Hungary Prepares for Commemoration of 1956 Revolution Anniversary

The Government Information Centre (KTK) announced that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is set to deliver a speech on October 23, commemorating Hungary’s national holiday in Millenaris Park, Budapest. This event marks the 68th anniversary of the 1956 revolution and freedom fight against communist rule.

Official celebrations will commence on October 22, with a series of events beginning at 2 p.m. Dignitaries are scheduled to lay wreaths at a memorial located at the Budapest Technical and Economics University. This will be followed by a speech from Gergely Gulyás, head of the Prime Minister’s Office, at 3 p.m. Later, at 4 p.m., a torch-lit march involving 2,500 students will proceed to Bem Square, where Speaker of Parliament László Kövér will address the audience.

On October 23, national ceremonies will include the hoisting of the Hungarian flag at Kossuth Square, in front of the Parliament, at 9 a.m. President Tamás Sulyok will deliver a speech at a gala scheduled to take place at the Palace of Arts (Mupa) at 6 p.m.

To honor the occasion, several venues will be open to the public at no cost, including the Parliament and the House of Terror Museum, offering a deep dive into the historical context of the 1956 revolution. Additional memorial services will take place at the Heroes' Wall at the House of Terror Museum and Plot 301 of the New Public Cemetery.