The World’s Largest Harry Potter Exhibition Arrives in Szentendre

Harry Potter has long been more than just a series of books—it is a cultural phenomenon that connects generations. The world’s largest traveling exhibition on the wizarding world has now opened in the town of Szentendre, near Budapest.

Magic has come to the Green Event Hall in Szentendre. Until May 1, it will host “Harry Potter: The Exhibition,” the most comprehensive touring show about J.K. Rowling’s universe to date. At the grand opening on Friday, Minister of Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó emphasized the profound social significance of the story.

For the politician, there is no contradiction in a culture minister opening a pop culture exhibition. Harry Potter has become an integral part of our culture and fulfills an important educational role, he explained. “Loyalty, motivation, friendship, and togetherness – these are the basic values you need for a normal life,” said the minister.

He emphasized that the books have made reading a real experience for children again, and that the story builds a bridge between their imagination and reality.

Balázs Hankó, Minister for Culture and Innovation (L), and Tom Zaller, President and CEO of Imagine Team (R), at the opening of “Harry Potter: The Exhibition”. Photo: MTI/Kocsis Zoltán

The exhibition promises visitors an immersive experience that goes far beyond simply viewing exhibits. Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, guests can:

choose their own Patronus,
learn digital spells,
test their Quidditch skills,
and even brew their own potions.

In addition to interactive galleries, the focus is on the originals. Costumes and props from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, as well as insights into the Broadway production The Cursed Child, are sure to make fans’ hearts beat faster.

Behind the magical façade lies a huge technical effort. Gábor Guba, managing director of Green Exhibition Kft., highlighted the scale of the project. The entire installation was set up in just 26 days. 70 trucks delivered the materials and over 100 employees worked almost around the clock on the construction. It is the world’s most expensive traveling exhibition of its kind, he added.

Photo: Facebook/Hankó Balázs

The interest is enormous, with 42,500 tickets already sold in advance for the opening.

Tom Zaller, CEO of Imagine Team, who has been organizing major events for almost three decades, described the show as his “most complex and wonderful experience” to date. Over five million people worldwide have already seen the exhibition – now the Hungarian public also has the chance to immerse themselves in the world of Hogwarts until spring.

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