Panasonic Projector & Display’s projection technology played a big role in Hungary’s St Stephen’s Day celebrations, illuminating some of Budapest’s most recognisable landmarks as part of an ambitious city-scale AV production.
Hungary’s St Stephen’s Day, celebrated annually on 20 August, commemorates King Stephen I and the foundation of the Hungarian state. The Budapest celebrations are among the country’s most important public events, traditionally centred on the Parliament Building and the River Danube.
A total of 67 new Panasonic PT-RQ45K and 16 PT-RQ35K laser projectors were deployed to create monumental projection mapping onto both sides of the Hungarian Parliament Building and the historic Széchenyi Chain Bridge, as well as buildings along the Pest side of the Danube. The installation represents the largest deployment of Panasonic PT-RQ45K projectors worldwide to date.
The projections formed part of the main AV show staged along the River Danube. Combining projection mapping with lighting, lasers, drones, music and fireworks, the production transformed the area between Margaret Bridge and the Chain Bridge into a vast visual canvas celebrating Hungary’s history and national identity. Following the main show, the architectural projections on the Parliament Building and Chain Bridge continued into the night, extending the experience for visitors across central Budapest.
Delivering the projection required close cooperation between several specialist companies. The overall event was delivered by Centrum Production, with Dániel Besnyo serving as the director and overall project lead, Gergo Geltz as head of light art content, and Mátyás Kálmán as artistic director.
