The festivals in Austria are among the most prestigious in the world, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world every year. But while these popular summer events in Austria offer a full spectrum of cultural holidays, music is, of course, a cornerstone. As such, many festivals celebrate local composers such as Liszt and Mozart, as well as more contemporary styles. Nevertheless, there are also big film festivals, theatrical showcases, and events that bring together all branches of art. And then there are the more selective festivals that celebrate the quirks of Austria’s rich culture and history. Whether you happen to live in Austria or just pass through, there are top 10 summer festivals in Austria held here across the country.
List of Summer Festivals and Events in Austria
1. Jazz Festival in Saalfelden
Jazz Festival in Saalfelden
The Saalfelden Jazz Festival offers honest, untouched, and slightly rough music. It strives to be a venue for experimentation where the most innovative track can be heard. What began in 1979 in a horse stable has long since established the main stage of the Saalfelden Congress. There are also concerts at the Kunsthaus Nexus and free performances in front of the town hall. Overall, the best summer festival in Austria offers top-quality jazz for four days in the middle of SalzburgLand’s spectacular alpine spectacle.
Where: Saalfelden
When: August
2. ImPuls Tanz Festival
ImPuls Tanz Festival
International stars such as Mathilde Monnier, Wim Vandekeybus, Marie Chouinard, and Akram Khan have already staged their work here and continue to be associated with what has since become Europe’s largest dance festival. The summer festival is committed to supporting contemporary dance. Each year, a series of young choreographers from Newcomer-Schiene [8: Tension] presents trendsetting productions. The highlight is the dedication of the European Young Talent Award, the Prix Jardin d’Europe. This popular summer festival in Austria is home to about 50 productions in a month at venues such as the Burgtheater, Volkstheater, MuseumsQuartier, Odeon, and Schauspielhaus. About 150 teachers hold about 200 dance workshops.
Where: Vienna
When: August
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3. Carinthian Summer Music Festival
Carinthian Summer Music Festival
Today, the Carinthian Summer music festival is ranked among the most important summer festivals in Austria. It started in 1969 on the shores of Ossiachersee lake and is renowned for the classical and new musical talent that it showcases. Many musicians come to Carinthia every year and perform in atmospheric venues such as Ossiach Abbey, the mountain church in Tiffin, the “Stone House” of architect GĂĽnther Domenig in Steindorf, the Gothic church St. Martin / Feldkirchen and Glanegg Castle, to name a few.
Where: Vienna
When: August
4. La Strada
La Strada
La Strada is the only festival in Austria that collaborates with internationally renowned artists who are discovering new forms of expression outside of established theaters. This top summer festival in Austria supports innovative productions and assists Austrian artists in the pan-European festival circle. For a week and a half each year, street theater, acrobatics, facial expressions, puppetry, children’s theater, dance, and the clown arts provide space for meetings across Europe, but also among locals. La Strada helps visitors learn more about the capital of Styria and its inhabitants and seeks encounters across borders. This festival has been the foundation of Graz’s cultural life for a long time.
Where: Graz
When: July-August
5. Donaufestival Krems
Donaufestival Krems
A famous wine-producing region in Lower Austria, Krems an der Donau is a beautiful riverside town in the historic Wachau Valley. However, Krems hosts a music and performance festival every April, which can come as a surprise. On two spring weekends, Donaufestival is the curator of avant-garde acts ranging from electronics to noise cubes, from psychedelic rock to performing arts. Past performances have included Rufus Wainwright, John Cale, and Sonic Youth.
Where: Krems an der DonauÂ
When: April
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6. Liszt Festival
Liszt Festival
Born in 1811 in a small village called Raiding in Burgenland, Ferenc Liszt is the creator of a completely new type of piano music and a trendy compositional style, in which he uses poetic thought as a form of modern musical language. The idea of bringing his thoughts to the world soon became cosmopolitan thanks to his extensive concert tours across Europe and impressed larger cities with his unique presentation and virtuosity. Its birthplace of shingles, which is now a museum, is still in Raiding. On the occasion of the founding of the Liszt Festival in 2006, the Ferenc Liszt Concert Hall, built in the immediate vicinity of the state of Burgenland, was decorated with an architectural award. The piano, singing, and orchestral works of Ferenc Liszt are played in the concert hall with about 600 seats.
Where: NeusiedlerseeÂ
When: August
7. Castle Grafenegg Music FestivalÂ
Castle Grafenegg Music Festival
Every year in August, the audience listens to classic performances in the beautiful surroundings of the century-old castle and the adjacent park. Seven centuries of history can be seen in the architecture of Grafenegg Castle. Expanded in the 19th century, it became the most important historical example of Austria, and in Grafenegg you can find stylistic traces from Gothic to Baroque and Biedermeier to elegant Neo-Gothic. Stroll further through the gardens and look for a shady spot under the century-old trees, complete with a picnic basket with mouth-watering fares from the picnic pavilion. A few hours later, the music begins to fill Europe’s largest outdoor arena. This famous summer festival in Austria is a rare celebration of stellar musical performances, untouched nature, and award-winning architecture.
Where: Grafenegg
When: August
8. Innsbruck Festival of Early Music
Innsbruck Festival of Early Music
Outstanding opera productions and stunning concerts at historic venues. It is one of the most important summer music festivals in Austria of historically informed performances. In the Renaissance and Baroque style, Innsbruck was one of the music centers of Europe. The Innsbruck Festival, the oldest surviving early music festival, follows this tradition in July and August. One of the most prestigious festivals, the Innsbruck Festival attracts the most famous artists of early music. In addition to a number of original ensembles, opera stars such as Jennifer Larmore and countertenor Derek Lee Ragin have performed. A varied program accompanies the festival. Backstage secrets provide a glimpse behind the scenes, with free admission to the Hofgarten concerts at lunchtime to eat, drink and listen to the sounds. Festive lift music meets the squares of the city, just like in the days of the Archduke of Tyrol. And the heyday of the renaissance rises during the castle festival at Ambras Castle.
Where: Innsbruck
When: August
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9. Salzburg Festival
Salzburg Festival
Featuring opera, concerts, and dramas, the Salzburg Festival is recognized worldwide as of today’s most outstanding classical music event. Held for the first time in 1920, the Salzburg Festival is one of the cultural events of the year. In addition to the permanent residence of the Vienna Philharmonic, musicians and ensembles of the highest caliber fill the alpine city with music and drama. Every summer, the Salzburger Festspiele dominates the Baroque city of Salzburg. Some of the greatest artists in classical music appear on the stage of the Festspielhaus, and international stars such as Anna Netrebko, Ricardo Muti, and Edita Gruberova have become regulars here.
Where: SalzburgÂ
When: July-August
10. Bregenzer Festspiele
Bregenzer Festspiele
This popular summer event in Austria attracts crowds with opera and concert performances by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the world’s largest floating stage. Surely the city had a wonderful location on the shores of the lake and the beautiful surroundings that led some of his clever minds to set up a stage on two barges in 1946. The lake and the surrounding countryside were therefore to be the central part of all productions. from the beginning. 60 years later, the Bregenzer Festspiele is an integral part of Austrian culture. For four weeks in the summer, audiences can experience monumental open-air opera productions with unknown intensity. No wonder the 2008 James Bond “Quantum of Solace” producers were excited about this spectacular setting as they searched for places. The Tosca venue formed the backdrop for the film’s backstage, and Puccini’s music was used for the dramatic soundtrack.
Where: Vorarlberg
When: July-August
Hope you enjoyed the brief list of the top 10 summer festivals in Austria that offer umpteen beach sports and fabulous scenic views of the city. There are various famous spots at the mentioned Festivals of All Seasons Celebrated in Austria which delivers many attractions. For more engaging blogs like these head on to our other blogs and ping us in the comment sections below if you hold any queries regarding the travel destinations.
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