STORY: Hungary's Sziget Festival 2023 kicks off
DATELINE: Aug. 11, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:50
LOCATION: Budapest
CATEGORY: CULTURE
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of festival goers
2. various of the festival
 
STORYLINE:
 
The Sziget Festival, Hungary's much-anticipated summer highlight, kicked off in Budapest on Thursday, promising a week of electrifying performances and cross-cultural celebrations.
 
Between Aug. 10 and Aug. 15, the festival 2023 will host an array of international stars, and artists from 62 countries and regions will perform in various genres across more than 50 program venues. Nearly 200 Hungarian talents will also showcase their creativity.
   
From its inception in 1993, Sziget Festival has grown into a global phenomenon, attracting participants from over a hundred countries and regions. In 2018, the festival reached its zenith with a record-breaking 565,000 attendees in a single week.
   
With a history spanning three decades, the festival has evolved into a magnet for music enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Last year saw a turnout of approximately 450,000 festival goers.
   
The 30th-anniversary edition of the festival embodies an international spirit, drawing visitors primarily from the Netherlands, followed by the United Kingdom and Ireland, while maintaining a near-even split between foreign and domestic attendees, according to Tamas Kadar, the event's main organizer.
   
Following a turbulent period, including the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival has emerged stronger, embracing innovative enhancements while returning to its former glory, Kadar said.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Budapest.
(XHTV)