Csokonai National Theater is the first permanent theater in Debrecen. The theater building, featuring Moorish and Byzantine elements, was constructed in the Romantic style between 1861 and 1865, based on the designs of architect Antal Szkalnitzky. The theater officially opened on 7 October 1865, later renamed after Mihály Csokonai Vitéz in 1915 and receiving national theater status in 2012.

The building that still stands today has hosted numerous performances by artists of the likes of Lujza Blaha, Hanna Honthy, Kálmán Latabár, and Gyula Csortos. Talents such as Imre Soós, László Mensáros, László Márkus, Zoltán Latinovits, and Géza Hofi also started their careers here.