Szeged is located in southern Hungary, around 175 km from Budapest.

From Budapest Airport

The easiest option is to take bus 200E from Terminal 2 to Ferihegy railway station, then a direct Napfény InterCity train to Szeged. The train journey takes about 2 hours.

From Budapest

Direct trains to Szeged depart from Budapest-Nyugati station approximately once an hour. Journey time: around 2 hours 25 minutes.

From Serbia

Direct regional trains connect Subotica and Szeged. Border controls apply when entering Hungary from Serbia.

From Romania

Szeged can also be reached from western Romania, especially via Timișoara. Hungary and Romania are both in the Schengen Area.

From Slovenia

Travellers from Slovenia can reach Szeged via Budapest, with international rail connections from Ljubljana.

Other Airports

Depending on your route, Belgrade, Timișoara, Vienna and Ljubljana may also be suitable alternatives.

Please check current transport schedules before travelling, as timetables for August–September 2027 may change.

Applications are now open for the III International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition, taking place in Szeged, Hungary, from 29 August to 5 September 2027 with the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged.

Regular applications are open until 31 May 2027 with an application fee of EUR 100. Late applications will be accepted from 1–15 June 2027 for EUR 120.

Candidates selected for the Live Phase will be announced around the end of June 2027. The EUR 400 Participation Fee is payable only by candidates accepted to the Live Phase.

All rounds of the Live Phase of the II International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition will feature a full symphony orchestra on stage — a valued collaboration with the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged that we are especially proud to present.

The Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged is the leading symphonic ensemble in South-East Hungary. Its origins date back to the 18th century, with the first large exhibition stands in Szeged taking place in 1790. Since then, the city has continuously supported a group of professional instrumentalists.

In 1919, the orchestra was formally established as part of the Szeged Philharmonic Association. Among its principal conductors was Ferenc Fricsay, who led the ensemble from 1934 to 1944 and played a key role in shaping its artistic direction.

In the 1940s, the orchestra worked with several notable guest conductors, including Willem Mengelberg, Erich Kleiber, and Pietro Mascagni, who conducted a performance of his Cavalleria rusticana.

The orchestra remains active today, continuing its work as a cultural institution with a long-standing tradition.

We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the II International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition (IFFCC), held in partnership with the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged.

The deadline for applications is 13.07.2025.

Take the podium!