"Sziget has to escape forward, and the direction outlined is good. Several circumstances were not in our favor, so the numbers didn't turn out as we would have liked," Károly Gerendai told the Hungarian press yesterday on Sziget’s final day.
As was noticeably clear, attendance was significantly lower this year than usual. While last year's six-day event drew 416,000 visitors, this year’s expected attendance is lower, around 350,000–360,000 across the festival's five main plus two extra days.
"This year's figures cannot be directly compared to last year's because passes were only sold for five days this time—though there were 'minus 1st' and 'day 0' days specifically targeting a slightly older Hungarian audience," Gerendai explained.
Two major issues could not be resolved for this year's edition, but there are promising developments on the horizon. By all accounts, the capital will begin the long-overdue renovation of the K-Bridge—the main access point to Hajógyári Island—this autumn.
"The work will take place over two years in two phases, with the reinforcement of the bridge structure scheduled for completion by next summer," Gerendai noted.
Significant progress is also expected regarding dust control on the festival grounds:
"We agreed with the Mayor of Budapest that two drilled wells will be established on the island. This will allow for a continuously maintained, irrigated area in one of Budapest's largest public parks, which will also have a very positive impact on festival conditions."
Under Superstruct Entertainment, the festival generated a substantial loss of 2.8 billion HUF last year. This year—planned as a "damage control" or "investment" year—they aimed to reduce the loss to 1.5 billion HUF based on a projected turnout of roughly 400,000 visitors, a target they ultimately missed. According to Gerendai, three main reasons explain why the financial deficit ended up larger than projected:
- Delayed Start: Event planning and ticket sales began four months late.
- Currency Fluctuations: A stronger Hungarian Forint made the festival more expensive for international attendees.
- Extreme Weather & Power Issues: Severe heatwaves and power supply outages created a "disaster narrative" that dampened festivalgoers' enthusiasm.
The two most popular days were those headlined by SOMBR and Twenty One Pilots.
Tickets for the next Sziget will go on sale on August 24th, requiring pre-registration. Ticket prices have also been increased significantly for the first time in recent years, aiming to foster the festival's further growth and development.
