The best festivals and events to enjoy in Austria this summer
With Covid restrictions lifted, Austria is ready to host a series of large summer festivals and events. Here are some of the best to choose from. It took two years, but Austria is now bringing back most of its major summer events without any pandemic restrictions. The country has already hosted a 250,000 people Pride parade (the Regenbodenparade) and a days-long festival, the Nova Rock festival, to the joy of many.
With summer coming up, there are several more events you shouldn't miss. Here's an overview of some of the best events for summer in Austria in 2022.
The Donauinselfest (June 24th to 26th), Vienna
This is Europe’s largest – and free – open-air music festival. It takes place on Danube Island (Donauinsel) in the Danube River in Vienna.
READ ALSO: Five of the best things to do in Vienna this summer
Performers at the festival are usually Austrian, but there are also sometimes international acts in the line-up. In the past two years, Donauinselfest has gone ahead in a smaller capacity to comply with Covid-19 restrictions.
However, the festival is back this year with no restrictions and several stages. The official festival website can be found here.
Our weekend tip: the Danube Island #Festival, Europe's largest open-air event! Austrian and international stars will perform from 21 until 23 June on in total 13 stages: https://t.co/ljAFeciNsb#music#summer#concert#Donauinselfest © Karl Thomas pic.twitter.com/ZaCpDz1VWS
— Vienna (@_vienna_info_) June 19, 2019
River days (July 1st to 10th), Styria
Ten days of water sports will leave nothing to be desired. In Graz, you can participate in rafting, sailing, standup paddling (plus yoga, HIIT, and pilates on the surfboard), and all sorts of activities and sports can be found during this event.
Am Freitag findet der Startschuss zu den Grazer River Days statt: https://t.co/SJFqMpaGH8#Grazpic.twitter.com/AOAsRvFkGx
— Stadt Graz (@GrazStadt) July 6, 2021
You can read more and find the complete program here.
Mid Europe Music Festival (July 12th to 17th), Styria
Mid Europe is a music festival for wind and brass instruments in Schladming in Styria. The event is known for fostering a love of music and culture where musicians play out of choice instead of being paid to perform.
READ ALSO: The German language you need for summer in Austria
Every year 35 orchestras from 15 countries descend on Schladming, with events (24 in-door and 15 open-air) taking place across the Schladming-Dachstein region. Music genres include traditional Bohemian, classical, swing and ska. Event details can be found here.
preparations for a music festival above Innsbruck: Wetterleuchten 2018 #wetterleuchten#inTirol#ibktwit#festival#djs#mountains#fantasticscenary#panoramapic.twitter.com/JgrRxWZ9B4
— Hansi WEISSENSTEINER (@whansi) July 14, 2018
Wetterleuchten Festival (July 16th and 17th), Innsbruck
Electronic music fans can dance the night away just over the mountains, as the festival is located in the Seegrube, just above Innsbruck. Part of its charm is being able to party and camp in the mountains, almost 2,000 metres above sea level.
You can read more about the festival on the official site.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Everything you need to know about camping in Austria
Bregrenz Festival (July 20th to August 21st), Vorarlberg
The 76th Begrenz Festival will officially open after a two-year Covid break. Around 1,800 guests are expected at the opening in the Festspielhaus, where the Wiener Symphoniker will play under the direction of conductor Enrique Mazola.
From July 20th to August 21st, guests can watch several concerts, music, poetry presentation, theatre and art expositions. You can see the complete programme here.
Rock im Dorf Festival (July 22nd to 24th), Upper Austria
The festival takes place in the lovely town of Kirchdorf an der Krems, and is a great way to get to know more local rock music, including Austrian band Granada and German rapper Fiva.
The smaller festival lasts for three days and the pass (without camping or caravan parking) costs € 67. There are also different stages with rock/pop, techno, and activities for children. You can read more about it here.
FM4 Frequency Festival (August 18th to 20th), Lower Austria
FM4 is one of Austria’s national radio stations, popular with the country’s young and multicultural population. The annual Frequency Festival is a showcase of the music played on FM4.
READ ALSO: Heatwave: Nine of the coolest places in Austria
Like most prominent events in 2021, Frequency Festival was cancelled last year and will now return to its St. Pölten location later this season. Details about FM4 Frequency Festival can be found here.
My hometown Salzburg during festival time in summer: great art & amazing views. Everywhere. #Austria#SalzburgFestival#NoFilterpic.twitter.com/eshUt24SJd
— Martin Weiss (@martinoweiss) August 29, 2017
Salzburg Summer Festival (July 15th – August 31st), Salzburg
The Salzburg Summer Festival offers a programme of opera, drama and concert performances and takes place across several weeks during the peak summer season.
It’s an important event on the city’s cultural calendar and celebrates Salzburg’s history. The entire programme can be found here.
Open-air cinemas all over Austria
Many cities in Austria offer open-air cinemas during the summer months and the one in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, located in the beautiful Burghof, is worth visiting. It takes place between July 16th and August 25th. You can check the programme here.
In Burgenland, the Kino am Neusiedler See is a popular choice, set by the shores of "Austria's sea" from August 4th to 7th. Check out more info here.
READ ALSO: Ten ways to save money on your trip to Austria this summer
In Lower Austria, Cinema Paradiso is one of the prettiest options, just outside the Rathaus of St. Pölten. There are many offers other than traditional films so you can watch live events or concerts. Read more here.
Upper Austria might have the most unusual open-air cinema of all, the Whirlpool-Kno in Feldkirchen an der Donau. Who wouldn't want to watch a movie while bathing in a whirlpool? Tickets are pricey, though, and you can read all about it here.
READ ALSO: Discover Austria: Five beautiful hikes and destinations south of Vienna
Vienna has many open-air cinemas, and the most popular is the film festival in the Rathausplatz, where there are many other activities, and food offers too. The Kino am Dach is also a good choice for a great view of Vienna.
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It took two years, but Austria is now bringing back most of its major summer events without any pandemic restrictions. The country has already hosted a 250,000 people Pride parade (the Regenbodenparade) and a days-long festival, the Nova Rock festival, to the joy of many.
With summer coming up, there are several more events you shouldn't miss. Here's an overview of some of the best events for summer in Austria in 2022.
The Donauinselfest (June 24th to 26th), Vienna
This is Europe’s largest – and free – open-air music festival. It takes place on Danube Island (Donauinsel) in the Danube River in Vienna.
READ ALSO: Five of the best things to do in Vienna this summer
Performers at the festival are usually Austrian, but there are also sometimes international acts in the line-up. In the past two years, Donauinselfest has gone ahead in a smaller capacity to comply with Covid-19 restrictions.
However, the festival is back this year with no restrictions and several stages. The official festival website can be found here.
Our weekend tip: the Danube Island #Festival, Europe's largest open-air event! Austrian and international stars will perform from 21 until 23 June on in total 13 stages: https://t.co/ljAFeciNsb#music#summer#concert#Donauinselfest © Karl Thomas pic.twitter.com/ZaCpDz1VWS
— Vienna (@_vienna_info_) June 19, 2019
River days (July 1st to 10th), Styria
Ten days of water sports will leave nothing to be desired. In Graz, you can participate in rafting, sailing, standup paddling (plus yoga, HIIT, and pilates on the surfboard), and all sorts of activities and sports can be found during this event.
Am Freitag findet der Startschuss zu den Grazer River Days statt: https://t.co/SJFqMpaGH8#Grazpic.twitter.com/AOAsRvFkGx
— Stadt Graz (@GrazStadt) July 6, 2021
You can read more and find the complete program here.
Mid Europe Music Festival (July 12th to 17th), Styria
Mid Europe is a music festival for wind and brass instruments in Schladming in Styria. The event is known for fostering a love of music and culture where musicians play out of choice instead of being paid to perform.
READ ALSO: The German language you need for summer in Austria
Every year 35 orchestras from 15 countries descend on Schladming, with events (24 in-door and 15 open-air) taking place across the Schladming-Dachstein region. Music genres include traditional Bohemian, classical, swing and ska. Event details can be found here.
preparations for a music festival above Innsbruck: Wetterleuchten 2018 #wetterleuchten#inTirol#ibktwit#festival#djs#mountains#fantasticscenary#panoramapic.twitter.com/JgrRxWZ9B4
— Hansi WEISSENSTEINER (@whansi) July 14, 2018
Wetterleuchten Festival (July 16th and 17th), Innsbruck
Electronic music fans can dance the night away just over the mountains, as the festival is located in the Seegrube, just above Innsbruck. Part of its charm is being able to party and camp in the mountains, almost 2,000 metres above sea level.
You can read more about the festival on the official site.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Everything you need to know about camping in Austria
Bregrenz Festival (July 20th to August 21st), Vorarlberg
The 76th Begrenz Festival will officially open after a two-year Covid break. Around 1,800 guests are expected at the opening in the Festspielhaus, where the Wiener Symphoniker will play under the direction of conductor Enrique Mazola.
From July 20th to August 21st, guests can watch several concerts, music, poetry presentation, theatre and art expositions. You can see the complete programme here.
Rock im Dorf Festival (July 22nd to 24th), Upper Austria
The festival takes place in the lovely town of Kirchdorf an der Krems, and is a great way to get to know more local rock music, including Austrian band Granada and German rapper Fiva.
The smaller festival lasts for three days and the pass (without camping or caravan parking) costs € 67. There are also different stages with rock/pop, techno, and activities for children. You can read more about it here.
FM4 Frequency Festival (August 18th to 20th), Lower Austria
FM4 is one of Austria’s national radio stations, popular with the country’s young and multicultural population. The annual Frequency Festival is a showcase of the music played on FM4.
READ ALSO: Heatwave: Nine of the coolest places in Austria
Like most prominent events in 2021, Frequency Festival was cancelled last year and will now return to its St. Pölten location later this season. Details about FM4 Frequency Festival can be found here.
My hometown Salzburg during festival time in summer: great art & amazing views. Everywhere. #Austria#SalzburgFestival#NoFilterpic.twitter.com/eshUt24SJd
— Martin Weiss (@martinoweiss) August 29, 2017
Salzburg Summer Festival (July 15th – August 31st), Salzburg
The Salzburg Summer Festival offers a programme of opera, drama and concert performances and takes place across several weeks during the peak summer season.
It’s an important event on the city’s cultural calendar and celebrates Salzburg’s history. The entire programme can be found here.
Open-air cinemas all over Austria
Many cities in Austria offer open-air cinemas during the summer months and the one in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, located in the beautiful Burghof, is worth visiting. It takes place between July 16th and August 25th. You can check the programme here.
In Burgenland, the Kino am Neusiedler See is a popular choice, set by the shores of "Austria's sea" from August 4th to 7th. Check out more info here.
READ ALSO: Ten ways to save money on your trip to Austria this summer
In Lower Austria, Cinema Paradiso is one of the prettiest options, just outside the Rathaus of St. Pölten. There are many offers other than traditional films so you can watch live events or concerts. Read more here.
Upper Austria might have the most unusual open-air cinema of all, the Whirlpool-Kno in Feldkirchen an der Donau. Who wouldn't want to watch a movie while bathing in a whirlpool? Tickets are pricey, though, and you can read all about it here.
READ ALSO: Discover Austria: Five beautiful hikes and destinations south of Vienna
Vienna has many open-air cinemas, and the most popular is the film festival in the Rathausplatz, where there are many other activities, and food offers too. The Kino am Dach is also a good choice for a great view of Vienna.
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