Shine! Opening event – in 1 days!

The official opening of the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) programme year starts days before the grand launch event, so it's worth arriving in the region early.

The official opening of the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) programme year starts days before the grand launch event, so it's worth arriving in the region early.

17 January

The renewed permanent exhibition of House of Arts Tegularium in Veszprém opens on 17 January at 5PM in the Dubniczay Palace, followed by a new temporary exhibition of Balaton retro at 6PM, featuring Balaton related objects and paper relics from 1930 to 1980.

On the same day, the bistro Papírkutya will host one of the UK's most dynamic emerging artists. From 7PM, Sebastian Schub will bring his unique style of Irish folk, gritty American soul and blues.

18 January

The House of Arts welcomes art lovers with another exhibition opening. From 6PM the exhibition of Munkácsy Prize-winning artist Gyula Várnai opens at Csikász Gallery.

On the same day, from 4:30PM, you can take a walking tour of Veszprém, courtesy of Tourinform, while the University of Pannonia is hosting an open day in the lobby of Building B for those who are about to choose a career or want to go back to school.

If you missed Sebastien Schub's concert the previous evening, you can catch him on this day and on 19 January from 7PM, as the British music magician will be performing twice more on the Paper Dog stage.

19 January

A group exhibition of national and international glass artists opens at the House of Arts from 6PM.

20 January

On Art Collectors' Day, from 4PM, the House of Arts will once again host not one, but two exhibition openings. KULTUR.KONTAKT.KONKRET will present the Schroth Collection, and from 6PM onwards, an exhibition of works by women from the László Vass Collection will open.

The Archdiocese of Veszprém will give an insight into the process of restoration of church buildings from 2PM and from 4PM. Visitors can participate in guided tours, where they will not only learn about the projects but also about the history of the town.

In the evening, at TEREM, from 8PM, you can relax with an improvisative concert by Lithuanian Daumantas Lukosiunas, who plays improvised music on instruments like the shaman drum, the gong and the bass guitar.

21 JANUARY - OPENING DAY

On 21 January, the official opening day of the ECoC programme year, grand performances await everyone who visits Kossuth Street and its surroundings in Veszprém.

Folk music and folk dance lovers will be welcomed on the stage in Szent Imre Square, while bar pianists will dazzle the audience on the square in front of the Hangvilla. In front of the Town Hall, singing will be the focus of attention, with choirs from Veszprém and the region singing for and with the audience.

In Papírkutya, jazz, blues and soul phenomena will impress the audience all day long, and in Expresszó, the family party starts at 10AM, with a special electronic music party for all ages.

In the ECoC office window, the talented musicians of Little Moon production will play from 2PM until late at night, while in the Petőfi Theatre lovers of operetta, theatre and literature can find the performances they like.

On this day, there will also be four guided walks (10AM, 12AM, 14AM, 16AM) courtesy of the Archdiocese of Veszprém, where you can get an insight into the works in progress and the history of the town.

From 8PM to 9PM, the opening ceremony "Shine!" will take place in three locations: in the Old Town Square, on Kossuth Street and in the Castle, with spectacular performances. Light painting, music, dance, special choreographies and visual elements will weave through the streets of downtown Veszprém, bringing the history of the city, the diversity and values of the region and all that we can be proud of to life.

After the opening performances, the main entertainment will take place: electronic music DJ’s such as Kruder & Dorfmeister will spin records on Óváros Square from 9AM to 1AM.

22 January - Hungarian Culture Day

On 22 January, there will be another Veszprém Walk, courtesy of Tourinform, and the Archdiocesan Walks will continue at four times (10AM, 12AM, 14AM, 16AM). The House of Arts will have exhibitions all day long, from 10:00 until 8:00.

By the way exhibitions. Two performances await theatre lovers at Hangvilla. Forte Company and Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra's joint production, The Hammer of the Village, will be on show from 8PM, while Pannon Castle Theatre's play I am I (by János Háy) will be on at 6.30PM.

The Petőfi Theatre of Veszprém is preparing two productions on this day as well: in addition to the Feast of Adam and Eve, starting at 5PM, at 6PM, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Hymn, a joint recitation is being prepared in the torch-lit Theatre Garden, entitled Together Veszprém recites!

From 5PM in the University of Pannonia lobby, Ádám Bősze and Krisztián Nyáry will perform with the Mendelssohn Orchestra. The focus will be on the 200th anniversary of the Hymn.

In Papírkutyva we meet a participant of the Interurban project: the city of Kaunas, the 2022 ECoC host. The quintet CinAmono from Kaunas will perform playful improvisations on stage from 8PM.