Music Film Festival at City Hall Square

The classic Viennese summer festival for the last 36 years: Rathausplatz will once again become a vibrant open-air meeting place for 65 days. The Film Festival brings top musical highlights from opera, classical, pop, and rock evening after evening from July 4 to September 6, along with culinary delights. That’s what Vienna has to offer in summer. And admission is free!

Danube Island Festival

From July 3 to 5, 2026, the 43rd Donauinselfest will once again turn Danube Island into Vienna’s largest open-air arena. Free admission gives access to numerous stages and themed islands, with a top-class program of music, cabaret, action, and fun. The motto: summer’s here!

Kultursommer Wien

At the free open-air festival Kultursommer Wien, hundreds of artists will perform on around a dozen stages that all have one thing in common: they bring culture to Vienna’s neighborhoods – that is, to locations outside the city center (mostly parks). Only on two choir days as part of the Film Festival at Rathausplatz does the action move into the city center. From July 2 to August 16, Kultursommer Wien will feature a diverse lineup of events and concerts, including some unusual ones: rock, pop, classical, jazz, Viennese songs (Wienerlied), cabaret, dance, theater, performance, contemporary circus, and more.

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Theater in the Park

The Theater im Park at the Belvedere kicks off its seventh season in 2026. Host and star cabaret artist Michael Niavarani will bring top-tier performers to the magical open-air stage in the Schwarzenberg Garden from May through September, with around 140 shows. The wide-ranging program includes cabaret, comedy, classical music, Wienerlied, musicals, literature, and philosophy. Plus the continuation of Niavarani’s in-house productions A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Venus & Jupiter.

3. Vienna Opera Summer: Carmen

The Wiener Opernsommer returns for its third edition this year: Open-air performances take place in the 6,000 m² opera arena at Heumarkt, right next to the Wiener Konzerthaus, where you can experience George Bizet’s Carmen on twelve evenings in July. Artistic Director and conductor Joji Hattori will direct a first-rate team consisting of international opera stars, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonia Chorus. 

In this Carmen production, a German-speaking actor, in the role of the spirit of Georges Bizet, tells the story behind the opera between the acts. All of the opera’s music, however, is performed true to the original and in French. (July 1-18, 2026; German and English subtitles via app)

Africa Days Vienna

African music, art, culture, and cuisine are on the program in a vibrant burst of color from August 14 to 24: at the Afrika Tage Wien festival on Danube Island, the continent comes up close, including evening open-air concerts.

Popfest Wien

Popfest Wien is a regular summer highlight for anyone who loves contemporary music. This year marks the 17th edition of the event (July 23–26). With free admission, 50 acts will draw more than 50,000 music fans to and around Karlsplatz.

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Vienna Cabaret Festival

The full force of around a dozen Austrian comedians can be seen at the 16th Vienna Cabaret Festival. From July 25 to August 1, the stage will be set in the collonaded courtyard of Vienna City Hall. The opening features the fantastic Andreas Vitásek.

Indoor: marionettes, music, dance

Here are a few more tips for anyone who prefers covered venues:

• The enchanting characters of the Marionette Theater at Schönbrunn Palace once again invite audiences to two versions of Mozart’s Magic Flute this summer – one of them aimed specifically at children.

• The Theater am Spittelberg – a former Viennese 'Pawlatschentheater', or courtyard gallery theater – is now a modern, renovated, yet charming indoor location situated in the heart of the smart Spittelberg district (formerly a crazy red-light district) near the MuseumsQuartier. The summer program is extremely colorful: world music, Viennese music, a capella, variety theater and comedy, theater, and children's performances. Click here to go straight there.

• And then there’s the highlight of the year for many dance enthusiasts: ImPulsTanz – Europe’s largest dance festival! – will once again bring together the international dance and performance scene in Vienna from July 9 to August 9. On stage are major names in dance such as Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker / Rosas or Louise Lecavalier. With over 200 courses, the workshop program invites beginners and professionals of all ages to ballet, jazz, voguing, modern dance, hip hop and much more. And a perennial favorite are the free “Public Moves” dance classes (which take place outdoors!).

There is even more on in Vienna – updated daily in the EVENT DATABASE.