Austrian Events Highlights 2025

200th Anniversary of Johann Strauss  

Vienna | January – December 2025

Vienna will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its golden son, Waltz King Johann Strauss, with a premier event every week. His complete works, spanning the year from New Year's Day to New Year's Eve, will inspire joy and let Vienna shine culturally. The Strauss festival year is based on four pillars: a variety of new events as a tribute to Vienna, the artistic range of Strauss, sustainable value creation in art, business and tourism.

https://www.johannstrauss2025.at/en/

60 Years of Sound of Music 

Salzburg City and SalzburgerLand | Year-round 2025

One of THE most successful musical ever was filmed in and around Salzburg 60 years ago. It has since drawn millions of Sound of Music fans to the picturesque movie locations. Salzburg city and Salzburg province will commemorate the anniversary with numerous activities throughout the year.

https://www.salzburg.info/en/salzburg/the-sound-of-music

Vienna Ball Season

Vienna | January – February 2025

The year kicks off with the annual ball season. 400 balls are held in Vienna alone, with many more across the country. In Austria, learning to dance the waltz is a much a passage of right as getting one's driver's licence, ensuring that more elegantly dressed dancers glide and twirl effortlessly across the parquetry dance floors than anywhere else. The season's highlight is the Vienna Opera Ball, held at Vienna State Opera on 27 February 2025.

https://www.austria.info/en/things-to-do/cities-and-culture/traditions/ball-season

FIS Alpine World Ski Championships

Saalbach | 4 – 16 February 2025

Saalbach will host the 48th Ski World Championships this upcoming winter. Ski enthusiasts are invited to join this festival of ski sports with unlimited ski operation in the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Watch the athletes compete during the day and celebrate their achievements at night.

https://www.saalbach.com/en/saalbach2025/saalbach2025

Narzissenfest | Daffodil Festival

Ausseerland | Salzkammergut lake district | 29 May – 1 June 2025

When the wild narcissi (daffodil) are in bloom, they transform the Ausseerland into a fragrant sea of flowers. The festival highlight is the annual daffodil parade on lake Grundlsee, a boat parade of artistic daffodil figures. Countless blossoms are used to decorate the elaborate floats.

https://www.narzissenfest.at/en/

Summer Night Concert Schönbrunn

Vienna | 13 June 2025

The Summer Night Concert in the beautiful setting of the Schönbrunn Palace is one of the great highlights of the Philharmonic year. The open-air concert takes place annually in the park of Schönbrunn Palace. The orchestra podium and the audience area are in the middle of the baroque park, surrounded by the extraordinary scenery of Schönbrunn Palace and the Gloriette. A free event by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra!

https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en/summernightconcert

Film Festival Vienna – Music On Screen

Vienna | 28 June – 31 August 2025

The 35th Film Festival at Vienna's Rathausplatz is the summer hotspot for culture, culinary delights. With free admission, the festival has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors every year for over three decades, showcasing a unique blend of top-class music productions (Operas, Concerts and Musicals) and first-rate cuisine from around the world, offering an incomparable experience under the open sky in one of Vienna's most beautiful settings.

Salzburg Festival

Salzburg | July – August 2025

It is said to be one of the most famous and important festivals for opera, music and drama. Mozart's birthplace is transformed into one huge stage for the summer. The wide-ranging programme includes classics like Mozart operas and world-famous artists as well as a varied programme for young people. All those who missed out on tickets can watch performances from previous years at an outdoor screen at Kapitel Square for free.

https://www.salzburgerfestspiele.at/en/

Bregenz Festival

Bregenz | 16 July – 17 August 2025

This event attracts crowds with the help of opera and concert performances by the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra and the largest floating stage in the world. The lake and the surrounding countryside are a central part of all productions, audiences can experience monumental open-air opera productions in an unknown intensity. In 2025, Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber will be performed on the spectacular floating stage.

https://bregenzerfestspiele.com/en

La Strada

Graz | 25 July – 2 August 2025

La Strada Graz, the international festival for street art, puppet theatre, new circus and community art, is known for its skilful connection of people with art and performance. For many years, it has opened up blank spaces in an artistic way, discovered future parts of the city and made urban spaces into the city's great stages. 

https://www.graztourismus.at/en/events/event-calendar/la-strada_evt_4643

Festival of Early Music

Innsbruck | July – August 2025 (dates to be confirmed)

The Innsbruck Festival of Early Music is one of the most renowned festivals of Baroque music in Europe. A diverse programme with world-class ensembles and stars has been on offer since 1976. At this year's 48th edition, visitors can experience both familiar and new formats. Events ranging from opera performances to open-air events and workshop concerts are dedicated entirely to early music. 

https://www.altemusik.at/en

45th Jazzfestival Saalfelden

Saalfelden | late August 2025 (dates to be confirmed)

At the end of summer, Saalfelden is transformed into a meeting place for the international jazz scene. Numerous ticketed and free events are held over four days against a breathtaking Alpine background. A must-do event for jazz aficionados.

https://www.jazzsaalfelden.com/en

Ars Electronica Festival

Linz | September 2025 (dates to be confirmed)

Since 1979, the Ars Electronica Festival has flourished throughout Linz, taking its avant-garde programming from one exciting location to the next. Instead of restricting itself to traditional art spaces or dreary conference rooms, the festival engages directly with the city it calls home. The diverse venues have included a network of subterranean tunnels, a monastery, and a tobacco processing plant.

https://ars.electronica.art/festival/en/

Christmas Markets

Across Austria | mid-November to late December 2025

From mid-November until the end of the year, Austria is the place to explore romantic Christmas markets. Glistening lights, seasonal treats and snow-covered roofs make for a magical experience in Austria's cities and towns. Vienna and Salzburg may have the best-known Christmas markets, but visitors will find them in all major cities and towns (even in lakeside hamlets or within medieval fortresses) in the lead-up to Christmas and New Year.

https://www.austria.info/en/things-to-do/skiing-and-winter/christmas-markets