauty and message of nature to life – creating a memorable visual experience for festivalgoers. Beyond this opening spectacle, the festival offers a rich and varied lineup for both local and international audiences – from piano and chamber music recitals to jazz evenings, film screenings, and performances by the Szeged Symphony Orchestra, alongside workshops, family-friendly activities, and a dynamic mix of classical, contemporary, and folk music, making it a festival for everyone to enjoy.
György Fekete, Rector and Chancellor’s Representative for Sports Affairs; Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategy; and Gabriella Tajti, Head of the SZTE’s Cultural Office
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
The 29th Autumn Cultural Festival takes place from October 1 to November 27, 2025. A selection of programs of particular interest to international audiences is available HERE.
Original Hungarian article by Tímea Fülöp
Feature photo: György Fekete, Rector and Chancellor’s Representative for Sports Affairs; Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategy; and Gabriella Tajti, Head of the SZTE’s Cultural Office
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
