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The professional lectures at the fifth MCC Feszt drew an unprecedented level of interest. On the closing day of this year’s MCC Feszt, Hungary’s Prime Minister addressed the challenges facing the nation and the world. PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel gave an exclusive lecture, and a former and current minister engaged in a spirited debate on the future of higher education. Meanwhile, crowds flowed through the Edu Promenade all day, and organizers expected thousands more for the evening concerts.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán appeared for the first time at MCC’s flagship festival, speaking to a packed main square in Esztergom.
“It’s only natural for young people to rebel,” he said, explaining that while liberal-minded youth typically oppose their own government, nationalist youth tend to rebel against the global elite. To manage this dynamic, he advised parental wisdom and composure.
In a conversation moderated by Mandiner editor-in-chief Gergő Kereki, Orbán spoke about Hungary’s economic prospects, saying that real growth depends on peace. He also highlighted Hungary’s newly introduced housing support system for young people as unparalleled in Europe.
On the war in Ukraine, he stated: “There will be peace when Ukraine and the West accept that Russia will never allow NATO weapons near its borders.” He added that the war would only end once Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin reach an agreement.
The Prime Minister ended on an optimistic note: “Hungary is strong—and we’ll keep it strong for our grandchildren.”
At the fifth MCC Feszt, Peter Thiel—tech entrepreneur, investor, PayPal co-founder, and Facebook’s first major backer—delivered a thought-provoking talk on the consequences of the last 100–200 years of technological development, especially the past three decades.
He questioned whether today’s rapid technological revolution should be seen as true progress, pointing to the development of weapons of mass destruction, increasing difficulties in daily life, and the loss of control over our own creations.
True to its mission, MCC Feszt hosted serious intellectual debates. Although Friday’s healthcare panel was cancelled due to MEP András Kulja’s withdrawal, a high-level discussion on higher education took place between past and present ministers.
Balázs Hankó, Minister for Culture and Innovation, debated MP István Hiller, former Minister of Education, in a panel moderated by Milán Constantinovits, MCC’s Director for Academic and Educational Affairs.
The conversation focused on university rankings, the 2022 model shift in Hungarian universities, Hungary’s exclusion from the Erasmus programme, and research network reforms.
Hankó emphasized that the model shift granted institutions strong autonomy and stable funding. Hiller, however, called the reform rushed and misguided. Yet both agreed on one goal: by 2030, at least one Hungarian university should be ranked among the global top 100.
One panel tackled a pressing issue for today’s youth: drugs. Government Commissioner László Horváth spoke about how the drug industry has fundamentally changed. Today, synthetic substances are produced industrially, traded globally, and marketed through calculated media strategies. The government is responding with stricter regulations and stronger law enforcement—alongside prevention and education.
Dr. József Haller, Head of MCC’s Neurobiology Lab, warned that not only synthetic but semi-synthetic drugs are now spreading rapidly and unpredictably.
Pál Győrfi, spokesperson for the National Ambulance Service, said the drug crisis has made emergency work far less predictable. Still, he pointed to early success: the new drug policy has already led to a 6–7% drop in related ambulance calls.
The stars of Hunyadi, one of Hungary’s most anticipated TV series, shared behind-the-scenes stories with fans. Gellért L. Kádár (Hunyadi), Franciska Törőcsik (Mara Branković), author Mór Bán, and director Attila Szász (one of four directing the 10-part series) discussed the production process.
Bán recalled the difficulty of condensing his multi-volume historical epic into just ten episodes. Szász added that blending the visions of four directors into a visually unified series was no easy feat either. The 170-day shoot brought many stories, which the cast and creators happily shared.
As the festival drew to a close, the energy peaked with a major party to send MCC Feszt off in style. Saturday night featured performances by Blahalouisiana, T. Danny, Follow the Flow, and Lotfi Begi—guaranteeing an unforgettable end to a record-breaking festival.
