Hungary’s Sziget Festival originally began under the name Diáksziget in 1993.
Diáksziget means “Students’ Island,” reflecting the event’s early identity and its location on Óbuda Island in Budapest. The festival was created after the political and cultural changes of the early 1990s, when organizers sought a large, independent cultural gathering for young people.
The event later adopted names including Pepsi Sziget before becoming known simply as Sziget Festival. “Sziget” is Hungarian for “island,” an appropriate name for a festival held on an island in the Danube.
Sziget grew from a primarily Hungarian event into a major international festival featuring music, theater, circus, art, and cultural programs. Its island setting remains central to its identity.