III. Hungary Pen Show: "We are no longer experimenting, but creating a tradition"

For the third time, Hungary Pen Show: international brands, a new generation of collectors, and the Hungarian writing instrument renaissance.

On November 22, fans of writing instruments, inks, and special papers will celebrate together again.

The Hungary Pen Show is being held for the third time, which has now grown into the most important event for Hungarian writing instrument enthusiasts. The organizers, Máté Bikfalvi and Sándor Pethő, are enthusiastically preparing for the event, which will take place on November 22, 2025, at the Budapest Lurdy Conference and Event Center.

Csaba: How have the past months been in terms of organization?

Máté: This year has been truly intense for us. The successful event last year made us realize that we set the bar high, and we need to maintain this standard at this year's show, and if possible, we need to develop even further. We are very pleased that more and more international exhibitors are directly reaching out to us, who have heard about the Hungary Pen Show and want to participate.

Sándor: Indeed, the reputation is slowly transcending the country's borders. This year, we are particularly proud that we managed to attract premium brands to Budapest, such as S.T. Dupont, which is one of the most prominent representatives of French luxury writing instruments. It is a huge recognition for us that such a prestigious brand considers its presence at our event important.

Cs: You mentioned S.T. Dupont. What are the new features regarding the exhibitors this year?

Máté: In addition to S.T. Dupont, we will also welcome several exciting new faces. An Tran is coming from the United States, who specializes in vintage fountain pens. The Black Forest Pen team is coming from Germany, offering handcrafted writing instruments from the Black Forest. We are particularly excited about the appearance of the Turkish Vanagas Pen, who will bring handmade, unique fountain pens.

Sándor: And let's not forget the domestic novelties either! KOÓSKÖNYV represents a bookbinding workshop that deals not only with education but also with creation. WithFire is coming with scrimshaw accessories, while Kazuma Art will showcase products related to ink and watercolor art. These are all areas closely related to the world of writing and paper.

Cs: Who can we expect among the Hungarian exhibitors? Are previous participants returning?

Máté: Of course! The Hungary Pen Show is already building a community where exhibitors return year after year. Without claiming completeness, Ferenc Heisz and Zoltán Kovács will be there with antique fountain pens and pencils. The premium writing instruments from Etelburg and the unique watches from Phestom Watch Works will also return. Visitors will meet again with the offerings of Tollak Boltja, Fiók, and Rajzshop. And we, the organizers, will also be there: Pennonia with fountain pen inks, Pendors with handcrafted writing instruments.

Cs: Could you tell us about the experiences you gained from previous events regarding the visitors?

Sándor: We find that customers are becoming increasingly conscious. We are not talking about impulse purchases – people really understand what they are looking for. We especially see this with vintage pieces: visitors examine the pens for a long time, asking about their stories and restoration possibilities.

Máté: It is also a very positive development that more and more young people are interested in writing instruments. It is not uncommon for parents to bring their teenage children, who then discover the world of fountain pens completely fascinated. This is encouraging for the future – it shows that this culture is not dying out; rather, new generations are discovering it for themselves.

Cs: What does the presence of international exhibitors mean for the Hungarian market?

Máté: It definitely represents progress. The presence of brands like Black Forest Pen or Czech KaliPERO shows that Hungary occupies a serious place in the Central European writing instrument market. Robert Vyskočil, the founder of KaliPERO, is coming to us for the second time, which indicates that it is indeed worth their travel.

Sándor: And this works mutually. Hungarian exhibitors are also appearing abroad more frequently, partly because they receive invitations to international events through the connections made at the Hungary Pen Show. This is a real win-win situation.

Cs: How much growth do you expect in terms of visitors?

Sándor: Compared to last year's 800 visitors, we expect up to 1000 this year. The Pens & Watches Facebook group is continuously growing, and more and more people are coming from the countryside as well. Some are visiting us from Debrecen, Pécs, and even Transylvania.

Máté: What is particularly exciting is that this year we are also expecting visitors from abroad. We have received signals from Slovak, Austrian, and even German collectors who plan to come. This shows that the Hungary Pen Show has truly become a regionally significant event.

Sándor: It is also important for us to be more than just a fair, but a real community event. People meet each other here, exchange experiences, and make friendships. The event provides an opportunity for domestic and international collectors, as well as newer generations, to get to know each other and their shared passion. This is what makes the Hungary Pen Show truly special.