It was announced at a press conference that the 2,026 guests of honour at the Gundel Ball on 7 February will be iconic figures from Hungarian space exploration: Tibor Kapu, Gyula Cserényi and Bertalan Farkas. They embody the „Among the Stars” theme of this social event, where knowledge, achievement and community come together at the Gundel restaurant.

The Gundel Ball 2026 is the Gundel It embodies a heritage stretching back more than 130 years. It revives the community-building power of grand city balls and combines it with the experiences of the 21st century, whilst preserving Gundel’s elegance and legendary hospitality. Within the palace’s walls, a social culture is brought back to life in which gastronomy, music, dance and human connection intertwine naturally. This is not a replica of the past, but a modern reinterpretation of it.

The message of the Gundel Ball

The message of the ball is encapsulated in its motto: „Among the stars – at the Gundel Ball, everyone can be the star of the ball.” 

The stars symbolise all those who have brought a sparkle to the Gundel over the past 130 years – guests, artists, public figures and ordinary people who have celebrated here.

The message of the ball is that elegance is not a status symbol, but a communal experience, The concept draws inspiration from Gundel’s iconic evenings of the past, but adapts the ball format to the present day: it is not about keeping one’s distance, but about connection, community and shared experiences.
The guests of honour at this community event are Tibor Kapu, Gyula Cserényi and Bertalan Farkas, who represent three different eras of Hungarian space exploration. Their joint appearance is a rare and symbolic occasion: they embody scientific achievement, perseverance and the power of community in a space that has always been a place of encounters. It was noted that, in this context, the „Among the Stars” concept is not merely a theme but also a statement of substance: it emphasises the experiences of the past, the knowledge of the present and the possibilities of the future all at once.

Jenő Magyary, managing director of Gundel, emphasised that he would like the ball to become a genuine social event, providing an opportunity to forge connections and create an inclusive environment

According to him, they are expecting 350–400 guests at the ball, and tickets are still on sale.
One of the highlights of the ball is the opening dance, performed by young people attending their first ball under the expert guidance of dancer Andrea Keleti. The participants are young people from the general public, coming from various places. The choreography offers a contemporary interpretation of the Viennese waltz. The opening dance also demonstrates the ball’s inclusive ethos: the group includes a couple in wheelchairs, with the collaboration of the Budapest Association for People with Physical Disabilities, and they form an integral part of the choreography. Social responsibility is, of course, a central theme at the ball. Throughout the evening, guests can use donation forms to support causes that align with Gundel’s community-focused ethos.  

At the ball, three organisations will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and raise funds: the Budapest Association for People with Physical Disabilities, Sinosz – the National Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Lámpás ’92 Public Benefit Foundation – said Gábor Nagy, founder and owner of the Eventrend Group.

Among the wines served is one whose history literally reaches for the stars. The Chardonnay grape seeds from Etyeki Kúria not only set out on their journey from the earth, but also made it into outer space: the winery donated the seeds to the Orion Space Generation Foundation as part of a mission to send Hungarian plant seeds into space.

The culinary demonstration at the press conference is based on the latest instalment of the ‘Celebrities’ Menus’ series. The menu in honour of Pope John Paul II is the Pannonhalma Benedictine Archabbey It carries on the legacy of an event in 1996 linked to its thousandth-anniversary, when the Gundel team of the time prepared Pope John Paul II’s lunch and dinner, with Kálmán Kalla overseeing the culinary preparations. The contemporary version of the menu consists of four courses: wild mushrooms sautéed in butter served with brioche and veal jus; a fragrant caraway soup with vegetables and poached quail’s eggs; roast pike-perch Gundel-style; a vanilla, chocolate and walnut „Pannonhalmok” dessert. The menu will be available at the Gundel restaurant from mid-February.