Tens of thousands of people gathered in Budapest on June 27, 2026, to celebrate the Budapest Pride parade, marking the first such event since the defeat of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Despite scorching heat, participants took to the streets in a show of support for LGBTQ+ rights.

Orban's government, which had been in power for 16 years, was known for some of the European Union's most restrictive LGBTQ+ policies. Last year, Orban's administration passed legislation and a constitutional amendment banning the Pride march, citing concerns that such events violated children's rights to moral and spiritual development. Nevertheless, an estimated 200,000 people defied the ban and participated in the event.

In April 2026, pro-EU conservative Prime Minister Peter Magyar and his Tisza party won a landslide victory, ending Orban's long tenure. Petra Toth, an 18-year-old attending her first Pride with her girlfriend, told AFP, "I think the situation is getting better and better, mainly because of the change in government."

However, Magyar's government has not yet announced any specific measures to reverse the Orban-era legislation restricting LGBTQ+ rights. When asked about the possibility of allowing same-sex marriage or adoption, Magyar stated, "We have made it clear that, in our view, everyone is free to love whom they want and live with whom they want, as long as they do not violate the law."

Magyar also indicated openness to discussing socially and politically sensitive issues if there is public demand.

Sources