The Minister of Culture of Hungary (), officially the Minister of Social Relations and Culture () is a member of the cabinet of Hungary and head of the Ministry of Culture. The minister is responsible for cultural policy, including the arts, cultural heritage, museums, libraries, and the promotion of national culture. The minister oversees state cultural institutions and contributes to shaping Hungary’s cultural strategy both domestically and internationally.
Zoltán Tarr is the incumbent minister since 9 May 2026, under Prime Minister Péter Magyar. Magyar reorganized the ministry into the Ministry of Social Relations and Culture following the 2026 parliamentary election.
History
Names and structure Official name Head From Until Portfolio(s) Minister of Popular Culture Cabinet minister 11 June 1949 1 January 1957 culture Ministry of Cultural Affairs Cabinet minister 1 January 1957 21 June 1974 public education higher education culture Ministry of Culture Cabinet minister 21 June 1974 27 June 1980 culture Ministry of Cultural Affairs Cabinet minister 27 June 1980 23 May 1990 public education higher education culture Ministry of Culture and Public Education Cabinet minister 23 May 1990 8 July 1998 public education higher education culture Ministry of National Cultural Heritage Cabinet minister 8 July 1998 9 June 2006 culture Ministry of Education and Culture Cabinet minister 9 June 2006 29 May 2010 public education higher education culture Ministry of National Resources Cabinet minister 29 May 2010 14 May 2012 public education higher education health culture sport Ministry of Human Resources Cabinet minister 14 May 2012 24 May 2022 public education higher education health culture sport Ministry of Culture and Innovation Cabinet minister 24 May 2022 9 May 2026 higher education culture Ministry of Social Relations and Culture Cabinet minister 9 May 2026 – culture
List of ministers Hungarian Republic (1949) Parties
#Picture Name From Until Political party Cabinet Assembly(Election) Minister of Popular Culture1József Révai(1898–1959)11 June 194920 August 1949MDPDobiMDP–FKGP–NPP25 (1949)
Hungarian People's Republic (1949–1956) Parties
#Picture Name From Until Political party Cabinet Assembly(Election) Minister of Popular Culture1József Révai(1898–1959)20 August 194914 August 1952MDPDobiMDP25 (1949)14 August 19524 July 1953RákosiMDP2József Darvas(1912–1973)4 July 195318 April 1955IndependentI. Nagy IMDP26 (1953)18 April 195524 October 1956HegedüsMDP24 October 195627 October 1956I. Nagy IIMDP/MSZMP–FKGP3György Lukács(1885–1971)27 October 19563 November 1956MDPThe ministry was merged with the Ministry of Education (Oktatásügyi Minisztérium) to form the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Művelődésügyi Minisztérium) on 1 January 1957. Minister of Cultural Affairs4Albert Kónya(1917–1988)1 January 19571 March 1957MSZMPKádár IMSZMP26 (1953)5Gyula Kállai(1910–1996)1 March 195728 January 1958MSZMP6Valéria Benke(1920–2009)28 January 195813 September 1961MSZMPMünnichMSZMP27 (1958)7Pál Ilku(1912–1973)13 September 196130 June 1965MSZMPKádár IIMSZMP28 (1963)30 June 196514 April 1967KállaiMSZMP14 April 196713 July 1973FockMSZMP29 (1967)30 (1971)8Miklós Nagy(1932–1974)13 July 197329 April 1974MSZMP9Károly Polinszky(1922–1998)29 April 197421 June 1974MSZMPThe ministry was divided into the Ministry of Education (Oktatásügyi Minisztérium) and the Ministry of Culture (Kulturális Minisztérium) on 21 June 1974. Minister of Culture10László Orbán(1912–1978)21 June 197415 May 1975MSZMPFockMSZMP30 (1971)15 May 197522 July 1976LázárMSZMP31 (1975)11Imre Pozsgay(1933–2016)22 July 197627 June 1980MSZMPThe ministry was merged with the Ministry of Education (Oktatásügyi Minisztérium) to form the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Művelődési Minisztérium) on 27 June 1980. Minister of Cultural Affairs (11)Imre Pozsgay(1933–2016)27 June 198025 June 1982MSZMPLázárMSZMP32 (1980)12Béla Köpeczi(1921–2010)25 June 198225 June 1987MSZMP33 (1985)25 June 198729 June 1988GrószMSZMP13Tibor Czibere(1930–2023)29 June 198824 November 1988Independent24 November 198810 May 1989Németh(MSZMP)→MSZP14Ferenc Glatz(1941–)10 May 198923 October 1989MSZP
Republic of Hungary (1989–2012) Parties
#Picture Name From Until Political party Cabinet Assembly(Election) Minister of Cultural Affairs—Ferenc Glatz(1941–)acting23 October 198923 May 1990MSZPNémethMSZP —The ministry was reorganized into the Ministry of Culture and Public Education (Művelődési és Közoktatási Minisztérium) on 23 May 1990. Minister of Culture and Public Education1Bertalan Andrásfalvy(1931–)23 May 199022 February 1993MDFAntallMDF–FKGP–KDNP34 (1990)2Ferenc Mádl(1931–2011)22 February 199321 December 1993Independent21 December 199315 July 1994BorossMDF–EKGP–KDNP3Gábor Fodor(1962–)15 July 199431 December 1995SZDSZHornMSZP–SZDSZ35 (1994)4Bálint Magyar(1952–)1 January 19968 July 1998SZDSZThe ministry was divided into the Ministry of Education (Oktatási Minisztérium) and the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage (Nemzeti Kulturális Örökség Minisztériuma) on 8 July 1998. Minister of National Cultural Heritage5József Hámori(1932–2021)8 July 199831 December 1999IndependentOrbán IFidesz–FKGP–MDF36 (1998)6Zoltán Rockenbauer(1960–)1 January 200027 May 2002Fidesz7Gábor Görgey(1929–2022)27 May 200218 May 2003IndependentMedgyessyMSZP–SZDSZ37 (2002)8István Hiller(1964–)18 May 20034 October 2004MSZP4 October 200413 February 2005Gyurcsány IMSZP–SZDSZ9András Bozóki(1959–)13 February 20059 June 2006IndependentThe ministry was merged with the Ministry of Education (Oktatási Minisztérium) to form the Ministry of Education and Culture (Oktatási és Kulturális Minisztérium) on 9 June 2006. Minister of Education and Culture(8)István Hiller(1964–)9 June 200616 April 2009MSZPGyurcsány IIMSZP–SZDSZ38 (2006)16 April 200929 May 2010BajnaiMSZPThe ministry was reorganized into the Ministry of National Resources (Nemzeti Erőforrás Minisztérium) on 29 May 2010. Minister of National Resources9Miklós Réthelyi(1939–)29 May 20101 January 2012IndependentOrbán IIFidesz–KDNP39 (2010)
Hungary (2012–) Parties
#Picture Name From Until Political party Cabinet Assembly(Election) Minister of National Resources1Miklós Réthelyi(1939–)1 January 201214 May 2012IndependentOrbán IIFidesz–KDNP39 (2010)The ministry was reorganized into the Ministry of Human Resources (Emberi Erőforrások Minisztériuma) on 14 May 2012. Minister of Human Resources2Zoltán Balog(1958–)14 May 20126 June 2014FideszOrbán IIFidesz–KDNP39 (2010)6 June 201418 May 2018Orbán IIIFidesz–KDNP40 (2014)3Miklós Kásler(1950–)18 May 201824 May 2022IndependentOrbán IVFidesz–KDNP41 (2018)The portfolio was reorganized into the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (Kulturális és Innovációs Minisztérium) on 24 May 2022. Minister of Culture and Innovation4János Csák(1962–) 24 May 20221 July 2024IndependentOrbán VFidesz–KDNP42 (2022)5Balázs Hankó(1978–)1 July 20249 May 2026IndependentOn 9 May 2026, the portfolio was reorganized as an independent ministry. Minister of Social Relations and Culture6Zoltán Tarr(1972–)12 May 2026IncumbentTiszaMagyarTisza43(2026)
References
Sources
See also Minister of Education (Hungary) List of heads of state of Hungary List of prime ministers of Hungary Politics of Hungary Cabinet ministers Minister of Agriculture (Hungary) Minister of Civilian Intelligence Services (Hungary) Minister of Croatian Affairs of Hungary Minister of Defence (Hungary) Minister of Finance (Hungary) Minister of Foreign Affairs (Hungary) Minister of the Interior (Hungary) Minister of Justice (Hungary) Minister of Public Works and Transport (Hungary)