BUDAPEST — Tens of thousands of people gathered in Budapest on June 27, 2026, for the 31st annual Budapest Pride march. Police authorized the event despite previous legislation outlawing it.

The march began at the Opera house and proceeded through the city center, crossing the Erzsébet Bridge over the Danube River. Temperatures reached at least 38 C (100 F) during the event, prompting organizers to distribute water bottles. Budapest's public water utility also opened fountains along the march route to assist participants.

Police provided security along the entire route of the Budapest Pride event. Viktor Orbán, who had served as Prime Minister of Hungary for 16 years, was ousted in an election in April 2026. Péter Magyar and his Tisza party defeated Orbán in that election. The Orbán government had passed legislation and a constitutional amendment outlawing the Pride event more than a year prior to June 2026.

The new Hungarian government has not yet repealed the legislation that outlawed Pride. In April 2026, the European Union's highest court ruled that Orbán-era legislation from 2021, which banned the availability of LGBTQ+ content to minors, violated EU law.

Luca Új participated in the Budapest Pride march. "There used to be a lot of tension. But now I see people as being somehow happier, and there are more older people, too," Új said. Kristóf Györgyi traveled from Szeged to take part in the march.

"The fact that there's already a debate in Parliament about whether an orphaned child is better off with a same-sex couple or in an orphanage is a positive sign," Györgyi said. He added, "Obviously, the laws haven't changed yet, but there are already many signs of hope for our community." Organizers estimated attendance at the previous year's Pride march at over 350,000.

Why It Matters

The authorization of the 31st annual Budapest Pride march on June 27, 2026, signifies a shift in the political landscape of Hungary following the April 2026 election. The event proceeded despite an Orbán-era law explicitly outlawing it, which remains in effect. The involvement of Budapest's public services and police authorization indicates a change in official response compared to previous years under the former administration.

The march took place during ongoing legal and parliamentary discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary. The EU's highest court ruled in April 2026 against a 2021 law from the previous government regarding LGBTQ+ content and minors. Participants noted a change in atmosphere and expressed hope regarding recent parliamentary debates concerning same-sex couples, even as existing legislation affecting the community has not yet been revised.