Szent Istvan Day — Holy Mass and the Holy Right Hand procession
Thu 20 Aug, 17:00 · St Stephen's Basilica, Szent Istvan ter, Budapest · Budapest
via GoTravel.hu (Szent Istvan Day programme listing; official programme at szentistvannap.hu) · Checked 5 Aug 2026
About this event
The oldest thread of the holiday: a festive mass at St Stephen's Basilica followed by the Szent Jobb procession, in which the mummified right hand of Hungary's first king is carried in its reliquary through the streets around the basilica, accompanied by clergy, choirs and religious orders. It is a thousand-year-old rite performed in front of a modern city crowd, and quietly the most striking thing on the programme.
Why we picked it
A genuine millennium-old procession through central Budapest, open to anyone who turns up.
Free entry
Free — listed as 'Reszveteli dij: Ingyenes'. Basilica interior capacity is limited; the procession is on the street.
Registration
None
A third-party event from official public listings, checked by Glentio. Programmes can change — confirm on the organiser's site.
Organise one of these?
Add your event to GlentioFree around town
Free events we found in Budapest from official city and venue listings. Tap an event for details — booking happens on the organiser's own site.
