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VIENNA

8 exciting events taking place in Vienna this May

May is almost here, and there are plenty of events happening in Vienna. You can enjoy anything from innovative cultural festivals and Vienna's Pride celebration to design markets and comic fairs.

Published: 23 April 2024 15:24 CEST
8 exciting events taking place in Vienna this May
Pride Parade in Vienna 2023. (Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP)

Spring is already here, and there are things happening in most parts of Austria’s capital. Here, we list eight great events that you should not miss out on.

Vienna Pride Festival

On May 25th, it is time for this year’s Vienna Pride Festival, a colourful celebration which goes on until June 9th with the Rainbow Parade on June 8th being the main highlight. The parade is expected to attract more than 300,000 people who will celebrate and demonstrate together.

Other highlights during the weeks are the Pride Run on June 7th, and the Pride Village which will take place from the 6th to the 8th of June, on Rathausplatz, for the first time after a four-year break. The Pride Village will offer many different LGBTQ+ community activities and events.

Wiener Festwochen

This festival is one of Europe’s major cultural festivals and takes place from May 17th to June 23rd. It offers a mix of international theatre, music, and performances, attracting visitors from around the world.

It is an innovative festival with both established artists and newcomers, and the different performances take place all over the city.

Some of the festivals events are completely free, while for others, you have to pay. All information is available here. If you go to a performance just before it starts, you might be able to get your hands on a standing ticket, which costs around €4.

A theatre performance during Vienna’s Festival Weeks. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

GENUSS-FESTIVAL

This annual food and beverage festival in Stadtpark offers a wide range of delicious foods, beverages, and other products from Austria’s different regions.

The festival takes place from the 10th to the 12th of May and is a great place to go if you want to try some local delicacies, talk to local producers or winemakers, or simply bring some good food or products home.

Apart from eating and buying tasty products, the festival also offers live music, workshops, and cooking demonstrations.

READ MORE: Are these the 5 best parks in Vienna?

Fanzineist Vienna Art Book and Zine Fair

From the 10th to the 12th of May the Fanzineist Vienna Art Book & Zine Fair takes place in Akademie der bildenden Künste. The event is an annual gathering of independent publishers in Vienna.

The fair focuses on self-published works in art, design, literature, and culture. It offers a platform for artists, writers, and publishers to present and sell their creations.

As a visitor, you can enjoy exhibitions, workshops, concerts, and talks, as well as looking around and maybe buy some books, zines, prints, and other items. 

Festival #wienliebe

From the 24th to the 26th of May, the new festival #wienliebe will take place on Rathausplatz. Here, you can enjoy the best of Viennese cuisine, crafts, and music.

A significant focus of the festival is on Viennese cuisine, the Viennese coffee house, and Heurigen culture. Famous Viennese restaurants will be serving their specialties and typical Viennese handicrafts will be sold and presented,  including jewellery, textiles and food grown within the city.

You can enter the festival for free. 

Edelstoff Design Market

In Marx Hall, on May 4th and 5th, The Edelstoff design market presents international and Austrian designs.

During the two days, 150 designers will present their accessories, fashion, jewellery, product design, and art.

The design fair is a great opportunity to support local creativity, meet designers, discover new trends, and enjoy some good food, which is also available at the event.

Many of the designers present sustainable and innovative alternatives to existing products.

Vienna Comix

Do you like comics? Then this event is something you should prioritise on the 25th to the 26th of May. This annual festival celebrates comic book culture. Here you can meet like-minded people, writers, and creators.

The event offers screenings, workshops, presentations, and if you want to buy a Luke Skywalker mini-figure, that is also possible.

The festival takes place in METAStadt, and a one-day ticket costs €14, while a two-day ticket costs €18. You can buy them here. 

Participants dressing up at Vienna Comix. AFP PHOTO ALEXANDER KLEIN (Photo by ALEXANDER KLEIN / AFP)

Secessions Exhibition

This exhibition takes place at Wien Museum May 23rd to October 13th. It explores Vienna’s cultural history around 1900, focusing on the secessionist movements in Munich, Berlin, and Vienna.

The exhibition presents works rom famous artists such as Gustav Klimt and offers an overview of the secessionist era and its artistic significance.

A ticket costs €12 and can be bought online.

READ ALSO: IN NUMBERS: How much does it cost to live in Vienna in 2024?

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RENTING

‘Betriebskosten’: What are the extra costs renters must pay in Austria?

Renting an apartment in Austria means you’ll have to budget not only for the rent, but other somewhat hidden monthly costs and expenses.

Published: 30 April 2024 11:29 CEST
'Betriebskosten': What are the extra costs renters must pay in Austria?

Understanding operating costs or the specific expenses landlords or property agencies charge renters, is crucial for staying on top of your monthly payments when renting a place in Austria. These extra costs, known in German as Betriebskosten, are strictly regulated by Austria’s Tenancy Act. 

Here are the operating expensses that are chargeable to tenants, according to the MieterHilfe Public Association:

  • Water/wastewater and costs of leak testing, plus excess consumption due to burst pipes, but does not include disproportionate additional consumption for commercial operations;
  • Rubbish removal (and also clearing out floors and cellars);
  • Clearing out abandoned property;
  • Pest control, with costs such as extermination and periodic inspection or removal of pigeon droppings. Installation of pigeon screens is not included;
  • Sweeping fees (chimney sweep);
  • Electricity for lighting and communal facilities, such as the stairwell, but also replacement of light bulbs, fuses or switches;
  • Insurance premiums for fire, liability and water damage;
  • Insurance premiums for glass breakage and storm damage provided that more than half of the tenants have agreed to this being passed on;
  • Management fee (there is a set administration fee per square metre of usable space and building construction year)
  • House cleaning, including wages and social payments if there is a caretaker, plus materials; 
  • Public charges, unless there is a prohibition on passing them on – offsetting of property taxes is permitted;
  • Ongoing operating costs for communal facilities (lift, heating, playground, green areas, common rooms, etc.).

However, costs such as maintenance and repair work can never be charged under operating expenses.

The same goes for any ‘disproportionate additional costs or consumption due to commercial operations ‘, which refers to costs that are significantly higher than what would be considered normal for residential use or costs that are incurred due to the operation of a business within the rented property. 

READ ALSO: Tenant or landlord – Who pays which costs in Austria?

Vienna’s association for tenants MieterHilfe has a calculator that uses average values to show whether the Betriebskosten you pay are comparatively low, medium or high. The association notes, however, that even low values could be considered unauthorised billing in some cases. In contrast, high values could be correct – the calculator only shows if you are paying too much compared to other properties in the city.

You can check the values HERE. You will need to know either the total usable area of the building or the usable area of the flat and the operating cost share—this information is usually shown in a payment statement you receive from property management. 

What if I believe I am being unfairly charged?

If you think you are paying too much, but the charges are legal – such as for water electricity etc, then you would need to raise this issue with property management. They could take measures to save on operating costs, such as replacing old light bulbs with more energy-efficient ones or setting lights to a timer instead of a traditional light switch, for example.

There are many possible reasons for high or low values, according to the City of Vienna. For example, you may pay comparatively low for water one year because of a small number of residents, while the following year, there are leaking sanitary facilities and a burst water pipe that raises costs.

Buildings with many communal areas and green spaces often tend to have higher operating costs, especially for water, electricity, and housekeeping. 

However, things are different if you think you are being unduly charged—that is, there are charges in the operating costs that do not belong there, such as unapproved construction repair.

READ ALSO: Renting in Austria – The key things foreign residents need to know

If you are unsure of the costs, there is a significant deviation from average prices for no particular reason, or you believe that you are being charged for something not legally admissible as an operating cost, you could have a free check carried out by MieterHilfe or a tenant protection organisation. 

If there is a suspicion of unauthorised billing that cannot be dispelled between tenants and the property management company, this will be clarified at the arbitration board. The arbitration board is an independent body that mediates disputes between tenants and landlords. It is a point of contact before the courts in case of difficulties or legal disputes, and its decision is legally binding.

Property management companies and landlords must settle the operating costs for the previous year by 30 June at the latest and disclose them to tenants. This deadline is set to ensure that tenants have sufficient time to review their cost statements and raise any concerns before the new rental year begins. All expenses must be itemised in the statement, providing transparency and allowing tenants to see exactly what they are being charged for.

They are obliged to provide tenants with a detailed summary of the statement and the invoice documents. If the operating costs per square metre exceed €2, a more detailed review is recommended, according to the City of Vienna.

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