Style, rhythm, tradition – the birthday of the collection exhibition

One year ago, the Museum of Ethnography opened its internationally recognised, award-winning collection exhibition, which, as one of the world's most modern ethnographic exhibitions, offers a new perspective on tradition, communities and everyday objects. Since then, the exhibition has won the Red Dot Design and IF Design awards, as well as several other prestigious professional accolades, and has been nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award. These international successes confirm that the Museum of Ethnography's new permanent exhibition offers a unique cultural experience not only in Hungary but also worldwide. The anniversary is not only a milestone but also a celebration: an opportunity to look back on the past year together and discover how many different stories the museum's spaces can tell.

On October 11, 2025, a full day of diverse cultural programs await visitors. Every floor of the building will be filled with life: thematic guided tours will transport visitors to the border between past and present, museum education activities will introduce young and old alike to the joy of discovery, while music, dance, and improvisational theater will bring the world of the collection to life. 

The highlight of the day will be a spectacular fashion show by the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble, showcasing the traditional costumes of the Carpathian Basin. But the Stellaria Media women's choir's musical guided tour, the Ethnosound Experience Drumming, and the improvisational theater program "What Our Ancestors Would Have Enjoyed" also promise exciting moments. Visitors will also be able to take a peek behind the scenes: the museum's restorers will reveal the hidden secrets of the objects, while conductor Gábor Hollerung will share his personal thoughts.  

On the day of the programme, a shared community experience unfolds through melodies, movements, and stories, allowing everyone to take part in the living heritage preserved—and repeatedly brought to life—by the Museum of Ethnography.

Practical Information

• Admission to the programme requires a special event ticket (2,500 HUF), which includes entry to all exhibitions as well as participation in the day’s programmes. Online ticket purchase here.
• No further discounts apply to this ticket.
• Children under 3 may attend free of charge.
• Tickets can be purchased and collected at the ticket desks by the entrances, where they will also be checked. Please note that on this day the building will not be freely accessible without a ticket. Online ticket purchase is available here.
• Exhibitions and shops close at 18:00; programmes end at 18:00.

We reserve the right to alter the programme.

Please note: All programmes and activities will be conducted in Hungarian.

Please note that photos and videos may be taken during the event, and some live footage may be streamed. For details on how the Museum of Ethnography manages personal data, please see our Data Management Policy.

PROGRAMS

Costume show with the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble
Costumes, dance, music

The costume show aims to bring the audience closer to the costume traditions of different regions, showcasing the diversity of Hungarian folk culture. The ensemble's collection includes both museum-quality original pieces and stylized costumes intended for the stage.
Zsuzsanna Vincze, Kossuth Prize-winning artist and professional director of the dance ensemble, presents the characteristic motifs, materials, and customs of the different regions, spiced with interesting stories. In addition to the costumes, the soloists of the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble evoke the world of movement and music of each region with short dance scenes.

Regions presented: Rábaköz, Matyóvidék, Southern Great Plain, Kalotaszeg, Gyimes, Transylvanian and Hungarian Gypsy costumes, Sárköz, Sióagárd.  

Dress up your doll!
Family activity

So many clothes, so many patterns, so many continents—and so many styles! Walking through the collection exhibition, children become fashion designers, stylists, pattern makers, or even costume designers: in their hands, they hold a dress-up game modeled after the classic paper dress-up doll, which they must fill in with felt-tip pens, crayons, and colored pencils. 

Meeting point: By the entrance of the collection exhibition (-2nd floor) 

 

Drumming is enjoyable. Károly Fehér and the members of the Ethnosound team have been doing this for 20 years, to the delight of young and old alike. The activity is based on an ancient human trait: when hearing well-timed rhythms, hands and feet move involuntarily in unison, and then bodies and instruments come together to create something wonderful. Participants don't just hear about this in theory: everyone gets to hold a real instrument in their hands to experience the joy of making music together. 

Registration required

Chain stitching
Workshop 

Museum educators are inviting visitors to participate in a community project aimed at recycling textiles that were discovered during the relocation of the Museum of Ethnography and do not have the status of art objects! Conversation, sewing, remembering – together, because we leave no one behind! 

Collection Exhibition TOP 10 – Vote for what should be included!

The Collection Exhibition opened a year ago, displaying 3,600 objects in eight rooms. Now it's your turn to choose the ten "must-see" pieces that everyone should see!

Voting starts on October 11, the anniversary, and runs until March 5, 2026. You can vote on site at the opening and closing events, or online at any time. 

The eight objects selected by the public will be joined by two special pieces—the Luca chair and the doll in traditional dress —to make up the TOP 10. The results will be used to create a quick, enjoyable route to help visitors who are short on time.