The noise level of the Sziget Festival, which starts on Wednesday, is well below the legal threshold, according to measurements taken so far in Budapest’s District III – said Tamás Kádár, the festival’s chief organizer, late Monday night to MTI.
As in previous years, measurements are taking place at three locations: Fő Square in District III, Lőwy Izsák Street in District IV, and Marina Part in District XIII.
“We start the usual sound tests for each stage and then play them all at once. So far, we’ve completed the Óbuda (District III) measurements, and everything is perfectly fine. Last year, any minor issues were due to wind patterns affecting Újpest (District IV), and it’s possible the same may happen this year,” Kádár explained.
According to current regulations, the maximum allowable noise level is 65 decibels before 11 PM and 55 decibels afterward. Kádár emphasized that the festival continues to use the same noise management system as in previous years because it has proven effective and well-developed.
“Our limiter system allows us to remotely adjust the volume at individual venues. We have three fixed monitoring stations outside the festival grounds, and two mobile noise-monitoring teams circulate in the surrounding districts to continuously measure the sound impact,” he said.
Kádár stressed that weather remains the most significant factor in noise perception. Forecasts suggest that the first few days of the festival will be cooler and windier, while from Saturday to Monday (August 9–11), hot weather is expected – which could present challenges.
This is mainly because people are more likely to sleep with their windows open during hot weather, making them more susceptible to hearing the festival noise.
This year, noise level testing began one day earlier than usual – two days before the festival opens.
Kádár explained that this was because the stages had already been completed, allowing more time to fine-tune the technical setup.
The Óbuda measurements were attended by Mayor László Kiss and his team, representatives from neighboring municipalities, and the relevant expert from the Budapest City Government.
The six-day Sziget Festival officially kicks off on Wednesday.
