The World’s Largest One-Day Festival
August 8, 2026
7 countries – 11 venues – 30 bands
Budapest – Százhalombatta – Hódmezővásárhely – Oroszlány – Beremend
France – Poland – Serbia – Spain – Slovakia – Romania
Main Organizer: International Gypsy and World Music Network (IGAWNA)
Festival Director: Mihály Rostás “Mazsi”
Supported by: Szerencsejáték Zrt. and the National Cultural Fund of Hungary (NKA)
On August 8, 2026—the birthday of the legendary North Macedonian singer Esma Redžepova—the 5th International Gypsy Song Day will be celebrated. This year, 11 venues across seven countries will host performances by 30 bands in Hungary and abroad. The festival was initiated by Mihály Rostás “Mazsi” (founder and bandleader of Lakatos Mónika and Romengo and MazsiMó–GipsyMó) and is organized by the International Gypsy and World Music Network (IGAWNA).
This year’s festival is dedicated to Esma Redžepova, commemorating the 10th anniversary of her passing. As the world’s largest one-day festival celebrating Romani music and culture, International Gypsy Song Day brings together legendary Romani and non-Romani artists for free concerts, celebrating cultural diversity through music. The festival is supported by Szerencsejáték Zrt. and the National Cultural Fund of Hungary (NKA).
In 2026, audiences will be welcomed in five Hungarian cities and six international venues, featuring nearly 30 outstanding bands.
“From the passion of flamenco to the vibrant energy of Balkan brass bands, from traditional Romani ballads to jazz-inspired rhythms, Romani culture enchants us with its joy of life, dynamism, and emotional depth.” The organizers invite everyone to immerse themselves in unforgettable musical experiences while discovering not only the richness of Romani culture but also the diversity within our own cultural heritage.
A unique feature of the festival is that the participating non-Romani bands also include Romani songs in their own repertoire. Furthermore, at every venue, all performers join together simultaneously to sing the international Romani anthem, “Gelem, Gelem.”
The Romani people are one of Europe’s richest and most colourful ethnic communities, possessing an extraordinary musical heritage that remains vibrant and continues to evolve today. Throughout history, Romani musicians have made an immeasurable contribution to the development of European music. No other ethnic group is present in every member state of the European Union, making the Romani community an important cultural bridge across Europe.
Romani culture has preserved its own unmistakable identity while simultaneously reflecting the traditions of the nations with whom it has lived for centuries. From the elegance of Spanish flamenco to the irresistible power of Serbian brass orchestras, Romani music embraces the whole of Europe—and beyond—sharing Romani traditions, language, and an inexhaustible joy of life.
One of the finest examples of this cultural richness is the centuries-long coexistence of Hungarian and Romani musical traditions, giving rise to treasures such as Hungarian Gypsy restaurant music, Vlach Romani music and dance, and the Hungarian string folk music tradition.
Mihály Rostás “Mazsi”, founder, artistic director and chief organizer of International Gypsy Song Day, has performed in more than 30 countries on four continents as the manager and leader of the internationally acclaimed Romengo, fronted by Kossuth Prize and WOMEX Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Mónika Lakatos. Through decades of collaboration with Romani musicians and festivals around the world—and speaking the Romani language himself—he recognized the need for an international initiative that would unite Romani music across borders. This vision led to the creation of both the International Gypsy Song Day and the International Gypsy and World Music Network (IGAWNA), dedicated to fostering international cooperation in Romani and world music.
International Gypsy Song Day is preceded by the Lakatos Mónika Folk7 Festival & Workshop and the Balaton GipsyFest, both supported by the National Cultural Fund of Hungary (NKA) and Szerencsejáték Zrt.
Detailed programme: www.igawna.hu
Venues & Programme
Hungary
Budapest – House of Music Hungary
1146 Budapest, Olof Palme sétány 3
7:00 PM – Megitza (PL)
8:00 PM – Romengo & Mónika Lakatos (WOMEX Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and Kossuth Prize-winning artist) Special guest: Jenő Lisztes, cimbalom virtuoso
9:00 PM – Bojan Kristic Orkestar (SR)
Százhalombatta – Friendship Cultural Centre
Szent István tér 5, 2440 Százhalombatta
7:00 PM – Szirtes Edina Mókus
8:00 PM – EtnoRom
9:00 PM – Ternipe
Hódmezővásárhely – Ferenc Bessenyei Cultural Centre
Dr. Rapcsák András út 7.
7:00 PM – Romengi Voja
8:00 PM – Botos Family & Riz Laura
9:00 PM – István Farkas and Band
Oroszlány – KFMKK Open-Air Stage
Borbála tér 1, 2840 Oroszlány
7:00 PM – East Gipsy Band
8:00 PM – Romano Drom Trio
9:00 PM – MazsiMó–GipsyMó
Beremend – within the Ördögkatlan Festival
7:00 PM – Veronaki Quartet
8:00 PM – Kanizsa Csillagai
9:00 PM – Gentleman Folk feat. Nikoletta Szőke (SK–AUT–HU)
International Venues
Spain – Claustros de Santo Domingo
Marqués de Casa-Doecq 4, 11402 Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
9:30 PM – Amaro Duho (HU)
10:30 PM – Authentic Flamenco (ES)
Ignacio Fajardo – vocals
Manuel Monte – guitar
Manuel Castañeda – flute
Fernando Galán – dance
France – Saint-Genest Church, Lavardin
8:00 PM – Viviánn & György Andi (FR–HU)
9:30 PM – Raphaël Faÿs Quartet (FR)
Slovakia – Štúrovo (Párkány)
Summer Stage, Hlavná 16, 943 01 Štúrovo
7:00 PM – Khamoro Budapest Band (HU)
8:30 PM – Ando Glaso (HU–SK–RO)
Romania – Sfântu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy)
Szimpla, Strada 1 Decembrie 1918, No. 37
7:00 PM – Kucu Banda (HU)
8:30 PM – Fláre Beás (HU)
Serbia – within the Malom Festival
Old Mill, Orom
8:00 PM – Vojake Shave (HU)
9:30 PM – Kale Lulugyi (HU)
Poland – within the Kotelnica Summer Festival
Środkowa 181b, 34-405 Białka Tatrzańska
4:00 PM – Teresa Mirga and Kale Bala (PL)
7:00 PM – Karaván Família (HU)