New multicultural hotspot debuts at iconic Sziget Festival!
This year’s Sziget Festival welcomes a brand-new multicultural area named Szoho, where music, street culture, and creativity come together in an exciting new way.
According to a statement released by organisers on Thursday, Szoho will function as a new “district” on the Island of Freedom, inspired by the art-driven spirit of iconic neighbourhoods like London’s Soho and New York’s SoHo.
Music will be the main focus across Szoho’s two large stages. One of its central venues will be The Buzz, already familiar to some festivalgoers, offering a diverse mix of Hungarian and international music, from indie and alt-pop to world music, rock, and crossover acts. Among the performers are Canadian artist Ekkstacy, known for blending indie, post-punk, and synth wave; genre-fusing rock band Last Train; and Casey Lowery, a viral video creator with millions of followers and a fresh new album. Hungarian acts include Beton.Hofi, Ivan & The Parazol, Analog Balaton, Hundred Sins, and Platon Karataev.
The district’s other highlight is dropYard, a venue dedicated to hip-hop and rap during the day, and drum & bass, dubstep, dancehall, and reggaeton at night. Artists such as Bawo, EV, Feux, KiLLOWEN, and Strandz are featured on the lineup. The Dutch crew Vunzige Deuntjes returns with performers like MC Claudio, the Vunzige Deuntjes Soundsystem, and WEF, bringing the raw Dutch vibe alongside Mula B.
In addition to the main stages, Szoho will feature several new program areas. While breakdance and hip-hop elements were previously part of dropYard, they now get their own dedicated space: The Cypher by Friss will host freestyle sessions, DJs, and live performances.
Another new addition is The Joker, a venue that merges playfulness and performance. By day, it serves as a board game café; by night, it transforms into the Sziget Comedy stage, hosting international comedians and led by English actor and stand-up host Dave Thompson.
In collaboration with the Underground Slam Academy, The Joker will also feature daily slam poetry events, showcasing artists from around the world.
To complete the full Szoho experience, visitors will find pop-up street performances, a barber, tattoo artists, unique bars, graffiti walls, skateboarding demos, and even on-site makeup services. A new feature will be the halfpipe, a special skate ramp where professional skateboarders and inline skaters perform daily shows—but festivalgoers can also rent gear and try it out themselves.
The statement also highlighted other districts across the festival. The new Paradox area will offer various artistic and immersive experiences; Delta District will spotlight the best of the electronic scene; and Central Park—home to the Main Stage and the Revolut Stage—will host world-renowned headliners.
Toward the north side of the island lies North Field, with iconic spots like Magic Mirror, ArtGarden, and Light Stage. Even further north, Sziget Beach will offer installations and pop-up performances by the water.
Near the festival’s newly revamped entrance will be Impact Island, home to civil organisations, the XS-Land, and for the first time, a dedicated venue by TEDx Budapest.
Read more Sziget-related news on Daily News Hungary!
Read also: