Budapest100 is an annual festival launched in 2011, celebrating and preserving the city’s architectural heritage with strong community involvement. It promotes the idea that every building is significant, drawing around 10,000 visitors yearly and encouraging community engagement and knowledge sharing. The festival goes beyond architectural appreciation by fostering social cohesion and dialogue about urban issues.

The event’s organization starts each year with research on buildings based on archival materials and selected themes, such as the centenary of 1910s buildings, the Grand Boulevard, river embankments, public spaces, Bauhaus heritage, Buda Castle, and, most recently, late modern heritage.

Volunteers, recruited through an online call, participate in a 4-month mentoring program to develop necessary skills. Their tasks include engaging with residents and organizing activities like history walks, community picnics, exhibitions, and games. The festival culminates in a celebratory weekend in May, highlighting the city’s tangible and intangible heritage, as well as its residents.

Budapest100 fosters sustainability and community-driven actions beyond the festival, as residents and volunteers continue organizing community events and initiatives. The project stands out for its community focus, distinguishing it from other European heritage events. It inspires citizen involvement in renovation and urban planning, promoting sustainable cities and communities, while catalyzing dialogue about urban issues, and inspiring the establishment and strengthening of residential communities.

The festival showcases scientific quality, social impact, diversity, communication, innovation, and a European dimension. Recognized by the European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards in 2023, Budapest100 exemplifies inclusive, participatory initiatives addressing community, heritage, and urban challenges.