15th WIND ROSE FESTIVAL
for Lutheran Youth in Hungary
Sopron, Hungary, 8 to 12 July, 2026
Introducing the Wind Rose Lutheran Youth Festival
Wind Rose was established 30 years ago by young Lutherans under the auspices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary. At that time, organizing such a big Christian event on a national scale was completely unique in Hungary. Hundreds of young people gathered for the first festival. Since then, the audience of this biennial gathering has grown to several thousand people and it has become one of the largest events for Lutherans in Hungary. In addition to worship services, devotions and panel discussions, the festival also offers concerts on several stages, sports competitions, games, crafts and DIY workshops as well as cultural programs.
The festival is unique both regionally and nationally. Its program is compiled with the aim of providing space for participants of various confessions to experience their faith but also to have fun in a meaningful and enriching way.
The festival primarily targets young people between the ages 14 and 30, with special emphasis on high school students, but it is open to anyone attending. From the very beginning, we have stressed the importance of involving people with various disabilities as well as Hungarian-speaking and international groups arriving from abroad.
Each Wind Rose festival is organized at a different location: in 2026, the venue will be the Erzsébet-kert of Sopron in Western Hungary.
3+1 fun facts about the Wind Rose Festival
1. It is a festival and a gathering in one: there are several programs running parallel and you can pick the ones you want to participate in.
2. We are constantly “on the move”: the festival has a different venue every time.
3. Christians are not restricted to seeking God in silence with heads down – you are allowed to be noisy and cheerful, play, laugh and enjoy life to its fullest. Yet, it is important to know when and where to start looking for your “inner room”.
+1. We are Lutherans but we gladly welcome members of other confessional communities. And we are equally glad if you decide to join us as a "seeker".
What if you don’t understand the language?
You can enjoy a range of programs even if you don’t speak Hungarian or English. Concerts, sports events, disco or folk dance, jam sessions, exhibitions or board games don’t require much language.
Program offer in English
Worship services and daily devotions will be interpreted into English. Our International Tent will provide programs in English every day. All the other program tents will have a sign marking whether there is a staff person in the tent who you can talk to in English.
Registration and tickets
Registration opens in the spring of 2026.
Meals
You can pre-order lunches during registration: the menu of your choice will be served in the canteen tent from 12 p.m. Thursday to Sunday. In addition, you can buy snacks and drinks in the cafés and food trucks at the festival venue or bring the food you purchased in the grocery stores and bakeries in the neighborhood on site.
The consumption of alcohol is forbidden in the festival areas accessible with an entrance ticket and at the camping site.
Accommodation
Camping is free of charge for all participants. The camping site will be set up at the festival grounds, in a central and wooded area of the university campus, and it will be equipped with mobile sanitary and washing facilities. Participants are required to bring their own tents and camping equipment along. Those wishing to stay in guesthouses or hotels instead, should use one of the online booking sites e.g. Booking.com.
Travel
Groups organize their travel to the festival individually. Our staff has no capacity to assist you in this regard. The easiest way to get to Sopron from Budapest or from Vienna is by rail; you can buy your ticket at the homepage of the Hungarian Railway Company or at the railway stations.
Contact
Bence Baranyay (bencebaranyay@gmail.com, +36 20 778 9574)
Looking forward to meeting you in Sopron between 8 and 12 July 2026.