On April 24–25, the bookvibeZ literary festival made its debut at Millenáris, becoming the largest event ever organized for Hungary’s BookTok community. The two-day festival attracted huge interest — even with multiple programs running simultaneously, the stands and discussions were consistently packed with visitors. For the occasion, the D building of Millenáris was completely transformed: colorful installations, playful design elements, and cozy community spaces gave the industrial venue an entirely new atmosphere.
Both Hungarian and international authors attended the festival, including Samantha Shannon, Anna Todd, Axie Oh, Brooke Fast, and Kollár Betti, taking part in signings, audience meet-and-greets, and panel discussions. The festival was hosted by book influencer László Viki and poet, slammer, and literary influencer Bánki Beni, who maintained an energetic atmosphere throughout the event. Several international guests remarked that it was one of the highest-quality literary festivals they had ever attended.
On the main stage, panel discussions explored topics such as the contemporary publishing market, reading trends, and online communities, while smaller venues hosted podcast recordings, literary stand-up performances, and creative writing workshops. However, bookvibeZ was about more than just books: visitors could also enjoy workshops, coffee tastings, bath bomb making, painting sessions, bookmark crafting, literary pub quizzes, and even book-themed pilates classes.
The weather also added to the experience: during the sunny spring weekend, many attendees relaxed in the Millenáris courtyard between programs with lemonade or ice cream in hand. The festival atmosphere even drew in passersby who had originally only been visiting the surrounding area.
Ultimately, the essence of the event lay in the personal encounters it created. Readers had the opportunity to talk with their favorite authors, collect signed books, take photos together, and experience a genuine sense of community that is rarely found in online spaces. One of the most memorable evening programs was the acoustic concert by Dánielfy Gergő, which served as the perfect closing moment for the festival days.
In its very first year, bookvibeZ already ran at near full capacity and proved that reading can still inspire a fresh, youthful, and truly communal experience.











