Magyar Nemzeti Bank (MNB), the central bank of Hungary will hold its flagship professional event, the Lamfalussy Lectures Conference international conference, for the eleventh time on Monday, 18 May 2026, at the MNB Buda Center (55 Krisztina Boulevard, 1013 Budapest). The conference is also planned to be broadcast live on the MNB YouTube channel. The central theme of this year’s conference is: “Global Imbalances in a Changing World Order” reflecting the growing imbalances in the global economy.
Diverging inflation and growth paths, rising debt levels, the deepening of geopolitical fault lines, and the reorganization of supply chains all contribute to the vulnerability of the global financial system. These developments also present complex challenges for economic policymakers, including central banks. Participants at the conference will therefore seek answers to questions such as how price and financial stability can be ensured in a fragmenting global economy, how asymmetric shocks can be managed, and what adjustment mechanisms are needed to support sustainable growth.
The conference will be opened by Mihály Varga, Governor of the Magyar Nemzeti Bank, followed by this year’s recipient of the Lamfalussy Award, who will share their thoughts with the audience. The opening speeches will conclude with an address by Martin Kocher, Governor of the Austrian National Bank. Following the opening session, the organizers will host two panel discussions. Speakers will include, among others, Klaas Knot, former Governor of the Dutch central bank; Catherine L. Mann, external member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England; Athanasios Orphanides, Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and former Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus; Jeromin Zettelmeyer, Director of Bruegel; and Carmen Reinhart, Professor at Harvard Kennedy School and former Chief Economist of the World Bank.
Further information and the detailed program of the Lamfalussy Lectures Conference are available at www.mnb.hu/en/lamfalussy.
Due to venue capacity limits, in-person attendance at the conference is strictly subject to prior registration. Applications can be submitted until 12 May by completing the form available via this link.