New survey shows strong public backing for Pride and LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary

A new nationwide poll indicates broad support in Hungary for LGBT Pride events and related freedoms of assembly, highlighting a public mood that differs from the restrictive legal framework introduced under the previous government.

The representative Medián survey, conducted shortly after the April 2026 election that brought Péter Magyar and his TISZA party to power and ended 16 years of Viktor Orbán’s conservative rule, found that 69% of respondents believe demonstrations and marches advancing LGBT rights should be allowed, Out in Perth reports.

During the Orbán era, the Fidesz-KDNP government imposed extensive curbs on LGBTIQA+ communities. Authorities declared last year that Budapest Pride would be banned, yet the march went ahead and drew more than 100,000 participants, reflecting solid community and ally support.

Backing for Pride is particularly strong in the capital. In Budapest, 77% of residents support allowing the event, according to the new poll. Across the country, 58% of respondents favour including topics such as homosexuality and gender diversity in school curricula in an age-appropriate way.

Legal restrictions adopted under the previous government remain in force. These provisions prohibit public gatherings that “promote or display homosexuality, gender reassignment, or deviation from gender identity at birth” and limit access to such content for people under 18. Police did not ban this year’s Budapest Pride, yet organisers and rights groups continue to operate within a hostile statutory environment.

Medián’s research and earlier polling suggest many Hungarians reject these measures. Previously published data show that 57% of respondents support repealing laws that restrict LGBT rights passed during the Fidesz-KDNP period.

The latest survey explored attitudes in greater detail. Alongside the 69% who endorse LGBT-related demonstrations, 60% say media representation of different social groups should remain free from state control. A similar share, 58%, support school-based education on homosexuality and gender diversity tailored to students’ age.

Public opinion on Pride’s format and style is more varied. The poll found that 21% explicitly support the event, 28% agree with its goals but consider it too provocative, and 22% disagree with its aims while opposing any ban. Earlier Medián data from last year’s parliamentary debate on a Pride ban showed that only 27% of Hungarians favoured prohibiting the march.

The survey highlights clear demographic divides. Support for LGBT-related demonstrations reaches 77% in Budapest and 78% in other major cities, compared with 65% in smaller towns and 61% in villages. Age plays a major role: among respondents aged 30–39, support stands at 86%, while it drops to 58% among those aged 65 and over. Education levels also correlate with attitudes, as 84% of university graduates favour the right to assemble in support of LGBT rights, compared with 53% of people with vocational education.

Political affiliation shows the widest gap. Only 21% of voters for the far-right Mi Hazánk party and 29% of Fidesz voters back LGBT-related demonstrations. Among supporters of TISZA, the governing party, 88% endorse the right to organise such events.

The research was commissioned by the Háttér Society, one of Hungary’s leading LGBT advocacy organisations, and carried out by the Medián Public Opinion and Market Research Institute. Interviews were conducted by phone between 27 April and 2 May 2026 with a sample of 1,003 adults, representative by gender, age, location and education.

For LGBT people and allies in Hungary who want to turn this growing public support into everyday inclusion at work and in wider society, connecting with equality-focused employers and professionals can make a real difference. Signing up for myGwork offers one practical way to join a global community committed to LGBT rights and inclusive workplaces.