The 1986 Queen concert will be commemorated. The organisers are also looking for former memorabilia.
In the spring of 2026, a large-scale exhibition dedicated to Freddie Mercury will open at the House of Music Hungary in Budapest.
The exhibition, titled Freddie, will mark both the 80th anniversary of the singer’s birth and the 40th anniversary of Queen’s Budapest concert.
Through hundreds of original personal items, as well as recollections from friends and colleagues, the exhibition will present the singer’s life both in the spotlight and behind the scenes. The exhibition is based on the collection of curator Tomas Hykel, and an integral part of the event will be Peter Freestone, who was Freddie Mercury’s personal assistant and friend for more than ten years. He will serve as the narrator of the exhibition.
On 27 July 1986, Queen performed at the Népstadion in front of 70,000 spectators. One of the most memorable moments of the concert was when Freddie Mercury sang the Hungarian folk song Tavaszi szél vizet áraszt to the audience.
A one-and-a-half-hour film of the concert was also produced using state funds.
They are looking for memorabilia
Meanwhile, the House of Music Hungary has issued a call inviting those who have personal stories or memorabilia related to Queen’s Budapest concert to get in touch.
“Did you meet the band? Did you catch them on the boat or at the Hungaroring? Did you make your own flag, badge or any other prop for the concert? We’re looking for you!” – reads the announcement.
The organisers are looking for photographs, memories and objects that have survived the decades. They are searching for people who encountered the band in the city, at the harbour or at the Hungaroring, or who possess self-made concert props, T-shirts, flags, original tickets, photos, posters, newspaper clippings, tobacconist-sold Queen mirrors, cassettes, or any small items, as well as personal stories or recollections that could enrich the exhibition.
