Every year, the best underground bands, theatres, and the majority of the NGO scene gather in a small lakeside village in Hungary. Participate in the country’s leading socially conscious small festival as a volunteer!
Partner
Bánkitó is Hungary’s biggest independent, socially conscious, cultural and community festival with a wide range of programmes throughout its three days (9-12 July 2025) in the summer from music through theatre to contemporary art. It offers concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions, civil initiatives, workshops, and round-table discussions about social justice issues, human rights, and the experiences and cultures of minorities. It takes place at Bánkitó, a small Hungarian village 60kms away from Budapest.
The music at the festival is progressive, contemporary, and constantly renewing, with the newest and most exciting bands of the Hungarian music scene. The civil/cultural programs always poke at important and actual topics, working towards understanding society’s issues with activists from NGOs, musicians, actors, and artists. Contemporary Hungarian theatre pieces will be showcased, and Hungary’s most exciting contemporary artists will transform the shores of Lake Bánk into an art exhibition.
Volunteering
Join the Bankitó Festival team as a volunteer and be part of an unforgettable experience! We are looking for volunteers to help with the festival setup from July 7-9 and cleanup from July 12-13. Your tasks will include construction work such as drilling, assembling, and moving heavy objects – all necessary tools will be provided. In return, you’ll get free access to the festival, where you can enjoy all the programs, concerts, and the vibrant community atmosphere.
Accommodation and food
You will live in tents during the festival and you are asked to bring your own tent (we can provide some if needed) and sleeping bags. The wheather in the nights can be cold, so it is suggested to bring warm clothes as well. The first meal will be the breakfast on 7th morning, so please bring some food with you for the first evening. You will receive breakfast and a hot lunch around 2 pm each day. A vegetarian option is available. We provide all the equipment needed to fulfil your tasks.
Location and leisure
Bánk is a tiny village in Nógrád County, centered around the not-so-tiny Lake Bánk. It has everything a lakeside village might need: a small store, a tobacco shop, a pizzeria, a pub, a few hotels and motels, and a lakeside eatery. However, there is no ATM, local shops have a limited selection, and during the festival, the village can get quite crowded—so if you have any special needs, be sure to bring what you’ll need!
Bánkitó Festival has been a part of the town for 13 years, primarily around the Lakeshore and the Camp. Over the years, it has expanded to the Reeds and the Meadow, creating a unique atmosphere. The lake, the charming wooden cabins, and the hidden venues tucked away in small forest clearings all contribute to Bánkitó’s distinctive character. All of this takes place in the scenic surroundings of Lake Bánk, just a one-hour drive or a leisurely half-day bike ride from Budapest.
About the Festival
This year, the Bánkitó Festival explores how we perceive the world around us. Do you feel overwhelmed by too much information yet still struggle to make decisions? https://bankitofesztival.hu/
Travel
Meeting point: Budapest “Újpest Városkapu” 4 PM, Sunday, July 6. It takes approximately one hour to reach Újpest-Városkapu from the airport using the airport bus and Metro line M3.
From Újpest, the team will travel together by public bus to Bánk, first taking a bus to Rétság and then transferring to another bus to Bánk. The total journey takes about 1.5 hours. Buses run roughly every two hours, so you have the option to arrive earlier or slightly later. However, we strongly recommend taking the 7:30 PM bus at the latest, as you’ll still need to set up your tents upon arrival, and doing so at night can be much more challenging.
Requirements
You should be fit enough for physically demanding work. No language requirements, but we require a way to communicate with the organizers in Hungarian or English. Please bring clothes that you won’t regret getting dirty during construction, your sleeping bag and personal medicine.
Please send us a motivation letter focusing on why you would choose to work on the festival, and what kind of related skills or previous experiences you have had at the chosen field, for example doing physical work (construction and demolition) on warm summer days. You do not need any special skills to volunteer at the festival.
