Latest news in Hungary - 16 May 2025

Damon Albarn to Perform in Budapest This Summer: Damon Albarn, renowned frontman of Gorillaz and Blur, will perform in Budapest this summer as part of the Africa Express project. The concert follows the release of their new album on July 11, and while the specific date and venue are yet to be confirmed, the tour kicks off on July 6 in Denmark. Read more here

Dutch Cyclist Triumphs at Tour de Hongrie Amid Crashes: Danny van Poppel claimed victory in the second stage of the Tour de Hongrie sprint in Siófok, securing his overall lead despite a crash that hospitalized three of his teammates. János Pelikán also performed strongly, finishing second in the standings after successfully collecting bonus seconds. Read more here

Rare Photo of Young Endre Ady Up for Auction: A dedicated photo of the young poet Endre Ady, taken in 1899 and inscribed for his friends, is set to be auctioned for 600,000 forints. This rare piece of literary history highlights Ady's early connections while he worked as a clerk in Timișoara. Read more here

New Rector Appointed at Franz Liszt University of Music: Farkas Gábor, a distinguished pianist and head of the Keyboard and Accordion Department, has been appointed as the new rector of the Franz Liszt University of Music, taking office on May 15, 2025, for a five-year term. This follows a lengthy vacancy in the position and comes after a competitive selection process involving multiple candidates. Read more here

BYD Opens European HQ in Hungary: Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Hungarian government and will relocate its European headquarters to Hungary, creating 2,000 new jobs. The company plans to invest 1.4 to 1.6 trillion forints to build its first European factory in Szeged, with an initial production capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles annually. Read more here

MOL to End Remote Work Policy: Starting July 1, 2025, Mol will end its remote work policy, mandating regular office attendance for all employees to enhance collaboration and fully utilize its new 28-story headquarters. The decision impacts all companies within the group, with few exceptions. Read more here

Referendum on Prime Minister Term Limits Rejected: The National Election Commission has rejected a proposed referendum question that would limit Hungary's Prime Minister to two terms, citing unclear phrasing and conflicts with existing laws. The individual who submitted the question has 15 days to appeal the decision. Read more here

Serious Accident on M30 Motorway: Five people were seriously injured in a collision between two cars on the M30 motorway near Miskolc on Thursday evening. Emergency services, including firefighters and a rescue helicopter, responded to the scene. Read more here

Changes in Vehicle Inspection Regulations: Starting June 1, Hungary will allow used cars from EU countries to be registered at private inspection stations, expediting the process and potentially increasing annual registrations from about 111,000 to tens of thousands more. Meanwhile, the European Commission is proposing annual inspections for cars over ten years old, which has raised concerns about costs and administrative capacity, as the average age of Hungary's vehicle fleet exceeds 15 years. Read more here

-