August is one of Austria’s busiest months for open-air culture, with festivals taking over city squares, castle courtyards, lakeside stages and small-town venues.
Some of the country’s biggest international events continue throughout the month, including the Salzburg and Bregenz festivals. Other options offer a more local experience, from evenings at a Burgenland winery to an art festival in Upper Styria.
Here’s our pick for each of Austria’s nine provinces.
Vienna - Film Festival at Rathausplatz
When: Until September 6th
Where: Rathausplatz, 1st district
Admission: Free
Vienna’s annual Film Festival at Rathausplatz turns the square in front of City Hall into a large outdoor cinema and food market.
Concert films, opera, jazz, pop, rock, musicals and classical performances are shown on a 300-square-metre screen each evening after dark.
The 2026 programme includes performances by artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, Prince, Coldplay, Billie Eilish and Amy Winehouse, alongside recordings from the Vienna State Opera and other international opera houses.
Food stalls open daily from 11 am, with dishes from around the world available until 11 pm. Entry is free, and seats cannot be reserved.
The festival generally continues in rain, although the site can be cleared during thunderstorms, hail or strong winds.
The nearest public transport stops are Rathaus on the U2 and tram line 2.
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Lower Austria - SommerZeitFels
When: August 6th to 22nd
Where: Fels Castle courtyard, Fels am Wagram
The SommerZeitFels cultural festival combines open-air cinema, concerts, art installations, discussions, local wine and regional food.
Events take place from Thursday to Saturday in the courtyard of Fels Castle. The 2026 festival focuses on sustainability in agriculture, with particular attention given to women working in farming.
The programme includes Austrian and international films, a children’s screening with a fire show, documentaries and silent cinema with live music.
The box office and food area open at 6.30 pm. Visitors should bring warm and rainproof clothing because organisers try to hold screenings outside during light or unsettled weather.
During thunderstorms or heavy rain, events are moved to the local multi-purpose hall rather than cancelled.
Upper Austria - Salzkammergut Festwochen Gmunden
When: Various dates in August
Where: Gmunden and surrounding venues
The Salzkammergut Festwochen Gmunden offers a mixture of theatre, classical music, literature, exhibitions and talks in the Traunsee region.
Rather than being based at one festival site, events are spread across Gmunden and other venues in the Salzkammergut region.
Among the visual-art highlights is an exhibition by Austrian musician and artist Parov Stelar, which runs until August 16th.
The wider summer programme features established Austrian actors and musicians alongside international performers. As dates, venues and ticket availability vary, visitors should consult the festival’s current programme before travelling.
The festival office is located on Theatergasse in Gmunden and is normally open from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 1 pm.
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Styria - Summer of Art
When: August 11th to 16th
Where: wasistkunst Hof, Thörl
The Summer of Art festival in Thörl is aimed at people who want to be active participants, not just spectators.
Its programme includes more than 15 courses and workshops, along with literature, concerts, performances, films, juggling and acrobatics.
The studios and workshops at wasistkunst Hof are open to experienced artists, beginners and visitors who are simply curious about trying something new.
Participants can work independently or receive guidance, while the accompanying programme includes concerts, karaoke, open-stage performances and time to relax around the venue’s pool.
Course details and registration requirements are available through the organiser’s website.
Salzburg - Salzburg Festival
When: Until August 30th
Where: Salzburg city
The Salzburg Festival remains Austria’s best-known summer cultural event and one of the leading festivals for opera, drama and classical music internationally.
The 2026 opera programme includes Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos and Bizet’s Carmen.
Philipp Hochmair returns in the title role of Jedermann, the festival’s traditional performance on Cathedral Square, with Roxane Duran appearing as the Buhlschaft.
The drama programme also includes world premieres by Peter Handke and Elfriede Jelinek.
Leading orchestras and conductors appear throughout the concert programme, including the Vienna Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel, Riccardo Muti, Christian Thielemann, Tugan Sokhiev and Andris Nelsons.
Many performances sell out, although returned tickets and places for individual concerts may become available. The festival also offers productions and ticket options aimed at children and younger audiences.
Tyrol - Dance Alps Festival
When: Until August 14th
Where: St Johann in Tirol
St Johann becomes an international dance centre during the Dance Alps Festival.
The festival combines professional performances, parties, classes and workshops for different ages and levels of experience.
Styles covered include ballet, jazz, contemporary dance, modern dance, musical theatre, hip-hop and Afro dance.
Participants can book individual classes or larger workshop packages, while some parts of the programme are free. Courses for children and younger dancers are also available.
Most activities take place at the Kaisersaal on Bahnhofstraße, within walking distance of St Johann railway station and the town centre.
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Vorarlberg - Bregenz Festival
When: Until August 23rd
Where: Bregenz
The Bregenz Festival is best known for its spectacular opera productions on a floating stage on Lake Constance.
The 2026 lake-stage production is Verdi’s La traviata, which is being performed there for the first time.
The wider programme includes Janáček’s The Excursions of Mr Brouček at the Festspielhaus, orchestral concerts and events for children and young people.
A free outdoor exhibition along Bregenz’s lakeside promenade marks the festival’s 80th anniversary. It uses large poster displays to look back at lake-stage productions from 1946 to the present.
A useful practical benefit is that tickets marked “vmobil” can be used as public transport passes on Vorarlberg’s bus and train network on the day of the performance. Additional late services are provided after major events.
Carinthia - Klassik im Burghof
When: Saturdays throughout August
Where: Landhaus courtyard, Klagenfurt
The Klassik im Burghof series brings chamber music, piano, opera and world music to the historic courtyard of Klagenfurt’s Landhaus.
August begins with pianist Maria Radutu on August 1st, followed by the Klangfarben Ensemble on August 8th.
Sisters Sophie and Ania Druml perform with violinist Benjamin Ziervogel on August 15th. Tenor Michael Schade presents selections from his operatic and concert repertoire on August 22nd.
The final August concert, on August 29th, features the Kolsimcha ensemble’s combination of klezmer, jazz and world music.
Concert tickets also include free admission to the Museum of Modern Art Carinthia on the same day. Visitors under 18 can attend free, while people aged between 18 and 24 receive a 50 percent discount.
Most concerts are moved to the Konzerthaus in bad weather.
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Burgenland - Mondays in the Courtyard
When: August 3rd, 24th and 31st
Where: Hans Rohrer Family Winery, Lutzmannsburg
For a relaxed alternative to Austria’s major festivals, Mondays in the Courtyard combines wine, music and conversation at a family-run winery in Lutzmannsburg.
The August 3rd event is an open music stage, where guests who sing, dance or play an instrument can join the programme.
The Eidaxl Combo performs on August 24th, while the final event on August 31st explores the music of jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.
The atmosphere is closer to a winery gathering than a formal concert. Visitors can taste local wine, listen to live performances and spend the evening in the courtyard.
Useful vocabulary
die Veranstaltung - event
das Festival - festival
der Eintritt - admission
der Vorverkauf - advance ticket sales
die Abendkasse - evening box office
der Veranstaltungsort - venue
die Freilichtbühne - open-air stage
die Vorstellung - performance or screening
bei Schlechtwetter - in bad weather
der Veranstaltungskalender - events calendar
Did we miss your favourite event? Let us know in the comments below.
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