Hungary Rival rallies kick off 2026 election campaign

Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn out for rival rallies for Viktor Orbán's ruling party and for his main opponent as they kick off campaigning for elections next year in a highly polarised political climate.

- Lili Rutai

Today's anniversary of Hungary's thwarted 1956 uprising against Soviet rule holds a central place in the ideology of the populist far-right Fidesz party, which was once firmly anti-Soviet but has grown closer to Russia under Orbán.

Fidesz, which has been in power since 2010, has said it expects a record turnout at this year's commemoration in Budapest and that Orbán will address his supporters at the parliament. Hailed by the party as a peace march, the rally was dealt a blow this week when it emerged that a meeting in Budapest that had been mooted between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin - touted as a personal triumph by Orbán - would not be taking place.

As it snakes its way through the capital, the party's rally will have to bypass another demonstration - that of Péter Magyar, a former Fidesz insider who has become Orbán's main competitor amid widespread dissatisfaction over record inflation and political scandals.