The following lists events that happened during 2012 in Hungary.
Incumbents
President
until April 2 – Pál Schmitt
April 2-May 10 – László Kövér
starting May 10 – János Áder
Prime Minister – Viktor Orbán
Political and public events
January
January 1
The country's official name is Hungary instead of Hungarian Republic. The new electoral law enters into force. The new constitution of Hungary goes into force. January 2 While the governing parties were celebrating the new constitution in the Hungarian State Opera House, other parties and civils were protesting against the government in front of the building. January 11 The Pál Schmitt scientific misconduct controversy begins on 11 January 2012 after the Hungarian news portal HVG published an article. January 17 The European Commission launches legal proceedings against Hungary. The procedures concern Hungary's central bank law, the retirement age for judges and prosecutors and the independence of the data protection office, respectively. January 21 Hundreds of thousands march to express their support for the Orbán Cabinet called "March of Peace for Hungary", asking the European Union an unbiased treatment for Hungary. January 24 István Sztankay becomes one of the Actors of the Nation, replacing Dezső Garas who died on 30 December 2011. January 29 After resignation of András Schiffer, Benedek Jávor is appointed leader of the Politics Can Be Different (LMP) parliamentary group.
February
February 3
Hungarian airline Malév ceases operation as its aircraft are grounded due to unpaid debts. February 11 Compact Disco wins the Hungarian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, with the entry "Sound of Our Hearts". February 13 The first indigenous Hungarian satellite MaSat-1 was successfully launched from the Guiana Space Centre. It has been launched together with LARES and other CubeSat satellites, coming from other European countries. With MaSat-1, Hungary has become number 47 on the list of space nations. The National Assembly approves Croatia's join the European Union. February 15 Miklós Réthelyi, the Minister of National Resources, declares the Tokaj wine region as a historical area and places under monument protection.
March
March 1
Sándor Fazekas, the Minister of Rural Development, declares many endangered natural areas as protected.
April
April
Jobbik tried to introduce a bill into the Hungarian parliament that would change the national constitution to allegedly "protect public morals and the mental health of the young generations" by banning the popularization of "sexual deviancy". The legislation was drafted by party spokesman Ádám Mirkóczki. This was to target "homosexuality, sex changes, transvestitism, bisexuality and paedophile behaviour". The proposed amendments would criminalise anyone who "popularizes their sexual relations—deviancy—with another person of the same sex, or other disturbances of sexual behaviour, before the wider public". The penalty would be three years in prison, or five years if 'popularizing' is done in front of minors. The draft legislation ultimately failed to pass. In 2021 Viktor Orban's Fidesz government passed a similar Law to the 2012 Jobbik one, in the form of Hungarian anti-LGBT law.
Sports events
January
January 6–8
The 2012 European Speed Skating Championships were held at the City Park Ice Rink in Budapest. January 12 Winger Balázs Dzsudzsák signed from FC Anzhi Makhachkala to FC Dynamo Moscow for a fee of €19 million thus becoming the most expensive Hungarian footballer ever. January 13–22 Hungary was present at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics with a 9 member delegation. The team finished 21st on the medal table with two silver medals won by Fanni Gasparics and Csaba Kovács, both in the ice hockey individual skills challenge. January 15–29 Hungary participated at the 2012 European Men's Handball Championship and finished in the eighth position. January 16–29 The 2012 Men's European Water Polo Championship was held in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Hungary won the bronze medal after lost to Montenegro in the semifinal and beat Italy to 12–9 in the placement match. January 18–28 Hungary came third at 2012 Women's European Water Polo Championship by beating title holders Russia in the bronze final. With this result the team also earned a spot for the 2012 Women's Water Polo Olympic Games Qualification Tournament.