‘I went to Sziget Festival and discovered a real queer haven’

Nestled between the two halves of Budapest (Buda on the west bank and Pest on the east, for those unacquainted with the Hungarian capital) sits an unassuming island in the Danube River, which, every August, transforms into the home of one of Europe’s largest and most eclectic festivals.

Sziget, known to locals as “The Island of Freedom”, sees hundreds of thousands of international festival goers each year storm Óbuda Island’s shores for the five-day celebration of music, art, and self-expression. And with this year’s lineup boasting the likes of Zara Larsson, Ashnikko, SOMBR, and Florence and the Machine (to rival last year’s viral Chappell Roan headline slot) – we thought, why not join them?

With 50 stages and over 1,000 performances across the week, “Szitizens” are spoiled for choice – from main stage offerings to local gems to late-night raves, this year’s festival was teeming with possibilities for its LGBTQ+ visitors. But whilst Zara and SOMBR lit up the main stage, we decided to go deeper into the island to discover the real queer haven of Sziget.

Magic Mirror: A Queer Hidden Gem

Hidden amongst Sziget’s winding paths, art exhibits, and food trucks, Szitizens will find themselves drawn to a large, wooden pavilion flanked by fluorescent neon lights, rainbow fences, and the distant sounds of electronic music from nearby stages. This is Magic Mirror, the festival’s dedicated LGBTQ+ venue, which has been a celebrated staple of Sziget for over 25 years. In both the tent and the runway stage outside, this corner of the festival offers a varied programme of performances, workshops, panels, and parties, spanning everything from disco to drag circus.

For those who come early, Magic Mirror provides an array of daily talks, workshops and panel discussions whilst the sun is up, tackling many aspects of the LGBTQ+ experience. The discussions, aptly named ‘Mirror Talks’, have marked an important part of the venue’s programming for years, and remain heavily attended by the community. This year, attendees could attend taboo-free panels about gender identity, drag, and online activism, just to name a few, with each panel drawing insightful discussion between local experts and Sziget performers. And whilst school may be in session inside the tent, attendees can also opt to learn a new skill elsewhere in the equally popular daily voguing workshops held outside.

Throughout each day, the venue flaunts a broad slate of musical performances, cabaret, and dancers. Guests on the hunt for genre-defying performance art could step into the world of Palestinian pop artist, Bashar Murad, or Ivo Dimchev, a Bulgarian singer-songwriter, whilst Diana Salles’ contemporary circus solo act ‘DELUSIONAL: I Killed A Man’ unwinds both the beauty and anguish of self-discovery in one woman’s transition.  On the other end of the spectrum, those wandering into Magic Mirror in the early hours of the morning are treated to all-night disco, with the local and international ballroom scene coming together to transform the stage into a ballroom blitz.

“Be Who You Want To Be, Wear What You Want To Wear, Love Who You Want To Love”

But the real jewel in Magic Mirror’s crown is ‘Carnivale Royale’, a heartstopping production by drag house and circus company ‘House of Circus.’ A combination of drag, cabaret, and circus, Carnivale Royale’s five-night residency brought in an overwhelming amount of fans each night, some returning for multiple shows, to catch the breathtaking performances of the collective. 

Led by House of Circus founders Hayden and Iconnee, Carnivale Royale merges acrobatics, dance, drag, and more over the course of one adrenaline-fueled hour, with impressive acts from six different performers. 

“We hope that audiences feel like they belong,”  co-founder Germain Iconnee exclusively told us. “That they’re part of our family, that they’re part of something bigger.”

Their motto is simple: “Be who you want to be, wear what you want to wear, love who you want to love.” From aerial pole dancing to sword swallowing to hula hoop wizardry, Carnivale Royale feels more like an experience than a show, frequently inviting its audience to live authentically and be their unapologetic selves. 

“Sziget Is The One Place Where You Can Just Be Yourself”

Walking around Magic Mirror and the areas surrounding it, there is a palpable sense of excitement from those moving through it. What makes Magic Mirror, and Sziget as a whole, feel especially vital is its political backdrop: Hungary’s conservative politics have had deep and lasting impacts on its LGBTQ+ community, where same-sex marriage is still banned and homosexual couples don’t have access to equal rights. Famously, ex Prime Minister Viktor Orbán tried to ban Budapest Pride in 2025, amongst various other anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Despite Orbán’s defeat in the 2026 parliamentary election, anti-LGBTQ+ sensibilities remain across the country. 

One festival-goer spoke to us about the importance of the inclusivity of Sziget: “Within the Hungarian climate, Sziget is the one place where you can just be yourself and not be afraid.”

Another said: “Budapest is not a very inclusive place, at least that’s what I’ve experienced. But here, you have a place for queer people to be who they are.”

Sziget Festival itself was founded in 1993, a small student event amidst the aftermath of communism’s defeat, to provide a space for young people and new ideals to gather. The Island of Freedom, from its inception, has always promoted self-acceptance, diversity and inclusion, an oasis for many marginalised communities. These days, a haven like this feels all the more important to preserve.

You can pre-register for Sziget 2027 Super Early Bird tickets now, available here. Tickets go on sale on 24th August and are running until 27th August 10pm (CET).

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