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Tens of thousands march in first Budapest Pride since Orbán was voted out

Tens of thousands of Hungarians joined the first Budapest Pride march since Viktor Orbán's election defeat in April, braving record heat in the city to walk with huge rainbow and European Union flags.

The event marks a new era of openness after 16 years of Orbán's government, during which the event faced consistent restrictions and Orbán had sought to ban it entirely.

Hungarian LGBTQ+ supporters

Hungarian LGBTQ+ communities and supporters describe the march as the start of a new era after 16 years of restrictions under Orbán's government.

Hungarian far-right activists

Far-right activists opposed the event, removing rainbow flags from the Elisabeth Bridge and replacing them with Hungarian flags to prevent potential troubles.

  • Budapest Pride has been held annually since 1995, making this the 31st iteration of the event.
  • Orbán's government passed laws in 2021 restricting LGBTQ+ content in schools and media before losing the 2026 election.
  • The Elisabeth Bridge connecting Buda and Pest is a historic landmark in Budapest, often used for public demonstrations.