March 15 – State Decorations – Kossuth Prize

On the occasion of Hungary’s national holiday, March 15, the President of the Republic awarded state decorations.

Budapest, March 14, 2026 – President Tamás Sulyok delivered a speech at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes in the Dome Hall of the Parliament, marking the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence.

 

Recipients of the Kossuth Grand Prize:

 

Budapest, March 14, 2026 – László Gőz, trombone artist and director of the Budapest Music Center, receives the Kossuth Grand Prize on behalf of György Kurtág—a Wolf Prize-winning composer and pianist, two-time Kossuth Prize and three-time Ferenc Erkel Prize laureate, Artist of the Nation—at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes, held on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Hungarian Parliament on March 14, 2026. (MTI/Zoltán Máthé)

GYÖRGY KURTÁG, Wolf Prize-winning composer and pianist, two-time Kossuth Prize and three-time Ferenc Erkel Prize laureate, Artist of the Nation, is honored in recognition of his exceptionally valuable and epoch-making life’s work for Hungary, his compositions that renew the noblest traditions of Hungarian classical music in a groundbreaking way, his globally influential artistry, and his outstanding educational work that has shaped generations of artists, 

 

Budapest, March 14, 2026 – Miklós Melocco, sculptor, Artist of the Nation, Kossuth Prize and Mihály Munkácsy Prize laureate, Meritorious Artist, holder of the Hungarian Corvin Chain, and full member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, receives the Kossuth Grand Prize at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes, held on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Hungarian Parliament on March 14, 2026. Standing beside him are President of the Republic Tamás Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. (MTI/Tibor Illyés)

MIKLÓS MELOCCO, sculptor, Artist of the Nation, Kossuth Prize and Mihály Munkácsy Prize laureate, Meritorious Artist, holder of the Hungarian Corvin Chain, and full member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, is honored in recognition of his exceptionally valuable and epoch-making life’s work for Hungary, his artistic creations that renew the language of sculpture with monumental power and profound humanistic content, reflecting the unity of tradition and modern spirit.

 

Recipients of the Kossuth Prize:

 

Budapest, March 14, 2026 – Gábor János Csupó, multiple Emmy Award-winning director of animated and live-action films, producer, and musician, receives the Kossuth Prize at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes, held on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Hungarian Parliament on March 14, 2026. (MTI/Zoltán Máthé)

GÁBOR JÁNOS CSUPÓ, multiple Emmy Award-winning director of animated and live-action films, producer, and musician, is honored in recognition of his exceptionally valuable career for Hungary, his exemplary creative work that strengthens the international reputation of Hungarian culture, emerging from the noblest traditions of Hungarian animation and achieving unparalleled worldwide success,

MÓNIKA FISCHL, Liszt Ferenc Prize-winning singer and actress, is honored in recognition of her exceptionally valuable artistic career for Hungary, her memorable performances in the most significant leading roles of the primadonna repertoire, and her dedicated and successful performing artistry that popularizes the operetta genre worldwide.

 

Budapest, March 14, 2026 – Tibor Gáspár, Jászai Mari Prize-winning actor and director, Meritorious Artist, receives the Kossuth Prize at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes, held on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Hungarian Parliament on March 14, 2026. (MTI/Zoltán Máthé)

TIBOR GÁSPÁR, Jászai Mari Prize-winning actor and director, Meritorious Artist, is honored in recognition of his exceptionally valuable artistic career for Hungary, his outstanding performances in tragic, comic, and absurd plays alike, and his memorable acting in theatre, film, and dubbing,

 

Budapest, March 14, 2026 – Levente Gyöngyösi, Ferenc Erkel Prize-winning composer and Meritorious Artist, receives the Kossuth Prize at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes, held on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Hungarian Parliament on March 14, 2026. (MTI/Zoltán Máthé)

LEVENTE GYÖNGYÖSI, Ferenc Erkel Prize-winning composer and Meritorious Artist, is honored in recognition of his exceptionally valuable artistic career for Hungary, which is also highly acclaimed in the international music scene, as well as for his works composed with unparalleled ingenuity and an innovative musical language, appealing to a wide audience,

 

Budapest, March 14, 2026 – András Kisfaludy, Balázs Béla Prize-winning director and producer, Excellent and Meritorious Artist, member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, receives the Kossuth Prize at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes, held on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Hungarian Parliament on March 14, 2026. Standing beside him are President of the Republic Tamás Sulyok, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Speaker of the National Assembly László Kövér. (MTI/Tibor Illyés)

ANDRÁS KISFALUDY, Balázs Béla Prize-winning director and producer, Excellent and Meritorious Artist, member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, is honored in recognition of his exceptionally valuable artistic career for Hungary, his outstandingly prolific and versatile creative work enriching Hungarian culture with iconic documentary films, as well as his significant activity as a performer,

 

Budapest, 14 March 2026. János Lackfi, writer and poet awarded the Babérkoszorú Prize and the Attila József Prize (b2), receives the Kossuth Prize from President Tamás Sulyok (b), Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (b3), and László Kövér, Speaker of the National Assembly (j), at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Parliament Building on 14 March 2026. Next to him is President Tamás Sulyok (b). MTI/Zoltán Máthé

JÁNOS LACKFI, writer and poet awarded the Babérkoszorú Prize and the Attila József Prize, in recognition of his exceptionally valuable literary work for Hungary, characterized by a unique expressive power and elegant lightness, as well as profound thoughts hidden in playful turns, his particularly outstanding achievements in children’s literature, and his versatile activities promoting belles-lettres,

 

Budapest, 14 March 2026. Károly Nemcsák, actor awarded the Jászai Mari Prize, Merited and Excellent Artist, member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts (b2), receives the Kossuth Prize at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Parliament Building on 14 March 2026. Next to him are President Tamás Sulyok (b), Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (b3), and László Kövér, Speaker of the National Assembly (j). MTI/Tibor Illyés

KÁROLY NEMCSÁK, actor awarded the Jászai Mari Prize, Merited and Excellent Artist, member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, in recognition of his exceptionally valuable artistic career for Hungary, his memorable and widely popular performances in both television and feature films, as well as his exemplary work as a theatre director,

 

Budapest, 14 March 2026. Attila Pataky, singer, lyricist, frontman of EDDA Művek (b2), receives the Kossuth Prize at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Parliament Building on 14 March 2026. Next to him are President Tamás Sulyok (b), Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (b3), and László Kövér, Speaker of the National Assembly (j). MTI/Tibor Illyés

ATTILA PATAKY, singer, lyricist, frontman of EDDA Művek, in recognition of his exceptionally valuable career for Hungary, his epoch-making role in Hungarian rock music as one of the most defining figures of the decades around the political transition, his performance art marked by decades of unbroken popularity and unique dynamism, as well as his valuable work as a lyricist and band leader,

 

Budapest, 14 March 2026. Robert Lantos, film and television producer (j), receives the Kossuth Prize from President Tamás Sulyok (b), Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (b2, partially obscured), and László Kövér, Speaker of the National Assembly (b3, partially obscured), at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Parliament Building on 14 March 2026. MTI/Zoltán Máthé

ROBERT LANTOS, film and television producer, in recognition of his exceptionally valuable and internationally outstanding career for Hungary, particularly for his work in bringing about the historical television series Hunyadi, which presents Hungarian history—decisive in shaping medieval Europe—in a language accessible to young audiences and with world-class visual production, 

 

Budapest, 14 March 2026. According to a photo released by the Prime Minister’s Communications Department, Magdolna Rúzsa, singer, songwriter, and lyricist awarded the Máté Péter Prize, receives the Kossuth Prize from President Tamás Sulyok (b), Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (b3), and László Kövér, Speaker of the National Assembly (j), at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Parliament Building on 14 March 2026. MTI/Prime Minister’s Communications Department/Ákos Kaiser

MAGDOLNA RÚZSA, singer, songwriter, and lyricist awarded the Máté Péter Prize, in recognition of her exceptionally valuable, highly successful and exemplary performance career across the Carpathian Basin, her richly diverse contributions to Hungarian popular music, her compositions combining jazz and classical elements with a distinctive style, and her uniquely atmospheric lyrics,

 

Budapest, 14 March 2026. József Szurcsik, visual artist awarded the Mihály Munkácsy Prize, Merited Artist, full member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts and former deputy rector, receives the Kossuth Prize at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Parliament Building on 14 March 2026. MTI/Zoltán Máthé

JÓZSEF SZURCSIK, visual artist awarded the Mihály Munkácsy Prize, Merited Artist, full member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts and former deputy rector, in recognition of his exceptionally valuable artistic career for Hungary, his creative work characterized by suggestiveness and a distinctive system of motifs, his outstanding achievements not only in painting, graphic art, and sculpture but also in performance and interdisciplinary artistic-musical presentations, as well as his valuable work in art education,

 

Budapest, 14 March 2026. Erzsébet Tóth, poet and writer awarded the Babérkoszorú Prize and the Attila József Prize, full member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, receives the Kossuth Prize from President Tamás Sulyok (b), Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (b2, partially obscured), and László Kövér, Speaker of the National Assembly (b3), at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Parliament Building on 14 March 2026. MTI/Zoltán Máthé

ERZSÉBET TÓTH, poet and writer awarded the Babérkoszorú Prize and the Attila József Prize, full member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, in recognition of her exceptionally valuable artistic career for Hungary, her poetry representing conservative values while sensitively capturing both social and personal issues, and her work renewing the traditions of Hungarian lyric poetry.

 

Shared Kossuth Prize:

 

Budapest, 14 March 2027. Members of the band Szalonna and His Band receive the shared Kossuth Prize from President Tamás Sulyok (b3), Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (b4, partially obscured), and László Kövér, Speaker of the National Assembly (b4, partially obscured), at the ceremonial presentation of the Kossuth and Széchenyi Prizes on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1848–49 Revolution and War of Independence, in the Dome Hall of the Parliament Building on 14 March 2026. MTI/Zoltán Máthé

ISTVÁN PÁL “SZALONNA”, folk musician awarded the Ferenc Liszt Prize, Merited and Excellent Artist, artistic director of the band Szalonna and His Band, member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts,

ESZTER PÁL, folk musician awarded the Ferenc Liszt Prize, member of the band Szalonna and His Band,

RÓBERT DOÓR, folk musician, member of the band Szalonna and His Band,

ATTILA GERA, clarinet artist and folk musician, member of the band Szalonna and His Band,

TAMÁS GOMBAI, folk musician, university lecturer, member of the band Szalonna and His Band,

GYULA KARACS, folk musician, member of the band Szalonna and His Band,

SÁNDOR FERENC ÜRMÖS, folk musician, member of the band Szalonna and His Band,

in recognition of their exceptionally valuable artistic work for Hungary, representing the musical heritage of the Carpathian Basin with great success both domestically and at the most prestigious venues worldwide, and strengthening Hungarian cultural identity as well as the social appreciation of folk music.