Austria's calendar runs on music and mountains: the Vienna Opera Ball on 4 February 2027, the free Donauinselfest on Vienna's Danube Island from 25-27 June 2027, and the Salzburg Festival - the world's most famous classical summer festival - from 16 July to 29 August 2027. Winter brings the magical Christmas markets from mid-November, and 26 October is the National Day with open doors and family events. Summer valleys celebrate the Almabtrieb cattle homecoming with flowers and brass bands. Book Salzburg Festival and Opera Ball season hotels far ahead.
February
Vienna Opera Ball
4 Feb 2027 · Dates from Vienna State Opera (wiener-staatsoper.at), checked 30 Oct 2026
The grandest night of the Viennese ball season: the State Opera's auditorium becomes a ballroom, debutantes open with a waltz, and the whole city watches. It crowns a ball season of hundreds of events through Fasching (January-February).
For families: Watch the opening waltz on TV from your hotel - tickets are precious - and take the family to the Opera's daytime tours instead. The ball-season atmosphere (gowns in the subway!) is half the fun.
March
Salzburg Easter Festival
Usually Around Easter every spring; 2027 dates not yet announced.. This is the usual time of year, not confirmed dates for a particular year.
The Salzburg Festival's spring sibling: ten days of top-tier opera and orchestral concerts founded by Herbert von Karajan, staged in the Grosses Festspielhaus.
For families: Best for families with older music-loving children; otherwise enjoy Salzburg at Eastertide - the old town's Easter market and the fortress views need no tickets.
May
Wiener Festwochen
Usually Mid-May to mid-June every year; 2027 dates not yet announced.. This is the usual time of year, not confirmed dates for a particular year.
Vienna's big spring arts festival: five weeks of international theatre, dance and music, opening with a huge free open-air show on City Hall Square.
For families: The free opening show on Rathausplatz is a gift for families - arrive early for a good spot. The festival's outdoor installations around the city are free to enjoy all month.
June
Donauinselfest
25 Jun 2027 to 27 Jun 2027 · Dates from Donauinselfest, checked 30 Oct 2026
The world's largest free open-air music festival: three days of rock, pop and Austrian acts across a dozen stages on the Danube Island, drawing around three million visits - completely free.
For families: Free entry makes it wonderfully low-pressure for families - go in the afternoon, enjoy the food stalls and riverside lawns, and leave before the late-evening crowds. The U1 and U6 lines serve the island.
July
Salzburg Festival
16 Jul 2027 to 29 Aug 2027 · Dates from Salzburg Festival (salzburgerfestspiele.at), checked 30 Oct 2026
The world's most prestigious classical music and theatre festival: six weeks of opera, concerts and plays in the baroque festival halls, with the famous Jedermann play on Cathedral Square.
For families: Even without tickets, the Festival atmosphere is a joy - Jedermann on the square, street performers and Salzburg at its loveliest. Serious music lovers should enter the ticket lottery early; family-friendly pocket operas run alongside.
September
Almabtrieb cattle homecoming
Usually September to early October every year; 2027 dates not yet announced.. This is the usual time of year, not confirmed dates for a particular year.
The Alps' most photogenic tradition: flower-crowned cows led down from the summer pastures through the village streets, with brass bands, farm markets and cheese stalls.
For families: A perfect autumn day trip from Salzburg or Innsbruck - children adore the decorated cows, and the farm markets sell cheese and schnapps. Dates vary village by village; ask at the tourist office.
October
Austrian National Day
26 Oct 2027 · Dates from timeanddate, checked 30 Oct 2026
Austria's national holiday: the President and government attend an open-air ceremony on Vienna's Heldenplatz, the armed forces show their equipment to families, and museums across the country open free or discounted.
For families: A relaxed, free family day - children can climb on military vehicles at Heldenplatz, and the free museum entry makes it the bargain sightseeing day of the year.
November
Vienna Christmas markets
Usually Mid-November to late December every year; 2026 dates not yet confirmed at check time.. This is the usual time of year, not confirmed dates for a particular year.
Vienna turns into an Advent fairy tale: the Christkindlmarkt at City Hall Square with its tree and ice paths, the elegant Schönbrunn and Belvedere palace markets, punch stalls, carousels and roasted chestnuts across the city.
For families: The perfect family evening - lights, kinderpunsch (children's punch), carousels and craft stalls. Dress warmly, go at dusk when the lights come on, and ride the Ring tram between markets.
Trips to Austria
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Quick questions
Sources
- Donauinselfest: Donauinselfest 2027 official dates (25-27 June 2027) · checked 30 Oct 2026
- Salzburg Festival (salzburgerfestspiele.at): Salzburg Festival 2027 official dates (16 July - 29 August 2027) · checked 30 Oct 2026
- timeanddate: Holidays and observances in Austria · checked 30 Oct 2026
- Tirol Werbung (tyrol.com): Almabtrieb: cattle drive home from the alpine pastures · checked 30 Oct 2026
- Vienna State Opera (wiener-staatsoper.at): Vienna Opera Ball, 4 February 2027 · checked 30 Oct 2026
- Wiener Festwochen: Wiener Festwochen official site (spring arts festival, May-June) · checked 30 Oct 2026
- WienTourismus (wien.info): Vienna Christmas markets 2026 dates and locations · checked 30 Oct 2026