The 12th Brain Bar future festival returns to Budapest in 2026 with an international lineup: organizers confirmed that Carlo Rovelli, Cory Doctorow and storm chaser Ricky Forbes will appear on the event’s stages.
The festival frames its program around the idea that collective thinking and cooperation are required to face future challenges. Organizers note that although digital connectivity and information availability have increased, many people still find it harder to make sense of the world and to navigate algorithm-shaped platforms critically. Brain Bar aims to create new communities and spark discussion on major societal, scientific and technological questions.
International guests and topics
- Carlo Rovelli, the Italian theoretical physicist, studies the fundamental structure of space and time and has become a widely read popularizer of complex issues in quantum theory.
- Cory Doctorow, the Canadian–British science fiction writer and technology activist, will speak about the risks posed by technology monopolies and the future of digital freedom.
- Ricky Forbes, the storm chaser and star of Tornado Hunters, who has documented several hundred tornadoes at close range, will share his experience about extreme weather and its implications.
- Philippa Gander, a leading sleep scientist, will draw attention to the consequences of persistently overriding the body’s natural functions and why biological limits remain important even in an era of self-optimization.
Hungarian participants and programme highlights
Alongside international guests, the festival includes key figures from Hungarian science, innovation and popular culture. Tanács Zoltán, Minister for Science and Technology, will explore how Hungarian ingenuity and knowledge can retain competitive advantage in the age of artificial intelligence. Representing younger voices, Pócs Gáspár — who wrote a paper on self-improving AI as a schoolchild and was this year the youngest speaker at an AI conference in San Francisco — will also present.
Gödöllei Emanuel, known as Manuel, will discuss his career trajectory from talent shows to Fonogram awards and sold-out concerts at Budapest Park, addressing personal faith and his vision for the future.
Art and venue
Art also plays a role in the festival’s presentation: painter Lőrincz Áron is involved in designing the main stage’s visual concept. The intent is for the main stage at the Hungarian House of Music (Magyar Zene Háza) to function as an autonomous work of art.
Attendance, tickets and charity
Brain Bar 2026 remains free for teachers and students. Day tickets and passes are available for other attendees. In keeping with previous years, the organizers will donate the event’s entire ticket revenue to a selected organization; in 2026 that beneficiary is the Polgár Judit Sakk Alapítvány.
Portfolio is the event’s media partner. The festival’s cover photo credit is Vadnai Szabolcs/Brain Bar.
When and where
Brain Bar 2026 will take place at the Hungarian House of Music (Magyar Zene Háza). Exact program dates and ticketing details will be published by the organizers.
