Budapest in February has its own quiet charm. The city feels crisp and atmospheric, wrapped in winter’s glow. And yet, it’s also the time of year when cold days linger, nights feel longer, and many of us begin counting down to spring.
That’s exactly why Hungary celebrates Farsang, the joyful carnival season filled with masks, costumes, music, and togetherness. For centuries, this tradition has been a way of chasing winter away, welcoming light back into the streets, and stepping into renewal through play.
This year, IKONO Budapest brings that spirit into the present with a vibrant invitation to experience carnival in a completely immersive way.
Carnival Tuesdays at IKONO: where interactive art meets celebration, and every room carries the energy of Farsang.
Farsang has long been one of Hungary’s most beloved festive seasons. Communities would gather to dance, dress up, laugh, and celebrate together before winter came to an end. More than just a carnival, it was a symbolic ritual, a joyful transformation that reminded people that brighter days were coming. And that feeling is exactly what awaits you inside IKONO.
Because IKONO is not a traditional exhibition. Here, art is not something you simply observe from a distance. It surrounds you, moves with you, invites you to step in and take part. During February, arriving in a costume or carnival mask becomes part of the experience itself, turning every visit into a living celebration of Farsang.
Your presence adds colour. Your energy transforms the space. Your play brings the carnival to life.
Carnival Tuesdays are more than just a fun winter plan. They’re a reminder of something deeper: that play is powerful. It connects us, lifts us, and helps us leave the heaviness of winter behind. Inside IKONO, adults rediscover imagination, children feel completely free, and everyone becomes part of a shared moment of joy.
Because kidulting isn’t about escaping life. It’s about returning to wonder.
Farsang has always been about togetherness, and IKONO is the perfect place to experience it. Families can share a playful adventure through immersive rooms, couples can enjoy a date that feels unexpected and full of light, and visitors of all ages can celebrate creativity in a space where art has no rules, only connection.
So this February, don’t just wait for spring. Celebrate your way into it! Bring your favourite mask, step into the extraordinary, and turn an ordinary Tuesday into a carnival memory you’ll never forget.
