Independent media again dominate Hungary’s 1% tax donations

Independent media outlets once again ranked among the biggest beneficiaries of Hungary’s personal income tax donation scheme in 2026. Partizán received the largest amount, followed by Telex, while Átlátszó collected a record HUF 57.4 million from 3,612 supporters. Thank you to everyone who chose to support our work.

Hungarian taxpayers can direct 1% of their personal income tax to an eligible civil society organisation each year. According to data published by Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) on September 15, around 1.8 million taxpayers made such a donation in 2026, distributing nearly HUF 21.5 billion among 31,299 organisations.

The total amount donated increased by more than HUF 1 billion compared with last year, even though the number of taxpayers making a designation fell by around 26,000. Over the past four years, however, the number of donors has remained broadly stable at around 1.8 million. The number of recipient organisations increased from 30,821 to 31,299.

Partizán and Telex lead the ranking

Foundations supporting independent media occupied the top two places again this year.

The foundation behind Partizán received around HUF 576.9 million from 42,854 taxpayers, putting it first in the national ranking. The amount represents an increase of roughly 22% compared with 2025.

Telex’s Foundation for a Free Press, which topped the list last year, came second with approximately HUF 543.3 million from 35,319 donors. The National Ambulance Service Foundation ranked third, receiving HUF 441.8 million from more than 38,000 taxpayers.

Healthcare organisations continued to feature prominently among the most popular beneficiaries. The Heim Pál Children’s Hospital Development Foundation received around HUF 379 million, while the Bethesda Hospital Foundation collected almost HUF 299 million. Other major recipients included organisations working with cancer patients, seriously ill children, emergency medical care and animal welfare.

Together, the ten largest beneficiaries received around HUF 3.2 billion, approximately 15% of all 1% donations.

Support for independent media continues to grow

Among the 100 organisations receiving the largest amounts, foundations supporting paediatric healthcare remained the biggest category, attracting a combined HUF 2.71 billion.

Media-related and other civil society organisations received around HUF 1.78 billion, overtaking animal and nature protection organisations, which collected around HUF 1.76 billion. The number of taxpayers supporting media and civil society organisations increased by approximately 14,000 to 125,000.

The strongest media beneficiaries included Partizán and Telex, followed by the foundation behind investigative journalism outlet Direkt36, the newly eligible foundation supporting 444.hu, and the foundation associated with Klubrádió.

Átlátszónet Foundation ranked sixth among media-related organisations.

A record year for Átlátszó

Átlátszónet Foundation received HUF 57.4 million from 3,612 taxpayers, putting us 34th among all civil beneficiaries in Hungary. Both figures are records in Átlátszó’s history.

Compared with 2025, the amount donated to Átlátszó increased by 12%, or HUF 6.2 million, while the number of supporters rose by 258 people, or 7.7%. Átlátszónet Foundation has ranked among Hungary’s 50 most-supported civil organisations every year since 2015.

We would like to thank all 3,612 people who chose to direct 1% of their income tax to Átlátszó. Reader support remains an essential source of funding for our independent investigative journalism.

Written by Krisztián Szabó. The english summary was prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence. The original Hungarian version of the story can be found here.