Lights, traditions, celebration - that was the 200th Anna Ball
On 27 July, we witnessed a historic moment in Balatonfüred: the Anna Ball, one of Hungary's oldest and most patriotic social events, was held for the 200th time. The event was again hosted in Anna Grand Hotel, where nearly eight hundred guests celebrated the traditions and the renewal of the ball culture - a fitting tribute to the ball's two hundred years of history.
An night that is more than a ball
This year, the 200th Anna Ball was once again attended by well-known public figures, some as guests and others as performers, to add to the evening's glamour. The hotel's terrace, the exclusively opened Anna Café, was also a lively place to be: the historic venue served as a new and elegant meeting point for the guests.
Tradition and modern elegance
The Jubilee Anna Ball was a fitting reflection of the special world that combines the ball culture of the reform era with the festive elegance of today. This year, the ladies wore Herendi pearl-blue Herend porcelain hearts with a pearly sheen, their colours evoking the world of shells from Lake Balaton. The Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra opened the evening with a palotage and waltz, danced by the ballet dancers of the Opera House. The evening was enriched by an operetta show, a concert of gypsy music and a performance by the Farkas Gábriel Showband.
The main patron of the ball was Dr. Tamás Freund, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, who announced the launch of the science-friendly settlement movement - Balatonfüred is the first holder of the title. The Ernő Kiss Prize, which every year recognises a person who has contributed a lot to the cultural life of the town, was awarded this year to Mihály Praznovszky, a literary historian.
The Belle of the Anna Ball
The highlight of the Ball was the announcement of the 15 most beautiful ladies of the Ball and their ladies-in-waiting, as voted by the audience. Laura Szabó from Budapest was crowned Queen of the 2025 Ball, Laura Windisch was named First Lady and Laura Zsoldos was named Second Lady - all three first ballerinas who impressed the judges with their natural elegance. The belle of the ball received a gold apple and a modernised Victoria patterned Herend vase, while her ladies-in-waiting received Rothschild and Apponyi patterned Herend porcelain.
For the first time at this year's ball, the newly elected beauties walked down from the Anna Grand Hotel to the Tagore Promenade, where they symbolically worshipped Lake Balaton with their bouquets, paying homage to the lake and the city.
On the next day, the beauties took a traditional carriage ride on the Tagore Promenade, met the audience on the Kisfaludy Stage, and then a special gypsy flash mob of two hundred people made the morning memorable.
Celebrate all year round - Annas' year powered by GLAMOUR
Zur Feier des Jubiläumsjahres gibt es nicht nur einen Abend, sondern eine ganze Reihe von Veranstaltungen, um den Anna-Ball zu feiern. Das Anna-Jahr powered by GLAMOUR, eine gemeinsame Initiative des Anna Grand Hotels und der Zeitschrift GLAMOUR, wird jeden Monat eine ikonische Anna in Balatonfüred präsentieren.
On 9 August at 18:00, the actresses who played Anna in the musical The Ice Magic - Anita Gadó, Hien and Aisha Kardffy - will share their behind-the-scenes secrets and experiences in an inspiring talk at Anna Café. The event is open to all and registration is required.