The Best Festivals in Austria
If you’re planning to visit Austria this year, why not discover some of the most exciting festivals that the country has to offer, from a pop music event held in front of Vienna’s Baroque church to one of Europe’s finest international film festivals? In this diverse cultural community, there is something for everyone.
Viennale
The long-running Viennale international film festival (since 1960) takes place annually in October. Premiering an incredible range of films, the festival takes place across Vienna’s many vintage cinemas, including Gartenbaukino, the planetarium Urania Sternwarte, Metro-Kino, Filmmuseum and Stadtkino. Documentaries, short films and experimental cinema are among the genres that are seen and the festival includes a number of events, such as talks with directors and special galas.
Viennale Festival, Siebensterngasse 2, 1070 Wien, Austria, +43 1 526 5947
Gartenbaukino, Parkring 12, 1010 Wien, Austria, +43 1 512 2354
Urania Sternwarte, Uraniastraße 1, 1010 Wien, Austria, +43 1 891 7415
Metro-Kino, Johannesgasse 4, 1010 Wien, Austria, +43 1 512 1803
Filmmuseum, Augustinerstraße 1, 1010 Wien, Austria, +43 1 533 7054
Stadkino, Akademiestr. 13, 1010 Wien, Austria, +43 1 712 6276
1. Vienna Popfest
Held beneath the gaze of Baroque masterpiece the Karlsplatz church, the Popfest four-day festival takes place annually in July, attracting around 60,000 visitors. The festival’s programme largely features Austrian acts, with a particular focus on pop music – as you may have guessed!
Karlsplatz Church, Kreuzherrengasse 1, 1040 Wien, +43 1 5046187
2. Wiener Festwochen
Established in the 1950s, this six-week festival pays tribute to all things cultural with the opening taking place outside Vienna City Hall. The festival was originally set up with the aim to reshape the city’s image after the Second World War, encouraging people to unite through culture, as the website says: ‘Wiener Festwochen doesn’t aim to be a glossy festival. Rather, it seeks to understand art as a process that enables new solidarities by creating temporary Ground Zeroes, thus becoming a field for experimentation for a future society.’
Vienna City Hall, Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria, +43 1 52550
Wiener Festwochen festival | © Cha già José / Flickr
3. Mörbisch Operetta Festival
An operetta is a lighter version of an opera, in both its themes and musical style, and this festival pays tribute to it. One of the highlights of this festival is the stunning backdrop of Lake Neusiedl, an area of gorgeous natural beauty. Attracting a diverse crowd of fans, the festival is described by the organisers as a ‘limitless cultural enjoyment that whisks visitors away into a magical world full of melodies from operettas and musicals, far from the worries of everyday life.’
Mörbisch Operetta Festival, Seebad 1, 7072 Mörbisch am See, Austria, +43 2682 66210
The festival at dusk | © Austrian Tourist Board
4. Danube Island Festival
From 23 to 25 June, Vienna’s Danube Island transforms into a party hub for around 3 million visitors for the Danube Island Festival. Musicians from all over the world, and of all genres, provide the visitors with over 600 hours of concerts, and countless food and drinks vans line the banks.
Donau Kanal | © WienTourismus/Christian Stemper
5. International Art Fair
Museum
Taking place annually in autumn, this festival is Vienna’s most prominent art event, bringing together artists from all over the world. Many different faces of the art world turn up at the Leopold Museum to enjoy this cultural feast, from classical art collectors, to up and coming contemporary artists.
Leopold Museum, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Wien, +43 1 525700
Leopold Museum | © Austrian Tourist Board
6. ImPulsTanz
ImPulsTanz has established itself as one of the most important festivals for contemporary dance, attracting thousands of dancers, choreographers, teachers and dance aficionados from all over the world, who gather in Vienna to investigate new and innovative ideas in the dance and performance art world.
Festival ImPulsTanz, Neustiftgasse 3, 1070 Wien, +43 1 5235 5580
7. The Bregenz Festival
The Bregenz Festival attracts international artists and visitors to the world’s biggest lake stage, a wonderful setting for showcasing major operatic works and classical concerts.
The festival lit up at night | © Austrian Tourist Board
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