In 2026, Austria celebrates what makes it truly special: its unmistakable Lebensgefühl, where culture, nature and hospitality blend in perfect harmony. Under the title “Austria Like a Local”, travellers are invited to experience the country through authentic encounters, from concerts and festivals to village traditions and city life.

The coming year offers countless ways to feel, taste and live like a local in Austria.

A Nation in Tune: From Mozart to Modernity

The year begins in Salzburg with Mozart Week (22 January – 1 February 2026), which celebrates both the 270th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the 70th anniversary of the festival. Under the motto “Lux Aeterna”, international orchestras and soloists perform Mozart's late works in atmospheric venues that reflect the city's rich musical heritage.

Vienna opens the season with elegance during the Vienna Ball Season, when more than 400 balls fill palaces and grand halls across the capital. Thousands of guests waltz through glittering evenings, keeping alive a tradition that has shaped the city's cultural identity for generations.

Music, Culture, and Summer Magic

By May, Austria takes the international stage as Vienna hosts the Eurovision Song Contest (12–16 May 2026), celebrating music and diversity across Europe. Soon after, the Summer Night Concert Schönbrunn (19 June 2026) fills the baroque gardens of Schönbrunn Palace with the sound of the Vienna Philharmonic under the open sky.

Throughout the summer, art and performance flourish across the country. The Bregenz Festival (22 July – 23 August 2026) marks its 80th anniversary with Verdi's La traviata on the world's largest floating stage, a breathtaking fusion of opera, water, and light. In Salzburg, the Salzburg Festival continues to define global excellence in theatre and music, while La Strada in Graz (31 July – 8 August 2026) brings art to the streets with imaginative theatre and contemporary circus.

Tradition Lives On

Beyond the concert halls, Austria's local festivals reveal the heart of its culture. The Villacher Kirchtag (26 July – 2 August 2026), Austria's largest traditional folk festival, fills the streets with music, crafts, and joy. In Styria, the Aufsteirern Festival (September 2026) celebrates regional identity with local food, craftsmanship, and hospitality.

Each autumn, the Almabtrieb celebrates the return of cattle from the high pastures to the valleys. Adorned with flowers and bells, the animals parade through Alpine villages in a vibrant display of tradition and community. One of the largest takes place in the Zillertal Valley (September 2026), drawing thousands of visitors with folk music and regional specialties.

At the same time, the Ars Electronica Festival (9–13 September 2026) in Linz showcases modern creativity, bringing together art, science and technology in one of the world's leading festivals of innovation.

A Taste of Austrian Lifestyle

Austria's Lebensgefühl is also reflected in its cuisine and regional flavours. Along the Danube, the Wachau Apricot Festival (July 2026) celebrates the beloved Marille with sweet specialties, music and wine from the sun-drenched vineyards of Lower Austria.

Equally characteristic of Austrian culture are the wine festivals held across the country each autumn. From Burgenland to Styria, vineyards celebrate the harvest with tastings, local cuisine and music. A highlight is the Gamlitz Wine Harvest Festival (October 2026) in southern Styria, where visitors enjoy regional wines and folk traditions amid the scenic vineyards of the South Styrian Wine Road.

In Vienna, the Wiesn Festival (late September – mid-October 2026) brings Alpine flair to the city with traditional tents, live music and authentic cuisine. Each celebration, from the wine villages of the south to the capital's festive Prater, reflects the warmth, authenticity and community spirit that define Austria's way of life. And from mid-November, Austria's Christmas markets and festive traditions transform cities, towns and villages across the country into atmospheric winter wonderlands, where festive lights, handcrafted gifts, mulled wine and local treats create a uniquely cozy and magical charm embraced by locals.

Austria Like a Local – Feel the Lebensgefühl

Every season in Austria tells its own story, from the waltz of Vienna's ballrooms to the sound of brass music in Alpine valleys and the scent of apricots in the Wachau. These moments together embody Austria's Lebensgefühl, a spirit that lives in encounters, in music carried through mountain air and in the quiet pride of living traditions.

In 2026, Austria invites you to discover not only its events, but its essence: the Lebensgefühl.

Discover more at: b2b.austria.info

Media Contact

Lilly Freudmayer Market Representative Southeast Asia & Australia Austria Tourism Phone: +971 50 645 0515 Email: lilly.freudmayer@austria.info