MCC Feszt Reading time: 4 minutes
In 2025, MCC Feszt will return for its fifth edition in Esztergom, from July 31 to August 2. After attracting a record-breaking 49,000 visitors last year, MCC Feszt once again offers a wide variety of programs for meaningful entertainment. This multi-day event will feature top Hungarian pop artists, as well as renowned national and international speakers and opinion leaders. Among the speakers will be Matthew Goodwin, a forthright British political scientist, author, and academic; Benedict Beckeld, a leading researcher on oikophobia and Western civilization; and Jeremy Shapiro, foreign policy expert and Director of Research at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Last year's MCC Feszt featured 300 speakers, over 100 professional programs, more than 40 musical events, and 150 exhibitors along the Edu Promenade, attracting a record number of around 49,000 visitors. In 2025, MCC aims to raise the bar even higher, promising a lineup of top-tier professional speakers and the cream of the Hungarian music scene.
This year again, the backbone of the three-day festival will be formed by lectures and discussions led by prominent international experts. One such speaker is Benedict Beckeld, whose bestselling book Western Self-Contempt: Oikophobia in the Decline of Civilizations examines how Western societies have become alienated from their own cultural roots, contributing to their decline. According to Beckeld, a Swedish-born American writer, the more open and successful a society becomes, the more susceptible it is to self-criticism and external influences, which can eventually lead to oikophobia, or contempt for one’s own culture. He argues that a balance between healthy self-criticism and a moderate effort to preserve culture would be the ideal state for any society.
Also speaking will be Matthew Goodwin, a British political scientist, commentator, and academic, known for his research on populism and right-wing movements. His work focuses on Brexit, British politics, and the consequences of growing ethnic diversity in Western societies. In a 2022 study, Goodwin warned that liberal dominance in academia threatens academic freedom. In October 2024, he publicly supported Hungary in the migration debate, criticizing the EU for penalizing Hungary despite the country "protecting the Union’s borders at its own expense for years." In a 2023 interview, he remarked that "Viktor Orbán’s Tusványos speech could not be delivered in the UK" and praised Hungary as uniquely "fighting back against the imposed liberal project."
Joining the ranks of international speakers at MCC Feszt is Harrison Pitt, a writer and editor at The European Conservative, and a contributor to the New Culture Forum. His work and commentary often address conservative values, British identity, and contemporary political challenges. He has made statements critical of both left- and right-wing political trends. Regarding the World Economic Forum in Davos, he once remarked: "What is Davos if not a globalized version of the Palace of Versailles? And who is Klaus Schwab if not a wannabe absolute monarch disguised as a benevolent technocrat?"
Nathan Levine, an independent analyst and advisor, will also attend the festival. He is a visiting fellow at both the Heritage Foundation and the Danube Institute, and frequently publishes on foreign and geopolitical affairs. His work significantly contributes to understanding modern international relations, particularly US-China dynamics.
Hungary will also welcome Jacek Karnowski, political commentator and editor-in-chief of the Polish publications Fratria and Sieci. A frequent participant in previous MCC international events, Karnowski spoke at the 2023 international conference on the future of publishing, where he discussed how tabloid media and politics often coexist in a form of symbiosis.
As always, MCC Feszt will feature numerous panel discussions and debates on current public issues. One such discussion will see Jeremy Shapiro debating the relationship between the United States and the European Union with Gladden Pappin, President of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs.
The 2025 MCC Feszt will offer vibrant evening entertainment for all age groups, with performances by artists and bands such as Parno Graszt, Follow the Flow, and Valmar. MCC’s educational programs will also be showcased, and many partner organizations will be present at the Edu Promenade, where family-friendly daytime activities will be held.
Purchasing the MCC Feszt Pass wll enhance the festival experience, granting access to a free shuttle between the Esztergom railway station and the event venue, access to the local swimming complex, and discounts on food and drinks. Currently, early bird passes are available through the festival’s website, which is continually updated with the latest event information. As with last year, access to the Edu Promenade, daytime professional programs, and some evening music events will remain free of charge.
