Events & Festivals in Austria

A series of over 450 formal balls held in Vienna's palaces and historic venues during the Fasching season. The Opera Ball at the Staatsoper is the most famous, featuring debutante presentations, waltz performances, and elegant dancing until dawn.

Traditional Alpine folk event where participants wearing elaborate, often frightening wooden masks (Perchten) parade through villages to drive away winter spirits. Accompanied by loud bell ringing and torchlight processions in many Tyrolean and Salzburg villages.

Major international ski racing events held at legendary Austrian resorts. Includes the Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbühel (the most challenging course) and slalom events in Schladming under floodlights, drawing huge crowds and global television coverage.

Austria's carnival season culminating on Shrove Tuesday. Features costume balls, parades, and street parties, particularly active in Vienna and the Vorarlberg region. The 'Fetzenfasching' in Imst, Tyrol, is known for its wild, traditional masked figures.

A massive open-air ice skating rink set up in front of Vienna's City Hall (Rathaus). Includes interconnected skating paths, rental skates, music, and adjacent food stalls serving warm drinks and traditional snacks like sausages and pancakes.

Prestigious classical music festival founded by Herbert von Karajan. Features the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performing operas, orchestral concerts, and chamber music in Salzburg's historic venues during the Holy Week leading up to Easter.

Charming seasonal markets selling hand-painted Easter eggs, traditional Osterlamm (Easter lamb) cakes, palm branches, and spring decorations. The market in front of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna is particularly picturesque, with workshops for children.

A gourmet food festival held in Vienna's Stadtpark, showcasing producers from all nine Austrian federal states. Visitors can sample and purchase artisanal cheeses, wines, spirits, meats, breads, and sweets directly from the farmers and makers.

Austria's largest spring marathon, with a fast, flat course along the Danube River. Includes full marathon, half marathon, relay, and fun run categories, attracting thousands of participants. The route passes major landmarks like the Lentos Art Museum and Ars Electronica Center.

A major international festival for contemporary performing arts, including avant-garde theater, dance, music, and installations. Features world premieres and innovative productions from Austrian and international artists at venues across the city.

World-famous opera and music festival held on a spectacular floating stage on Lake Constance. The elaborate stage designs are architectural marvels. The program also includes orchestral concerts and operetta performances in other venues.

One of the world's most prestigious classical music and drama festivals. Presents opera, concert, and theater productions, with a core focus on Mozart and Richard Strauss. Performances take place in historic venues like the Felsenreitschule and Haus für Mozart.

A leading festival for Baroque music and opera, specializing in historically informed performances on period instruments. Features rediscovered works alongside classics by composers like Handel and Monteverdi in Innsbruck's ornate imperial and church venues.

Traditional autumn event where cows decorated with elaborate headdresses (Kranzkuh) are paraded down from alpine pastures to valley farms. Celebrated with folk music, dancing, and hearty feasts in villages across Tyrol, Salzburg, and Vorarlberg.

Vienna's own large-scale Oktoberfest celebration held at the Prater fairgrounds. Features massive festival tents from Austrian breweries, traditional Bavarian and Austrian food, live brass band music, and carnival rides.

A multidisciplinary contemporary arts festival in Graz focusing on provocative and experimental works. Encompasses visual arts, theater, film, literature, and music, often with a strong socio-political thematic focus.

Austria's largest design festival, transforming a different Vienna district each year into a showcase for contemporary design. Features exhibitions, open studios, installations, pop-up shops, and talks focusing on product, furniture, and graphic design.

Commemorates the Declaration of Neutrality in 1955. Marked by official ceremonies, open days at federal institutions (like the Hofburg and Parliament), and military displays. Museums and public transport operate on a holiday schedule.

A nationwide cultural event where hundreds of museums, galleries, and cultural institutions stay open until the early hours. A single ticket grants access to all participating venues, with special shuttle buses connecting key locations.

Celebrated with lantern processions led by a rider dressed as St. Martin, especially by children. Traditionally, roast goose (Martinsgans) is eaten for dinner. In Burgenland, it marks the official start of drinking the new wine (Heuriger).

Magical markets set up in town squares across Austria during Advent. Wooden stalls sell handcrafted ornaments, candles, and gifts. The aroma of Glühwein (mulled wine), roasted chestnuts, and gingerbread fills the air. Vienna's Rathausplatz and Salzburg's Domplatz are iconic.

Vienna's massive open-air New Year's Eve celebration with multiple stages along a pedestrian trail from Stephansplatz to the City Hall. Features live music ranging from classical to pop, food stalls, and spectacular fireworks at midnight over the Hofburg Palace.

Traditional pre-Christmas parades where people dressed as Krampus—horned, hairy folklore figures—roam the streets, ringing bells and playfully swatting spectators with bundles of sticks. The most impressive events feature hundreds of intricately carved wooden masks.

In the village of Christkindl near Steyr, the special Christmas post office receives and stamps hundreds of thousands of letters from children worldwide. Visitors can send cards with a unique holiday postmark and see a historic Baroque church and nativity scene.