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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

The best events and festivals in Austria in 2022

The pandemic continues to present challenges for Austria's event industry, but there are (tentative) plans for lots of events this year. Here are some of the ones worth adding to your calendar.

Published: 4 January 2022 16:34 CET
Updated: 15 January 2022 10:23 CET
Vienna film festival
Film Festival, Rathausplatz

Here’s an overview of some of the top events taking place in Austria in 2022 – for tourists and residents. 

Please note: the details for these events were correct at the time of writing (January 4th 2022), but as the pandemic progresses there could be changes.

JANUARY

Hahnenkamm Race (January 17th-23rd), Tyrol

The Hahnenkamm is a world-famous downhill FIS Alpine Ski World Cup race that takes place every year in Kitzbühel in Tyrol. It has been running for 82 years.

Fans were not allowed to attend in 2021, and this year there are limits on the number of spectators, so there will be two downhill races – on Friday and Saturday – to ensure as many people as possible can see the highlight of the event.

In 2020, the Hahnenkamm Race attracted 50,000 spectators and in previous years celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bernie Ecclestone have been in attendance. More details about the event can be found here.

READ MORE: Vienna State Opera cancels all shows to January 6th due to Omicron

Mozart Week (January 27th – February 6th), Salzburg

Editor’s note: On January 13th the organisers announced the Mozart Week was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Salzburg is the home of Mozart, so it’s no surprise the city has organised a special musical celebration dedicated to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart every year since 1956.

Events are going ahead in line with Austria’s current Covid-19 measures, including 2G rules (proof of vaccination or recovery). However, organisers ask ticket holders to check the website shortly before the event in case there are any changes. The Mozart Week website can be found here.

FEBRUARY

David Hockney: INSIGHTS (February 10th – June 19th), Vienna

This exhibition and retrospective of the acclaimed British painter is much anticipated in Vienna and will take place at Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien. Highlights include works from the Tate’s Hockney collection in the UK. Find out more about tickets and opening times here.

MARCH

Vinyl and Music Festival (March 5th – 6th), Vienna

This festival is a mixture of live music, record exchange, get-togethers and 150 exhibitors. Highlights include FM4 Morning Show host Stuart Freeman on the turntables and a performance by female alternative metal band, Hand of Juno.

The event takes place at the Ottakringer Brewery in Vienna and ticket prices start at €10. More details can be found here.

APRIL

Snowbombing (April 4th – 9th), TYROL

Snowbombing is a winter sports and music festival in the resort town of Mayerhofen in Tyrol. It’s organised by British live event company Broadwick Live and attracts a high number of attendees from the UK every year. 

Confirmed acts in 2022 include Bicep and Fat Boy Slim and festival passes start at  £579 (including accommodation). Full event details can be found here.

In 2021, Snowbombing was cancelled due to the pandemic and nationwide lockdown. 

FOR MEMBERS: EXPLAINED: How to maximise your annual leave in Austria in 2022

Crossing Europe (April 27th – May 2nd), Upper Austria

Crossing Europe is a festival dedicated to independent film from across the continent. It takes place in Linz, which is the capital of Upper Austria and a UNESCO City of Media Arts.

Organisers are planning to hold the 2022 festival as a physical event with a small selection of films available to be streamed. Crossing Europe was cancelled in 2020 and took place in a smaller capacity last year. 

Tickets can be booked at the festival website.

Schönbrunn Easter Market (April 2nd – 19th), Vienna

Easter markets are held across Austria every year, including one of the most charming at Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace. Stalls at this family-friendly market sell arts, crafts and regional food, and photos can be taken with giant Easter eggs. It is expected that current 2G rules will apply to this event.

MAY

Design Month Graz (May 6th – June 12th), Styria

Graz is Austria’s UNESCO City of Design so this event (organised by Creative Industries Styria) is a cultural highlight for the city. The event programme includes exhibitions, lectures, workshops and presentations.

The topic for the 2022 Design Month is Green Transition. More information can be found here.

JUNE

The Donauinselfest (June 24th to 26th), Vienna

This is Europe’s largest – and free – open-air music festival. It takes place on Danube Island (Donauinsel) in the Danube River in Vienna.

Performers at the festival are usually Austrian but there are also sometimes international acts in the line-up. In the past two years, Donauinselfest has gone ahead in a smaller capacity to comply with Covid-19 restrictions.

Full details of the 2022 event are yet to be announced, but organisers are hoping to return to a full schedule and capacity this year. The official festival website can be found here.

Nova Rock (June 9th to 12th), Burgenland

The annual Burgenland rock music festival is back in 2022 after being cancelled in 2021 due to (yes, you guessed it) the pandemic. Tickets holders were able to transfer their festival pass to the 2022 event. 

The line-up for this year’s festival features Muse and Foo Fighters, but with the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 it’s probably too early to say for sure whether the event will actually go ahead.  Find out more about Nova Rock here.

JULY

Mid Europe Music Festival (July 12th to 17th), Styria

Mid Europe is a music festival for wind and brass instruments that takes place in Schladming in Styria. The event is known for fostering a love of music and culture where musicians play out of choice, as opposed to being paid to perform.

Every year 35 orchestras from 15 countries descend on Schladming with events (24 in-door and 15 open-air) taking place across the Schladming-Dachstein region. Music genres include traditional Bohemian, classical, swing and ska. Event details can be found here.

AUGUST

FM4 Frequency Festival (August 18th – 20th), Lower Austria

FM4 is one of Austria’s national radio stations popular with the country’s young and multicultural population. The annual Frequency Festival is a showcase of the music played on FM4.

Like most large events in 2021, Frequency Festival was cancelled last year but organisers are hoping to return to their St. Pölten location later this year. Details about FM4 Frequency Festival can be found here.

FOR MEMBERS: Everything that changes about life in Austria in January 2022

Salzburg Summer Festival (July 15th – August 31st), Salzburg

The Salzburg Summer Festival offers a programme of opera, drama and concert performances and takes place across several weeks during the peak summer season.

It’s an important event on the city’s cultural calendar and serves as a celebration of Salzburg’s history. The full programme can be found here.

SEPTEMBER

Wiener Bierfest (September 15th to 18th), Vienna

For beer lovers, this is a key event to add to the calendar for 2022. Previous events have seen around 40 breweries in attendance, as well as stalls selling regional food and live music to set the scene. 

The free-to-attend event was cancelled for the past two years, but the Vienna Beer Festival is hoping to return in September 2022. The official website can be found here.

OCTOBER

Viennale (October 20th to November 1st), Vienna

The Vienna International Film Festival (Viennale) is an annual event that has taken place in cinemas across Austria’s capital city every October since 1960. 

In non-pandemic times the festival attracts around 75,000 people from around the world. Information about the 2021 event can be found here.

READ MORE: Where to find the latest Covid-19 information for your region of Austria

NOVEMBER

Vienna Residence Orchestra (throughout November), Vienna

The Vienna Residence Orchestra is considered as one of the best orchestras in the city and promises to take attendees on a journey back to Imperial Vienna. Examples from the programme include music by Mozart and Strauss.

The concerts take place at Auersperg Palace. Further details can be found at the website.

DECEMBER

Christmas markets (throughout December), nationwide

Christmas markets are a big part of Austrian culture. However, they were cancelled in 2020. Only a few events took place in 2021 after a steep rise in Covid-19 cases in November.

In 2022, it can be expected that Christmas markets will return, but we will have to wait until nearer the time to know more.

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For members

HEALTH INSURANCE

How can I get an appointment with a physiotherapist in Austria?

If you are recovering from an injury, experiencing pain, or simply aiming to improve your physical function, visiting a physiotherapist is a good idea. Here is what you need to know about physiotherapy in Austria.

Published: 23 April 2024 11:02 CEST
How can I get an appointment with a physiotherapist in Austria?

Physiotherapy can be the key to improving mobility, managing pain, recovering from injuries, and optimising overall physical function. Many people will need such services at some point in their lives.

If you need a physiotherapist in Austria, you can choose between going to one who is contracted with your insurance company (Therapeut mit Kassenvertrag) or to a so-called elective therapist (Wahltherapeut). For both options, you will need a referral from a general practitioner, such as your family doctor (Hausarzt), if you want to access the service for free (with your e-card) or get a reimbursement for your treatment.

Physiotherapy through your health insurance company

If you want to go to a physiotherapist without having to pay for it, you can try to find a suitable physiotherapist who is contracted with your insurance company. 

Physiotherapy is free of charge if your therapist is contracted with large public insurance companies such as the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), Insurance Institution for Public Employees, Railways and Mines (BVAEB) or Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed (SVS).

These insurance companies settle directly with their contracted therapists and you do not need to pay anything out of pocket. However, accessing this kind of free treatment can sometimes be hard, as those with the most urgent needs are prioritised, which can result in long waiting times for appointments. 

Here you can find a list of physiotherapists who work privately but still have a contract with ÖGK, sorted by regions within Austria.

Physiotherapist of your choice

If you want to go to a therapist that is not contracted with your insurance company, you initially have to pay for the treatment yourself.

Once your treatment is completed and the treatment costs have been paid in full, you can apply to your health insurance company for reimbursement by submitting your confirmation of payment. Here you can find information on which other documents you may need to submit.

However, you will not be reimbursed the full amount. For example, with ÖGK, you usually receive about 80% of what contracted physiotherapists would get from ÖGK. If you are insured with SVS and BVAEB, the percentage is similar.

If you have another type of insurance, such as a private one, it is a good idea to check with them what their specific insurance covers.

Going to a physiotherapist can improve your quality of life. Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Where do I find a suitable therapist?

There are plenty of ways to find the right physiotherapist that fits your needs. Sometimes your family doctor may have a recommendation, or perhaps a friend can suggest one. If you prefer to explore on your own and consider more options, you can search for a therapist online.

Websites such as physioaustria offer useful search functions where you can find therapists based on specific criteria, such as specialisation or insurance contracts. You might also find physiotherapie.at helpful for your search.

READ MORE: Everything foreigners need to know about the Austrian healthcare system

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