Events and programmes commemorating the Hungarian revolution of 1848/49 and freedom fight will be held this weekend across the country and abroad.

The state celebration will begin at Kossuth Square in front of the Parliament by hoisting the national flag with military honours in the morning, Deputy Minister of State of the Ministry of Defence István Szabó Kun said on Tuesday at a press conference.

Also, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will give a speech in the garden of the National Museum, a key venue of the 1848 revolution's start, at 10.30 AM. Furthermore, the Kossuth and the Széchenyi Prizes will be presented at a ceremony in the Parliament at 3 PM.  

In addition, almost 400 towns and villages have already joined the initiative of simultaneously reciting the "National Song", a poem written by Sándor Petőfi, which is said to have inspired the revolution, on Sunday afternoon at 3 PM.

Admission to the Parliament will be free on Saturday while the Várkert Bazár and the Táncsics prison can be visited free of charge on Sunday.

(Ministry of Defence)