Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government announced on September 21, 2026, that it will not participate in Ukraine's Carpathian initiative, with Magyar telling parliament "We had a good reason not to go." Hungary's abstention signals the country's continued reluctance to align closely with Ukrainian policy initiatives.
A new one-woman play in Budapest, based on Hungarian-American writer Kati Marton's memoir about authoritarianism, premiered on 2026-09-17, signalling cultural growth despite Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government.
Hungary ordered 10 Russian diplomats to leave on September 8, 2026, citing unacceptable activities that threaten the country's security and sovereignty. The expulsion marks a significant shift in Budapest's previously close relations with Moscow.
Hungary expelled 10 Russian diplomats on September 8, 2026, accusing them of activities incompatible with diplomatic status under the Vienna Convention, with Moscow vowing retaliatory measures. The move signals a break from Viktor Orbán's pro-Russian policies and alignment with European allies on Russia.
Hungary's new prime minister announced a recovery effort to reclaim billions allegedly stolen or diverted by the previous Orbán administration, launching a new "super authority" on September 6–7, 2026.