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9 unmissable events in Austria in July 2023

July is a great month to be in Austria thanks to the many summer festivals and events. Here are some of the best to check out.

Vienna's film festival in 2022.
Vienna's film festival in 2022. Photo: Stadt Wien Marketing/Theresa Wey

Until September 3rd: Filmfestival Rathausplatz, Vienna

The capital’s film and cultural festival has already kicked off. But the event runs right through summer so there’s plenty of time to check it out. 

From screenings of opera to ballet and rock shows, there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained. 

Highlights include screenings of Rita Ora and Bob Marley’s concerts, as well as children’s opera.

There are also live bands, DJs and food and drink stalls. It runs until the beginning of September. 

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Vienna’s free summer film festival

July 6th to August 14th: Poolbar Festival in Feldkirch

The highly popular Poolbar Festival takes place annually in the medieval town of Feldkirch, Vorarlberg. And this year you can expect a bumper programme with concerts, readings, cabaret and more.

Under the headline “From Niche to Pop”, acts including Peaches, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Danger Dan, Heaven Shall Burn and Frittenbude are on the bill. It kicks off Thursday July 6th and runs right though to mid-August.

Feldkirch, Austria.

Feldkirch, Austria. Photo by Leonhard Niederwimmer on Unsplash

July 8th to August 29th: Carinthischer Sommer, Carinthia

Embrace the season fully with Carinthian Summer: a huge music and cultural festival held annually since 1969 in the Austrian province of Carinthia.

Head to venues in Ossiach, Villach, and other parts of Carinthia to check out a diverse range of music, whether it’s classical, jazz or rock/pop. 

You’ll also find some experimental music in the festival programme to inspire audiences of all ages. 

The Rising Stars concerts promote young artists and integrate them into the festival. Check out the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition winners can present themselves to a large audience.

July 15th to July 16th: Nordkette Wetterleuchten Tyrol

For those who love to scale Austria’s mountains, head to this festival high above Innsbruck in the heart of Tyrol. 

The 20th edition of the Nordkette Wetterleuchten Electronic Music Festival will showcase performances by renowned artists at the breathtaking Seegrube in mid-July. 

Guests are transported up the mountain 2,000 metres above sea level where they can enjoy DJs, live acts and local Innsbruck legends.

As well as electronic music, the festival offers panoramic views of Innsbruck, food and drinks. 

Get ready to dance and sip Aperol Spritz – but don’t forget to pack sunscreen, because it can pretty hot get up there.

The Nordkette mountains above Innsbruck.

The Nordkette mountains above Innsbruck. Photo: Rachel Loxton

July 16th: Krapfenkirtag, Mönichwald

If you want something more chilled out where you can simply sit down and eat a lot of sugar, then head to Mönichwald in Styria.

Krapfenkirtag on July 16th, sees 10,000 doughnuts of all kinds of flavours, shapes and sizes on offer for guests. As well as doughnut (named Krapfen in Austrian-German) stalls, there are arts and crafts, traditional bands and drinks on offer. 

For children there are bouncy castles and face painting. 

July 19th to August 20th: Bregenz Festival 2023, Vorarlberg

If you want to visit a stunning cultural Austrian event, the Bregenz Festival in the Vorarlberg capital is for you. 

From a revival of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly on July 20th to lakeside performances and events at the renowned Festspielhaus. there’s no shortage of experiences on offer in the month-long festival.

For smaller guests, the Young Festival will also offer a range of events tailored for children and young people.

Meanwhile, the Kunsthaus Bregenz and the Landestheater will also be a part of the festival’s offerings.

READ ALSO: The best events and festivals taking place in Austria this summer

July 20th to September 30th: Salzburger Festspiele, Salzburg

Although no-one needs an excuse to visit the stunning city of Salzburg, we’d recommend checking out this festival. It’s an annual celebration of art and culture in the historic city, which lies in the west of the country.

The festival showcases opera, classical music and theatre and hundreds of thousands tickets are sold every year. 

The event was set up in August 1920 by Austrian writer Hugo von Hofmannsthal to promote peace following World War I and support the creation of a new Austrian identity following the fall of the Habsburg Empire.

A doughnut

Get ready for doughnuts on Krapfenkirtag. Photo: ChiemSeherin/Pixabay

Until July 22nd: Summer Festival Kittsee, Burgenland

The Kittsee Summer Festival, in the picturesque Castle Kitsee park, has already kicked off but runs right through until July 22nd. 

It offers visitors the chance to check out some cool theatre performances. The location’s historical significance, where Joseph Haydn once personally conducted for Maria Theresa, gives the performances a unique charm and brings the past back to life.

Our pro tip is to make sure you haven’t eaten beforehand: the summer fest also offers local delicacies and specialties to enjoy. 

July 21st to 23rd: Rock im Dorf in Kirchdorf an der Krems

If you’re a fan of heavy riffs and drum beats, head to Upper Austria later in July to Rock im Dorf, otherwise known as ‘rock out in the village’. With two stages and a full programme, the Rock im Dorf festival will showcase bands including Frittenbude, Florence Arman, Oskar Haag, Eli Preiss and Sharktank.

Camping is also possible with a pass (€5) in the Upper Austrian Traunviertel. If you want to come with a caravan, you can pay €42 per vehicle for a maximum of five people. Day tickets start at €43.

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10 unmissable events in Austria in July 2024

July is soon here and it is a great month to be in Austria with many festivals and events taking place all over the country. From a famous Kirchtag in Carinthia to the Salzburg Festspiele, where are some you need to attend.

10 unmissable events in Austria in July 2024

Villach Kirchtag

Villach Kirchtag is a traditional festival taking place annually in Villach, Carinthia.

This year, the festival goes on from July 28th to August 4th and offers days filled with live music, artistic performances, amusement rides, and traditional local cuisine and beverages.

Here, people dress up in dirndl and lederhosen, drink local beers, and enjoy Carinthian food such as Reindling (a type of sweet bread), Kasnudeln (cheese-filled pasta), and the traditional Kirchtag soup.

At the festival, you can meet both locals from the region and visitors from everywhere and together enjoy dancing on the street to different kinds of music all night long.

Find out more about the festival on its website

Food Festival Graz

This culinary festival takes place in Graz from June 30th to July 7th and gives you the opportunity to try everything from local specialties to international cuisine.

The aim of the festival is to provide unforgettable culinary experiences to every enthusiast and budget.

Apart from great food, you can enjoy live music, drinks, cooking shows, workshops, presentations, and other events.

You can read more about it here

 
 
 
 
 
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Wellenklänge Festival

Wellenklänge Festival is a famous cultural event held annually at the beautiful lake Lunz in Lower Austria.

The festival takes place July 12th to 27th this year and offer a diverse range of performances and artistic presentations, including music, theatre, dance, and visual arts.

The festival is known for its unique setting on the shores of the lake surrounded by tall mountains. It has also earned a reputation for its high artistic quality and diverse cultural activities set in beautiful natural surroundings.

READ MORE: Four of the best hidden villages in Austria’s Salzkammergut region

Rock im Dorf 

If you are a fan of heavy riffs and drum beats, head to Kirchhdorf in Upper Austria July 5th to 7th and enjoy Rock im Dorf, also known as ‘rock out in the village’. 

With two stages and a full programme, the Rock im Dorf festival will let you enjoy bands such as MIA., Bilderbuch, Mayberg and Endless Wellness Frittenbude. 

Camping is also possible with a pass (€5) in the Upper Austrian Traunviertel. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Carinthian Summer

Embrace the summer with Carinthian Summer: a huge music and cultural festival held annually since 1969 in the Austrian province of Carinthia.

This year the festival takes place from July 6th to August 4th. 

Here you can head to venues around Lake Ossiacher, Villach, Klagenfurt,  and other parts of Carinthia to check out a diverse range of music, whether it is classical, jazz or rock/pop. 

You will also find some experimental music in the festival programme to inspire audiences of all ages. 

The Rising Stars concerts are some of the festivals highlights. Here young artists gets promoted and integrated into the festival. 

Butterfly Dance Festival 

Put on your dancing shoes and join the Butterfly Dance Festival in Schlosspark Esterházy, Eisenstadt, Burgenland.

On July 5th, you can dance to soul, hip hop, funk, jazz, and other types of music in the beautiful Schlosspark in the capital of Burgenland.

Acts such as Kruder & Dorfmeister and Thievery Corporation will provide the perfect soundtrack, and dance instructors will be on stage to guide you.

You can read more and buy your tickets here

 
 
 
 
 
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Poolbar Festival 

The popular Poolbar Festival takes place annually in the medieval town of Feldkirch in Vorarlberg. This year, you can expect a program packed with concerts, readings, quizzes, cabarets, and more.

The lineup includes artists Wiegedood, Steel Pulse, Lena & Linus, Orbit, Klangkarussell, and Betterov.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, July 4th, and runs until August 11th.

On their website, you can check out the detailed program

READ ALSO: How to spend a summer afternoon in Austria like a local

Salzburger Festspiele

The Salzburg Festival is an annual celebration of art and culture in the historic old town of Salzburg. This year, it takes place from July 19th to August 31st.

Salzburger Festspiele is considered one of the most important festivals in the world for opera, classical music, and theatre. The organisers sell over 200,000 tickets each year.

The festival hosts world-famous orchestras, conductors, opera singers, and actors. The Vienna Philharmonic is one of the orchestras present every year.

You can see the program and read more about the festival here.

 Salzburg Festival is known worldwide for its qualitative performances. Photo by HANS JOERG MICHEL, AFP.
 

Nordkette Wetterleuchten

For those who love electronic music and to be surrounded by Austria’s tallest mountains, heading to this festival high above Innsbruck might be a great idea. 

The 21th edition of the Nordkette Wetterleuchten Electronic Music Festival takes place July 13th to 14th. 

As a festival visitors, you will be transported up the mountain 2,000 metres above sea level where you can enjoy famous DJs, live acts, and local Innsbruck legends.

As well as electronic music, the festival also offers panoramic views of Innsbruck and great food and drinks. 

Klima Biennale Wien

Enjoy the last weeks of this climate festival which goes on until July 14th at various locations all over Vienna.

The festival explores how art, design, architecture, and science can contribute to creating a sustainable and liveable future while also considering the impacts of climate change.

At the festival you can experience a wide range of performances, exhibitions, talks, concerts, and workshops.

If you want to participate, you can buy a festival pass at various locations, for which you pay as much as you like. You can, for example, buy it at the Museum Hundertwasser.

 
 
 
 
 
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READ MORE: 8 Austrian tourist spots likely to be overcrowded this summer

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