Osterfestspiele (Salzburg Easter Festival) is an exclusive classical music festival founded in 1967 by the legendary conductor Herbert von Karajan, held each spring in Salzburg, Austria. Over the Easter period, the festival presents world-class opera productions, symphonic concerts, and chamber music, often featuring the renowned Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra alongside celebrated soloists. Known for its artistic excellence and intimate scale, the Osterfestspiele offers a rare opportunity to experience top-tier performances in Salzburg’s historic venues, combining spiritual reflection with musical brilliance.

Wiener Festwochen (Vienna Festival) is a six-week celebration of theater, music, and art that transforms Austria’s capital into a vibrant stage each May and June. Founded in 1951, the festival brings together international artists, avant-garde productions, and cutting-edge performances in venues ranging from grand theaters to open-air stages across Vienna. With its blend of classical tradition and contemporary experimentation, the Wiener Festwochen embodies the city’s cultural dynamism and remains one of Europe’s most prestigious multidisciplinary festivals.

Carinthischer Sommer (Carinthian Summer) sets Ossiach and Villach, Austria glowing each July and August with a lakeside celebration of classical music, church opera, and big-idea literature. Signature performances unfold in the baroque Ossiach Abbey Church (Stiftskirche) and at the Congress Center Villach, with concerts also popping up across Carinthia in atmospheric churches and landmark venues. Expect star soloists, adventurous programming, and talks that pair music with thoughtful debate—pure southern-Austrian summer, equal parts culture and scenery.

Donauinselfest (Danube Island Festival) turns the Donauinsel (Danube Island) in Vienna, Austria into a vast, free-admission riverside celebration of live music and summer city life each June or early July. Over several kilometres, multiple open-air stages deliver pop, rock, electronic, and Austrian favourites, complemented by cabaret, family/kids’ areas, and crowd-pleasing food-and-drink stands. Arrive for daytime discoveries and stay for sunset sets as the Danube banks pulse with festival energy.

ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival turns Vienna, Austria into a global hub for contemporary dance and performance each summer, celebrating movement in every form—from iconic companies to boundary-pushing premieres. Beyond stage shows in major venues, the festival invites you to join in through intensive workshops and research at the Arsenal, plus free Public Moves classes that spill into parks and plazas. Expect late-night festival lounge energy, artist talks, and a citywide buzz built around dance.

Bregenzer Festspiele (Bregenz Festival) turns Bregenz, Austria into a lakeside stage each July and August, celebrating opera and performing arts with blockbuster productions and concert discoveries. The showstopper is Spiel auf dem See on the floating Seebühne over Lake Constance (Bodensee), famed for gigantic sets and cinematic spectacle, while the adjacent Festspielhaus hosts orchestral concerts, chamber music, and rarer music theater. Arrive early for sunset views and linger for the post-show waterfront buzz.

Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik (Innsbruck Festival of Early Music) is a world-renowned celebration of early music, bringing the sounds of the Renaissance and Baroque eras to life in the historic heart of Innsbruck, Austria. Held each summer, the festival features authentic performances by top international ensembles and soloists, often using period instruments in ornate venues like imperial palaces and centuries-old churches. From rare operas to intimate chamber concerts, it offers a rich, immersive dive into Europe’s musical past, making it a must for classical music lovers and cultural travelers alike.

La Strada Graz (La Strada Street Theatre Festival) turns Graz, Austria into a city-as-stage each late July and early August, celebrating street arts with pop-up theater, contemporary circus, puppetry, dance, and live music across plazas, courtyards, and unexpected corners. Follow roaming acts through the historic center, then settle in for headline shows in major halls for a different angle on the same playful spirit. The festival is all about creative experimentation—bringing performers and locals together in the open air.

Grafenegg Festival is a renowned classical music festival held each late summer on the grounds of Schloss Grafenegg in Grafenegg, Austria, where international orchestras, major soloists, and leading conductors perform a mix of symphonic concerts, chamber music, and recitals in a striking setting that blends heritage and contemporary design. Signature venues include the open-air Wolkenturm stage for large-scale evenings under the sky and the indoor Auditorium for acoustically focused performances, creating a distinctive festival atmosphere that pairs world-class music-making with the elegance of the castle park in Lower Austria.

Jazzfestival Saalfelden (Saalfelden Jazz Festival) turns Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer, Austria into an alpine playground for adventurous jazz and improvisation each August. Expect headline concerts at Kunsthaus Nexus and the Otto-Gruber-Halle, plus surprise City Tracks pop-ups, late-night jams, and even music hikes and open-air sets in meadows beneath the Steinernes Meer peaks. It’s a celebration of creative freedom—where experimental sounds meet mountain air, and discovery is half the fun.