Best Festivals to Visit in Austria within the Summer

Austria is thought for big worldwide music occasions such because the Donauinselfest and the ImPuls Tanz Festival. However, there’s additionally a variety of lesser-known summer time festivals in Austria that guests to the nation shouldn’t miss on their journey. 

Below you’ll discover a full breakdown of the greatest festivals in Austria to incorporate in your summer time journey itinerary. (If you’re visiting from exterior of Europe, simply make sure that to verify the Schengen visa necessities for Austria first).

The Best Summer Festivals in Austria

Austria boasts quite a few wonderful festivals that guests to the nation can expertise year-round. There’s the Snowbombing competition in Tyrol in April, Wiener Wiesn Fest (Vienna’s model of Oktoberfest) in late September, and the Viennale International Film Festival in October. 

However, the largest focus of music, cultural, and gastronomic occasions are held between May and September.  Since many of those festivals happen in August, you could possibly absorb fairly a couple of of the occasions whereas in Austria on a 10-day itinerary.

Genuss Festival – May

Held within the photogenic Vienna inexperienced area Stadtpark, Genuss is Austria’s largest annual meals competition and among the finest locations to expertise the wide selection of scrumptious Austrian delicacies. 

This free al-fresco occasion brings collectively different 200 exhibitors to showcase a variety of Austrian meals and drinks. Here you’ll be able to pattern freshly ready delicacies from areas all throughout the nation in addition to purchase packaged items to take again dwelling as presents. 

Wiener Festwochen – May to June

Wiener Festwochen (Vienna Festival Weeks) is a multidisciplinary artwork competition that takes place in Austria’s capital. First established in 1951, the competition kicks off with an open-air free occasion held within the sq. in entrance of Vienna’s City Hall.

Over the subsequent 6 weeks, the competition affords an enormous vary of dance, music, visible arts, and theater performances held in venues throughout the town. 

Known for a willingness to experiment and freedom of expression for artists, it’s among the finest alternatives to expertise the wealth of tradition that Vienna affords.

Sonnenwende on the Danube – June

The Wachau cultural panorama within the Danube valley is without doubt one of the most lovely locations in Austria. It’s nicely value a go to for its unbelievable landscapes and plenty of historic villages, monasteries, and castles. 

In June, there’s one other nice motive to go to the realm. To have a good time the summer time solstice,  round 20 villages alongside the Danube River maintain spectacular fireworks shows over the water.

What’s extra, the river banks are lined with wine festivals the place you’ll be able to pattern a number of the area’s specialty drinks. However, one of the simplest ways to expertise the wonderful gentle shows is immediately from the Danube itself on a river cruise. 

Bregenzer Festspiele – July to August

This distinctive performing arts competition within the Upper Rhine on the foot of the northern alps is held in Bregenz on Lake Constance. Yes, actually on the lake, because it takes place on the world’s largest floating stage. 

A showcase for the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the competition options large-scale opera and musical performances towards the beautiful backdrop of the lake and its environment. 

Innsbruck Festival of Early Music – July- August

Founded in 1976, this annual competition affords a collection of traditionally knowledgeable performances of music from the late Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical intervals. 

It’s held in Innsbruck, the fifth-largest metropolis in Austria and the capital of Tyrol state, the birthplace of those musical genres. It’s nicely value visiting even when simply to take a look at the wonderful structure of Ambras Castle, one of many important competition venues. 

Salzburg Festival – July to August

The Salzburg Festival is held within the Austrian Baroque metropolis of the identical identify. 

One of the best-regarded classical music occasions on the planet, it fittingly takes place within the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

First established in 1920, the competition affords a variety of concert events from a number of the best artists in classical music, together with the Vienna Philharmonic. You may also see a variety of operas over the 6-week competition interval. 

Liszt Festival – August

Another classical music competition that takes place within the birthplace of a well-known composer, this celebration in Raiding within the Burgenland goes even additional by dedicating your complete occasion to Franz Liszt. 

This avant-garde conductor and his radical strategy to piano music are celebrated annually within the city with a variety of performances on the city’s Liszt Center Raiding. And these curious in regards to the celebrated pianist’s life can be taught all about his legacy on the museum subsequent door.

Castle Grafenegg Music Festival – August

This widespread Austrian music competition affords a variety of each classical and jazz-inspired concert events curated by the nation’s best pianist, Rudolf Buchbinder. 

One of a very powerful orchestra festivals in Europe, the line-up combines worldwide orchestras and soloists with proficient up-and-coming musicians. But maybe the largest draw is the setting itself – the grounds of the spectacular Thirteenth-century Grafenegg Castle. 

Located only a brief distance from Vienna, these beautiful gardens are dwelling to Europe’s largest outside area, the Wolkenturm. The stage arguably boasts a number of the greatest acoustics of any open-air venue on the planet.